Hurricane Helene school closure waivers

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Bruce Bannister and 11 co-sponsors

Starting Jan 1, 2028, Massachusetts requires all new cars sold to have adaptive beam headlights, aligning with updated FMVSS 108 to boost nighttime safety.

Referred to Committee on Education

Purpose and intent

Establish a Massachusetts requirement that all new automobiles sold in the Commonwealth after January 1, 2028 be equipped with adaptive beam headlight technology.

The measure aligns state law with the federal standard changes to FMVSS No. 108 as authorized by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Key provisions

Amendments to Chapter 90, Section 7: Insert a mandate that “all new automobiles sold in the Commonwealth after January 1, 2028, shall be equipped with adaptive beam headlight technology,” referencing the federal standard amendments to FMVSS No. 108.

The bill’s text identifies the technology as adaptive beam headlight technology, intended to improve nighttime driving safety by automatically adjusting headlight pattern to reduce glare for oncoming drivers while maintaining illumination for the vehicle’s path.

Affected parties and impacts

Vehicle manufacturers and importers: Must ensure new models sold in Massachusetts after 2028 comply with adaptive beam headlight requirements.

Auto dealers and retailers: Responsible for selling models that meet the standard; potential impact on inventory timing and certification.

Massachusetts drivers: Expected safety benefits from improved nighttime visibility and glare reduction.

State regulators/Department of Transportation (and related agencies): Responsible for implementation oversight, consistency with federal standards, and potential compliance monitoring.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Status: Read second and ordered to a third reading (as of the latest legislative actions shown).

Introduced: February 27, 2025.

Filed/petition: January 14, 2025 (House Docket No. 1357; House No. 3778).

Legislative actions (selected timeline):

February 27, 2025: Referred to the Committee on Transportation.
August 21, 2025: Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the House Steering, Policy and Scheduling Committee.
September 15, 2025: Committee reported the matter for consideration in Orders of the Day; rules suspended; moved to third reading.

Related bill: HD 1357 (replaces) indicates an alternative or earlier version of the same proposal.

Context and considerations

Federal alignment: The bill cross-references amendments to FMVSS No. 108, suggesting the Massachusetts standard is intended to be consistent with or implement corresponding federal updates.

Scope: Applies only to new car sales beginning January 1, 2028; does not address used vehicles or retrofits for existing automobiles.

Not specified in the excerpt: Penalties or enforcement mechanisms for non-compliance, as well as potential transition or grace period details beyond the stated effective date.

Bottom line

H 3778 would require that starting January 1, 2028, all new automobiles sold in Massachusetts include adaptive beam headlight technology, integrating with updated federal safety standards. The bill has progressed through committee stages and is moving toward third reading, signaling active consideration in the 2025–2026 session.

Bill