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S 639

Relates to the operation of bicycles at stop signs and traffic-control signals

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jabari Brisport and 19 co-sponsors

S.639 allocates fines into the Homeless Animal Prevention and Care Fund and broadens fund uses for animal health and welfare with advisory committee approval.

REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION
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Bill Summary · S 639

Summary — S.639 (2025): “An Act to provide additional funding for animal welfare and safety programming”

Note on title discrepancy
- The metadata supplied includes an unrelated title about bicycle operation. The actual bill text and filing information make clear S.639 is a Massachusetts bill concerning animal welfare funding. This summary follows the bill text.

Main purpose

S.639 amends state law to (1) broaden allowable uses of the Homeless Animal Prevention and Care Fund to include additional animal health and welfare measures (subject to advisory committee support), and (2) designate fines assessed under G.L. c.129, §37 to be deposited into that Fund. The change directs an existing revenue stream (certain fines) to increase funding for animal welfare programs.

Key provisions

  • Amend G.L. c.10, §35WW:
    • Insert after the reference to “chapter 140” authority for the commissioner to use the Fund for “other measures to improve animal health and welfare as the commissioner may determine,” provided there is majority support from the advisory committee established by chapter 193 of the Acts of 2012.
    • Add fines collected pursuant to G.L. c.129, §37 as an identified revenue source for the Homeless Animal Prevention and Care Fund.
  • Amend G.L. c.129, §37:
    • Add a sentence specifying that fines assessed under §37 shall be deposited into the Homeless Animal Prevention and Care Fund (G.L. c.10, §35WW).

Who would be affected

  • State agencies: the commissioner referenced in the statute (the official charged under §35WW) and the advisory committee established under chapter 193 of the Acts of 2012 will have decision-making roles over Fund expenditures.
  • Municipalities, animal shelters, rescue organizations, veterinarians, and other service providers: potentially increased and more-flexible grant funding for animal health, welfare, and safety programming (e.g., shelter support, spay/neuter, emergency care, transport, outreach).
  • Individuals fined under G.L. c.129, §37: the fines they pay would be earmarked to the Homeless Animal Prevention and Care Fund rather than other accounts.

Fiscal and operational impact

  • No dollar amounts are specified. The fiscal impact depends on the volume and amount of fines assessed under G.L. c.129, §37.
  • The bill creates a dedicated flow of revenue into the Fund and expands permissible uses (subject to advisory committee majority support), which could increase funding available for animal-welfare initiatives without a direct appropriation.
  • Administrative effect: agencies must ensure fines are deposited properly and that proposed uses obtain required advisory committee support.

Procedural status (selected actions from provided record)

  • Filed/presented: Senate docket filed 1/16/2025; presented by Senator Mark C. Montigny.
  • Introduced/read: Introduced in Senate 2/19/2025; read twice and referred to Committee on Finance (per record).
  • Committee activity/hearing: Referred to Environment and Natural Resources (2/27/2025); hearing scheduled 10/21/2025 (per provided schedule); reported favorably 11/13/2025 and referred to Senate Ways & Means (per provided record).
  • Current status as provided: REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION appears in the metadata but conflicts with the bill text and sponsor information; primary sponsors listed in the bill header are Massachusetts state legislators (Sen. Montigny and listed co-petitioners).

Notes / considerations

  • The bill relies on the advisory committee’s majority support to authorize broader Fund uses; the composition and role of that committee are set in chapter 193 of the Acts of 2012.
  • Because no appropriation amounts are specified, actual program expansion will depend on collected fines and subsequent allocations through the Fund and budgetary processes.

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

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