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H 4464

An Act relative to the examination of evidence rooms and evidentiary procedures

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Mark Cusack

Establishes a 15-member Commission on the Preservation and Storage of Evidence to review laws, processes, safety, and training, and study a statewide evidence storage facility.

Discharged to the committee on House Rules
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Bill Summary · H 4464

Summary: House Bill No. 4464 (H 4464) – An Act relative to the examination of evidence rooms and evidentiary procedures

Overview

H 4464 proposes the creation of a temporary, special legislative commission—the Commission on the Preservation and Storage of Evidence. The commission would conduct a comprehensive review of Massachusetts’ current laws, regulations, and practices governing the preservation, storage, and handling of evidence and property collected by law enforcement, including hazardous materials and biological/DNA-related materials. The bill directs the commission to assess processes, propose standardized guidelines, and study the feasibility and cost of a statewide evidence storage facility.

Purpose and intent

  • Improve the effectiveness, security, and integrity of evidence management from collection through disposition and use in court proceedings.
  • Develop standardized guidelines for evidence and property management by law enforcement.
  • Explore the potential benefits and costs of creating a statewide evidence storage facility and program.
  • Recommend legislative or regulatory changes to enhance evidence handling, storage, and training of personnel.

Key provisions

  • Establishment of a special legislative commission: Commission on the Preservation and Storage of Evidence, established under section 2A of chapter 4 of the General Laws.
  • Commission size and composition (15 members):
    • 6 appointed by the governor:
    • 1 elected clerk of the superior court
    • 1 clerk-magistrate of the district court
    • 1 police officer with experience in evidence collection/preservation
    • 1 criminal defense attorney
    • 1 professor of evidence at an ABA-accredited law school
    • 1 retired district court or Boston municipal court justice
    • 3 House members:
    • 1 appointed by the Speaker
    • 1 appointed by the House chair of the Joint Committee on the Judiciary or designee
    • 1 appointed by the House minority leader
    • 3 Senate members:
    • 1 appointed by the Senate President
    • 1 appointed by the Senate chair of the Joint Committee on the Judiciary or designee
    • 1 appointed by the Senate minority leader
    • 1 Attorney General or designee
    • 2 elected district attorneys appointed by the Massachusetts District Attorneys Association
    • The House and Senate chairs of the Joint Committee on the Judiciary (or their designees) serve as co-chairs
  • Scope of examination:
    • Legal and regulatory framework for preservation and storage of evidence and property
    • Current processes for submission, receipt, storage, disposition, and use of evidence in court proceedings
    • Storage of hazardous materials, protection and preservation of biological/DNA material
    • Security, chain-of-custody protocols, and training of evidence/property personnel
  • Study of statewide evidence storage facility:
    • Feasibility and anticipated cost of constructing and maintaining a statewide evidence storage facility and program
  • Stakeholder engagement: The commission shall consult with state offices overseeing evidence collection/storage, academics, practitioners, and other experts.

Reports and timeline

  • Report deadline: March 31, 2026
  • Report contents include:
    • Assessment of current law and processes, including safety and DNA-related storage
    • Recommendations for improvements and standardized guidelines
    • Feasibility and cost estimates for a statewide facility and program
    • Recommendations for amendments to laws, regulations, or rules related to evidence or property handling
  • Deliverables to: Governor, President of the Senate, Speaker of the House, and clerks of both houses

Procedural status and follow-up

  • Introduced: September 11, 2025
  • Reported out of the Judiciary Committee on September 11, 2025; new draft as House 1630
  • Discharged to the House Rules Committee: October 2, 2025
  • Legislative actions indicate favorable committee reporting and ongoing consideration, with cross-branch referral to Rules

Potential impact

  • Structural reform of evidence management practices and training
  • Possible modernization and standardization across agencies
  • Evaluation of a centralized statewide storage facility, with cost analyses guiding future policy
  • Inform legislative changes to enhance evidence integrity, safety, and accessibility in court proceedings

This summary provides an objective overview of H 4464’s aims, structure, and potential implications based on the bill text and committee actions to date.

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

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