Bill
S 1696
Adds a cross-reference to section 135F in firearm licensing law, extending the same rules from section 131 to 135F and guiding licensing authorities.
Status and basic info
- Bill number: S 1696 (Senate Docket No. 2586)
- Sponsor / Petitioner: Senator Ryan C. Fattman (Worcester and Hampden)
- Introduced: January 17, 2025 (filed); recorded as introduced in Senate May 8, 2025
- Current status (as provided): Referred to committee (entries show REFERRALS to Education, Public Safety and Homeland Security, and Commerce, Science, & Transportation in various logs) and hearing(s) scheduled for 10/31/2025 (Gardner Auditorium and virtual).
- Title shown in text: "An Act promoting fairness in licensing." (Petition notes topic: firearm licensing / Public Safety and Homeland Security.)
What the bill text actually does (available version)
- The text in the introduced version is a single-line amendment: it amends subsection (s) of section 32 of Chapter 135 of the Acts of 2024 by inserting the phrase ", section 135F" immediately after the term "section 131."
- In other words, the bill adds a cross-reference to a new or existing "section 135F" alongside "section 131" in subsection (s) of section 32, Chapter 135, Acts of 2024.
Intended purpose and likely effect
- The petition and bill caption indicate the bill concerns "promoting fairness in firearm licensing." However, the version provided contains only a technical amendment (adding ", section 135F" to an existing list of sections referenced in subsection (s)).
- Practically, this kind of amendment typically brings whatever rules, exemptions, penalties, or procedures governed by subsection (s) into effect for the statutory provision designated as "section 135F" (i.e., it extends the same treatment currently applied to section 131 to section 135F). The substantive effect depends entirely on:
- What subsection (s) of section 32 currently does, and
- The content of the referenced section 135F (which is not included in the provided text).
- Without the full text of section 135F or the surrounding provisions of Chapter 135 (Acts of 2024), the bill as provided appears to be a targeted technical change that integrates section 135F into existing statutory mechanics.
Who would be affected
- To the extent the subject matter is firearm licensing (per the petition), affected parties would likely include:
- Individuals applying for or holding firearm licenses under Chapter 140/Chapter 135 provisions (depending on statutory structure), and
- Local or state licensing authorities charged with administering licensing rules.
- If subsection (s) addresses exemptions, deadlines, fees, or enforcement mechanisms, those specific elements would also extend to section 135F once implemented.
Procedural notes, related items, and next steps
- Multiple committee referrals are recorded (Education; Public Safety & Homeland Security; Commerce, Science & Transportation) — the public record here appears inconsistent. The sponsor’s petition cites Public Safety and Homeland Security.
- Hearing scheduled (per record): October 31, 2025 (Gardner Auditorium and virtual); several hearing-rescheduling entries are logged.
- Related bills and prior-session bills: SD 2586 (replaces), S 3160, S 1842, S 446 (prior sessions).
- Because the bill text provided is limited, readers should consult:
- Chapter 135 of the Acts of 2024 (section 32, subsection (s) and section 131) and
- Any proposed text for section 135F
on the Massachusetts Legislature website or committee materials to assess substantive changes.
- Monitoring the scheduled committee hearing and any bill amendments will be important to determine the final scope and impact.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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