WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

H 4775

Study Order

194th Legislature (2025-2026)

Authorizes a temporary study by the Transportation Committee to review bike and pedestrian safety issues, publish findings, and draft legislation by Dec 31, 2026.

Discharged to the committee on House Rules
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · H 4775

Summary of Massachusetts H.4775 – Study Order

Bill at a Glance

  • Bill Number: H.4775
  • Title: Study Order
  • Purpose: Authorize the Transportation Committee to study bike and pedestrian safety issues reflected in multiple related House documents, and to report findings and draft legislation as needed.
  • Introduced: November 24, 2025
  • Current Status: Discharged to the committee on House Rules; the bill was reported favorably by the Transportation Committee and referred to Joint Rules before being discharged to House Rules.

Purpose and Intent

  • The bill creates a formal, temporary study by the Massachusetts House of Representatives’ Transportation Committee. Its aim is to evaluate a broad set of proposed measures related to bicycle and pedestrian safety, as identified in a group of companion petitions (House documents 3609, 3649, 3652, 3653, 3672, 3682, 3692, 3697, 3712, 3773, 3804, 3806).
  • The overarching goal is to generate informed recommendations and, if appropriate, draft legislation to address safety concerns at intersections, on sidewalks and crosswalks, helmet use, vehicle interactions with cyclists and pedestrians, and related topics.

Key Provisions

  • Study Scope: The Transportation Committee is authorized to investigate and study the referenced House documents, all relating to bike and pedestrian safety.
  • Reporting Obligation: The committee must report its findings, recommendations, and any drafts of legislation necessary to implement those recommendations to the General Court.
  • Draft Legislation: The report may include drafts of legislation needed to carry out the committee’s recommendations.
  • Filing Deadline: The report (and any draft legislation) must be filed with the Clerk of the House on or before December 31, 2026.

Who is Affected

  • Stakeholders in bicycle and pedestrian safety, including:
    • Cyclists, pedestrians, and motorists
    • Local and state transportation agencies
    • Bicycle and pedestrian advocacy groups
    • Municipalities and planning entities
    • Businesses and residents affected by roadway safety policies

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Process: This is a study order (not immediate policy enactment). The Transportation Committee is authorized to hold its study during a recess of the General Court.
  • Reporting Timeline: Final report and any draft legislation due by December 31, 2026.
  • Legislative Path: Following the study, the General Court would review the committee’s findings and proposed drafts, which could lead to subsequent bills for consideration.

Potential Impacts and Considerations

  • The bill prioritizes a comprehensive, evidence-informed approach to bike and pedestrian safety, consolidating multiple safety proposals into a single, coordinated study.
  • Outcomes could include concrete safety recommendations (e.g., infrastructure changes, safety regulations, helmet requirements, or crosswalk/intersection design improvements) and legislative drafts to implement them.
  • As a study-order measure, there is no immediate policy change; the impact depends on the committee’s findings and the legislature’s subsequent actions.

Context

  • The measure follows a pathway typical for safety-focused proposals: consolidating related petitions, authorizing a temporary study, and delivering recommendations and drafts of legislation for potential enactment.

If you’d like, I can pull out each referenced House document number to summarize the specific themes or proposals they contain.

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

Sign in to ask a question.