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HD 3331

An Act to protect the privacy of 911 callers

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Mike Day and 1 co-sponsor

Audio of 911 calls stays private; written transcripts are public and must be provided on request, with costs borne by the requester.

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Bill Summary · HD 3331

Summary: House Docket No. 3331 — An Act to protect the privacy of 911 callers

Overview

  • Bill number: HD 3331
  • Title: An Act to protect the privacy of 911 callers
  • Introduced: November 29, 2025 (in the 2025-2026 General Court session)
  • Status: Proposed bill (status not specified in the provided text)
  • Origin: Filed in the Massachusetts House as House No. 1643; similar matter filed in a prior session (2023-2024 as House No. 1442)

Purpose and intent

The bill seeks to protect the privacy of individuals who call the 911 emergency system. It creates a formal rule that audio recordings of 911 calls are private with respect to the caller, while making written transcripts of those calls public. The framework is designed to balance public safety, investigative needs by law enforcement, and the privacy rights of callers.

What the bill would do (Key Provisions)

  • Privacy of audio recordings:
    • The actual audio recording of a 911 call is private data relating to the individual caller.
  • Public accessibility of transcripts:
    • A written transcript of the 911 call is public.
    • A transcript must be prepared upon request.
    • The requester must pay the actual cost of transcribing, in addition to any other applicable transcript preparation costs.
  • Use and dissemination of audio recordings:
    • Audio recordings may be disseminated to law enforcement agencies for investigative purposes.
    • Audio recordings may be used for public safety and emergency medical services (EMS) training purposes.
  • Restrictions on release:
    • The release of the audio recording without the express written consent of the caller or the caller’s legal representative is prohibited, except pursuant to a court order that weighs public right to release against the caller’s privacy interests.
    • The provision does not apply to law enforcement personnel conducting an investigation where the 911 call is or may be relevant to that investigation.

Affected parties

  • Primary subjects: 911 callers (their privacy and personal information in audio form)
  • Public: those who may access public transcripts
  • Public safety agencies: law enforcement, fire, EMS (as recipients of audio for investigations and training)
  • Public records/tran­script requesters: individuals or entities requesting transcripts (who must pay transcription costs)
  • Callers’ legal representatives: relevant for consent and potential court-ordered releases

Procedural and timeline considerations

  • Implementation: Adds a new Section 18M to Chapter 6A of the Massachusetts General Laws.
  • Transcript provision: Transcripts are public and must be produced on request; costs borne by the requester.
  • Audio release: Requires express written consent for most releases; court orders can override privacy in narrowly balanced cases.
  • Court involvement: Court order mechanism exists to determine when the public interest outweighs privacy interests; specific standards for balancing are not detailed in the text provided.
  • Cooperation with investigations: Audio may still be used in investigations by law enforcement where relevant.

Context and related material

  • The bill references a similar matter filed in the previous session (House No. 1442 of 2023-2024), indicating ongoing interest in reforming 911 caller privacy.
  • The text provided does not specify an effective date; typically, enacted laws become effective upon passage or a specified effective date.

Potential impacts

  • Increased privacy for 911 callers, reducing exposure of sensitive audio content.
  • Public access maintained for transcripts, enabling transparency and documentation of 911 interactions.
  • Financial and operational burden on requesters due to transcription costs.
  • Clarified pathways for law enforcement use of audio data for investigations and for training purposes, with safeguards against improper disclosure.

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

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