Massachusetts · 194th General Court (2025-2026)

H 5293Floor Vote

An Act promoting rule of law, oversight, trust, and equal constitutional treatment ("The PROTECT Act")

Source of recordMassachusetts · malegislature.govLast synced Aug 31, 2026

Chamber

House

Progress

Where this bill stands in the legislative process.

Introduced
Passed House
Passed Senate
To Governor
Became Law

Overview

This bill, titled the "PROTECT Act," aims to improve rule of law, oversight, trust, and equal constitutional treatment within Massachusetts correctional facilities. It mandates that facilities provide detained individuals with specific written notices regarding their rights, including legal counsel, declining interviews, and grievance procedures. The bill also establishes requirements for attorney-client communication, record-keeping, and identity verification to ensure fair treatment and access to legal representation.

Key provisions

Facilities must provide detained individuals with written notices outlining their rights, including legal counsel and the right to decline interviews.
The bill mandates confidential, unmonitored attorney-client telephone communications.
Facilities must maintain detailed records of detained individuals, including contact information and transfer details.
Facilities must implement identity verification and privacy safeguards.
Counsel of record must receive at least one confidential inbound call per day.
The bill addresses the use of competent interpretive services for various interactions.
Law enforcement officers are restricted from inquiring about a person’s immigration status unless it’s directly relevant to a specific criminal offense.
The bill outlines procedures for civil arrest within courthouses and limits law enforcement’s ability to assist with federal civil immigration enforcement.

Who is affected

Bill text

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Legislative history

9 recorded actions

Mar 23, 2026House

Reported from the committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security

Mar 23, 2026House

New draft of H5158

Mar 23, 2026House

Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Ways and Means

Mar 25, 2026House

Committee recommended ought to pass with an amendment, substituting therefor a bill, see H5305

Mar 25, 2026House

Referred to the committee on House Steering, Policy and Scheduling with the amendment pending

Mar 25, 2026House

Committee reported that the matter be placed in the Orders of the Day for the next sitting for a second reading with the amendment pending

Mar 25, 2026House

Rules suspended

Mar 25, 2026House

Read second, amended (as recommended by the committee on House Ways and Means)

Mar 25, 2026House

New draft substituted, see H5305

Votes

Recorded roll calls and chamber actions on this bill.

Vote map

House districts

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Nay

Yea

Floor votes and chamber actions

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Recorded roll calls

Geography

Recorded positions across the state.

No public positions recorded for this legislation.

Arguments

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An Act promoting rule of law, oversight, trust, and equal constitutional treatment ("The PROTECT Act")

Progress

Overview

Key provisions

Who is affected

Bill text

Sponsors

Primary sponsor

Cosponsors

Legislative history

Votes

Vote map

Floor votes and chamber actions

Recorded roll calls

Geography

Arguments

Arguments in favor

Arguments opposed

Notable changes

Fiscal impact

Geography

Legislative history

Votes

Vote map

Floor votes and chamber actions

Recorded roll calls