Establishes the crime of homicide by sale of an opiate controlled substance

2025 Regular Session Introduced by George Borrello and 7 co-sponsors

Establishes emergency shelter priorities in Massachusetts, giving first access to veterans, then elderly, then resident families at risk of homelessness when beds are scarce.

REFERRED TO CODES

Summary — S.972 (2025): An Act establishing emergency shelter priorities

Note: the bill text supplied amends Chapter 23B, §30 to establish emergency shelter priorities in Massachusetts. (The user-supplied header that this bill “establishes the crime of homicide by sale of an opiate controlled substance” appears to be inconsistent with the actual text and file stamp; this summary follows the bill text.)

Key provisions

Amends Section 30 of Chapter 23B of the Massachusetts General Laws by inserting a new paragraph after the first paragraph.

Establishes a priority order for emergency shelter assistance access:

Veterans (as defined by Mass. Gen. Laws chapter 115, §1)
Elderly persons (as defined by Mass. Gen. Laws chapter 19A, §14)
Families with legal residence in the Commonwealth who are homeless or at risk of homelessness (as defined by regulations promulgated by the executive office)

Directs the Executive Office to implement these priorities; the bill relies on that office’s regulations for the definitions and operational details of “homeless” and “at risk of homelessness.”

Who would be affected

Primary beneficiaries: veterans, elderly persons, and resident families meeting the homelessness or at-risk criteria.

Affected systems and actors: the Executive Office administering emergency shelter assistance, local shelters and provider networks, municipal housing/homelessness officials, and applicants for shelter assistance who are not in the prioritized groups.

Administrative/verification processes: agencies may need to verify veteran status, age, legal residence, and homelessness risk according to new or existing regulations.

Procedural status (as provided)

Filed: January 15, 2025 (Senate Docket No. 1176); introduced March 11, 2025.

Referred to: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs; also shown as referred to Codes and to the committee on Housing.

Committee actions: Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably by Veterans’ Affairs (07/30/2025).

Hearing scheduled: 10/15/2025 (A-1).

Additional entries show “House concurred” and multiple referrals — see “Notes & anomalies” below.

Potential impacts and considerations

When shelter capacity is limited, access will be channelled according to the statutory priority, increasing chances of placement for veterans and elderly persons.

May reduce immediate access for other homeless individuals (e.g., single adults without veteran/elder status).

Implementation will depend on administrative rules (definitions of “at risk,” verification procedures), which could create operational burdens for agencies and providers.

Equity and legal considerations may arise around residency requirements and prioritization criteria.

Notes & anomalies

There are inconsistencies in the metadata provided (different titles, sponsor lists, and chronological entries). This summary adheres to the bill text filed with the Massachusetts Senate (No. 972 / Senate Docket No. 1176) as presented, which concerns emergency shelter priorities rather than criminal law. Please consult the official legislative website or bill text for final enacted language and authoritative status updates.

Bill