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H 3693

An Act relative to roadway damage

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Steven Howitt

RMV must report to DOT within 30 days any roadway damage from accidents with fatalities/injuries or more than $1,000 in damage, boosting data for maintenance and planning.

Hearing scheduled for 11/04/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2
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Bill Summary · H 3693

Summary: H.3693 An Act relative to roadway damage

Quick facts

  • Bill number: H.3693
  • Title: An Act relative to roadway damage
  • Introduced: February 27, 2025
  • Status: Hearing scheduled for November 4, 2025, 1:00 PM–5:00 PM, in Committee A-2
  • Committee: Transportation (referred February 27, 2025)
  • Related actions: Senate concurred (same session); similar matter previously filed as H.3342 (2023-2024)
  • Effective date: Upon passage

Purpose and intent

H.3693 would create a new data-reporting requirement related to roadway damage in the Commonwealth. The bill aims to improve transparency and information flow regarding damage to public roadways resulting from motor vehicle accidents, particularly in incidents with fatalities/injuries or substantial property damage.

Key provisions

  • Section 1 (new reporting requirement): Adds a paragraph to Section 26 of Chapter 90 (as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition) establishing that:
    • The registrar must issue a report to the Department of Transportation (DOT) on public roadway damage arising from an accident in which any person is killed or injured, or in which there is damage in excess of $1,000 to any one vehicle or other property.
    • The report must be issued no later than 30 days after the accident.
  • Section 2 (effective date): The act takes effect upon passage.

Who/what is affected

  • Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV)/Registrar: Responsible for compiling and issuing the required report to DOT within the 30-day timeframe.
  • Department of Transportation (DOT): Recipient of the report to inform roadway maintenance, safety, and infrastructure planning.
  • Public roadway users and property owners: Indirect beneficiaries through improved data collection and potential prioritization of roadway repairs.
  • Law enforcement and accident reporters: Implicitly involved as the source of information that triggers the reporting requirement (fatalities, injuries, or substantial property damage).

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Hearing: Scheduled for November 4, 2025, from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM in Assembly Room A-2.
  • Legislation path: Introduced and referred to the House Committee on Transportation on February 27, 2025; Senate concurrence noted in actions; similar legislation previously filed in 2023-2024 (H.3342).
  • Effective date: Immediate upon enactment (no delay after passage).

Potential impact and considerations

  • Data transparency: Establishes a formal mechanism for timely reporting of roadway damage incidents to DOT, enabling better assessment of maintenance needs and safety concerns.
  • Resource implications: The RMV would need capable processes to generate and transmit the required reports within a 30-day window; agencies may assess data standards and reporting workflows.
  • Policy alignment: Supports DOT’s planning and prioritization by providing standardized incident data related to roadway damage.

Notes

  • The bill amends Section 26 of Chapter 90 to add the new reporting obligation and does not appear to alter penalties or enforcement mechanisms beyond information sharing.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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