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H 1838

An Act requiring the inclusion of certain civil rights offense information in the statewide domestic violence recordkeeping system

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by David Linsky

Massachusetts law would require integrating civil rights offense data into the domestic violence tracking system to better identify patterns of bias-motivated violence in intimate relationships.

Hearing scheduled for 09/23/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2
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Bill Summary · H 1838

Legislative bill overview

H 1838 requires Massachusetts to integrate civil rights offense information into the existing statewide domestic violence recordkeeping system. The bill expands the data tracked in this system to include incidents classified as civil rights offenses, presumably to better identify patterns of bias-motivated violence or harassment connected to domestic relationships.

Why is this important

Domestic violence advocates argue that civil rights offenses—hate crimes and bias-motivated incidents—are sometimes intertwined with intimate partner abuse, and better data collection could help identify high-risk situations and protect vulnerable populations. Law enforcement and victim advocates could use this integrated information to develop more comprehensive safety plans and risk assessments.

Potential points of contention

  • Definition ambiguity: The bill's language about "certain civil rights offenses" lacks specificity—unclear which offenses qualify or how they're categorized, creating potential implementation inconsistencies
  • Privacy and mission creep concerns: Critics may worry that expanding domestic violence databases to include civil rights data could chill reporting or create surveillance concerns beyond the original system's intended scope
  • Resource burden: Law enforcement agencies may face costs for system modifications, staff training, and data integration without clear funding mechanisms specified in the bill

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

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