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H 1592

An Act relative to the expansion of the Good Samaritan Law

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Donnie Berthiaume and 1 co-sponsor

H.1592 expands Massachusetts' Good Samaritan Law to broaden legal protections for people responding to overdose emergencies, aiming to encourage 911 calls and save lives.

Accompanied a study order, see H5281 (under House Rule 27)
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Bill Summary · H 1592

Legislative bill overview

H.1592 proposes to expand Massachusetts' Good Samaritan Law, which currently provides legal protection to people who call 911 to report overdoses or seek medical help during drug emergencies. The expansion would broaden these protections to cover additional circumstances or groups of people involved in overdose response situations.

Why is this important

Good Samaritan protections are considered critical public health tools, as they remove the fear of arrest that might otherwise prevent people from calling 911 during life-threatening overdoses. Expanding these protections could save lives by encouraging more emergency calls, particularly in communities hit hard by the opioid crisis.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope of expansion unclear: The bill summary doesn't specify what aspects are being expanded (broader immunity for callers, immunity for bystanders, protection for people at the scene, etc.), making it difficult to assess unintended consequences
  • Law enforcement concerns: Police and prosecutors may worry that broader protections could enable drug activity or complicate investigations into drug distribution
  • Implementation details: Questions about how expanded protections interact with other criminal statutes and whether they could create loopholes that undermine drug enforcement

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

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