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S 1677

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2025 Regular Session Introduced by James Skoufis

Repeals Section 44 of Chapter 135 of the Acts of 2024, removing rules on semiautomatic rifles and shotguns in Massachusetts.

REFERRED TO ELECTIONS
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Bill Summary · S 1677

Summary — S.1677 (Massachusetts)

Title: An Act relative to semiautomatic rifles and shotguns
Senate Docket No.: 1454 / Bill No.: S 1677
Presented by: Sen. Peter J. Durant
Filed: 01/16/2025; Introduced in Senate: 05/08/2025
Current status (from provided record): Referred to committee (see “Legislative history” below)

Main purpose / intent

The bill’s sole operative text repeals Section 44 of chapter 135 of the Acts of 2024. The bill’s title indicates it concerns semiautomatic rifles and shotguns, so its intent is to remove whatever legal requirement, restriction, or authorization was created by Section 44 of that 2024 act as it relates to those firearms.

Key provision

  • Repeal: "Section 44 of chapter 135 of the Acts of 2024 is hereby repealed."
    There are no other amendments, additions, or definitions in the bill text provided.

Who would be affected

  • The practical effect depends entirely on the content of Section 44 of chapter 135 of the Acts of 2024. Parties likely to be affected (depending on what that section enacted) include:
    • Owners, prospective purchasers, and sellers of semiautomatic rifles and shotguns in the Commonwealth;
    • Firearm dealers, manufacturers, and ranges;
    • Law enforcement agencies and licensing/permit administrators;
    • Courts or administrative bodies implementing any compliance, registration, restriction, or penalty created by Section 44.
  • If Section 44 imposed restrictions (bans, registration, feature definitions) its repeal would remove those obligations; if it granted permissions or clarified procedures, its repeal would eliminate those.

Legislative history / procedural timeline (from provided record)

  • 01/13/2025: Listed as “REFERRED TO ELECTIONS” (duplicate entries noted).
  • 01/16/2025: Filed as Senate Docket No. 1454.
  • 02/27/2025: Entries indicate referral to the Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security and “House concurred” (appears inconsistent for a new Senate bill).
  • 05/08/2025: Read twice and referred (record shows referral to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions).
  • Multiple hearing scheduling entries show a hearing (or rescheduled hearings) set for 10/31/2025 in Gardner Auditorium with virtual access.

Important notes and caveats

  • The bill text provided repeals only a specific section of a prior act; it does not itself define or describe the substance of that section. Therefore, the concrete legal effect cannot be determined from this bill alone.
  • The provided metadata includes conflicting and likely erroneous items (e.g., an extensive list of U.S. Senators as cosponsors, duplicate/mismatched committee referrals, and both “Referred to Elections” and Public Safety committee entries). These inconsistencies suggest the accompanying legislative-action and sponsor lists may be merged with other bills’ data.
  • To assess impact precisely: review the full text of Section 44, chapter 135 of the Acts of 2024 (Massachusetts Acts of 2024, ch.135 §44) and any related sections of that act.

Recommended next steps for readers

  • Consult the Massachusetts Acts of 2024 (chapter 135) to read Section 44’s text.
  • Monitor the relevant committee docket(s) and the scheduled 10/31/2025 hearing for testimony and committee reports.
  • Verify sponsor and referral information with the official Massachusetts legislative website or the bill’s legislative clerk to resolve the metadata discrepancies.

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

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