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Bill

HB 315

prohibiting employees of state agencies from knowingly providing false information to a legislative committee.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Kelley Potenza

HB 315 prohibits state employees from knowingly giving false information to legislative committees, rejected by committee vote 12-0 as inexpedient.

Inexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 03/26/2025 HJ 10 P. 41
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 315

Legislative bill overview

HB 315 would establish a legal prohibition against state agency employees knowingly providing false information to legislative committees during official inquiries or testimony. The bill creates accountability measures for state employees when they interact with the legislative branch. It appears designed to ensure integrity in the information-sharing process between executive and legislative branches.

Why is this important

Legislative oversight depends on accurate information from state agencies to evaluate policy and budget decisions. False testimony or misleading information undermines this oversight function and can lead to poorly informed legislative decisions. This directly affects whether taxpayers and constituents get honest accounting of how state government operates.

Potential points of contention

  • Existing legal framework: Federal law already prohibits false statements to government bodies; unclear whether new state-level statute adds meaningful enforcement or creates redundancy
  • Definition ambiguity: "Knowingly" providing false information has legal nuance—distinguishing between honest errors, incomplete information, and intentional deception requires clear definition and proof
  • Chilling effect concerns: Some argue vague penalties could discourage employees from providing candid or complex information, potentially limiting legislative access to candid internal perspectives
  • Enforcement mechanism: Bill lacks clarity on who investigates violations, what penalties apply, and how this interacts with existing civil service protections or disciplinary processes

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

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