Bill
S 500
The bill amends Chapter 50, Section 1 to remove specific language and renumber a subsection, potentially altering who is considered a specially qualified voter.
An Act relative to specially qualified voters
Status: Introduced (filed 1/17/2025); referred to committee(s) (see “Procedural status” below)
Primary proponent (on the bill text provided): Senator Nick Collins (First Suffolk, MA)
Note on inconsistent metadata
- The package of information provided contains conflicting metadata (alternate titles such as the “CAREER Act,” references to fire‑chief appointment, and a set of federal sponsors). Those items appear to be unrelated to the actual bill text filed in the Massachusetts Senate (Docket No. 1936) and are treated below as incorrect or extraneous. This summary is based on the Massachusetts bill text and docket information filed by Senator Nick Collins.
Purpose and intent
- The bill proposes a narrow, technical amendment to Section 1 of Chapter 50 of the Massachusetts General Laws. Chapter 50 contains provisions related to voter registration and qualifications. The stated title is “An Act relative to specially qualified voters,” indicating the aim is to revise statutory language that defines or describes the class of “specially qualified” voters.
Key provisions
- The bill, as filed, makes three specific textual changes to Section 1 of Chapter 50 (as it appears in the 2020 official edition):
1. Strikes the text contained in lines 129–136 (the bill file does not reproduce the struck language).
2. Removes the phrase “(ii) absent from the commonwealth; or” that currently appears in line 137.
3. Renumbers the succeeding subsection label from “(iii)” to “(ii).”
Who would be affected
- Primary affected parties: voters classified as “specially qualified” under Chapter 50, election officials, registrars of voters, municipal clerks, and the Secretary of the Commonwealth, to the extent administrative procedures or eligibility definitions change.
- Potential practical effects: depending on the removed text, the bill could narrow, expand, or simply clarify the categories or conditions that create “special” voter qualification (for example, rules concerning voters who are temporarily absent from the Commonwealth). Without the exact deleted language, the direction of the effect (restrictive vs. permissive) cannot be confirmed.
Procedural/timeline notes
- Filed in the Massachusetts Senate (Docket No. 1936) on 1/17/2025 and presented by Sen. Nick Collins.
- Legislative action entries indicate multiple referrals and scheduling entries (Committee on Election Laws referral 2/27/2025; hearing scheduled 9/16/2025). Records include an earlier “referred to Local Government” entry (1/08/2025) and other inconsistent committee referrals in the provided data.
- Recommendation: monitor the committee of jurisdiction (likely Election Laws) for hearings, amendments, and any substituted language; review the amended bill text and a current copy of Chapter 50, Section 1 to determine the concrete effects of the deletions.
Related/companion measures
- The provided materials list multiple related/companion bill numbers (e.g., HR 1768, S 891, S 2121, A 3109). These may be in other jurisdictions or prior sessions; verify jurisdiction and text equivalence before relying on them for interpretive guidance.
Next steps for readers
- To assess substantive impact, compare the bill’s deletions to the current text of Chapter 50, Section 1 (2020 official edition) and track committee materials (sponsor memos, committee reports, and any draft substitute language) posted by the Massachusetts Legislature.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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