1 of 1 HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3119 FILED ON: 1/20/2023 HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1469 The Commonwealth of Massachusetts _________________ PRESENTED BY: Kate Donaghue _________________ To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General Court assembled: The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill: An Act relative to the repeal or reform of certain unenforceable or unconstitutional archaic laws on religion, piety, and morality. _______________ PETITION OF: NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Kate Donaghue19th Worcester1/20/2023Lindsay N. Sabadosa1st Hampshire1/20/2023Patrick Joseph Kearney4th Plymouth2/16/2023 1 of 2 HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3119 FILED ON: 1/20/2023 HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1469 By Representative Donaghue of Westborough, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1469) of Kate Donaghue, Lindsay N. Sabadosa and Patrick Joseph Kearney relative to the repeal or reform of certain archaic laws on religion, piety, and morality. The Judiciary. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts _______________ In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court (2023-2024) _______________ An Act relative to the repeal or reform of certain unenforceable or unconstitutional archaic laws on religion, piety, and morality. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows: 1 SECTION 1. Section 30 of Chapter 71 of the General Laws is hereby repealed. 2 SECTION 2. Section 31 of Chapter 71 of the General Laws is hereby amended by 3striking the first sentence. 4 SECTION 3. Section 15 of Chapter 233 is hereby amended by striking the wording in its 5entirety and inserting in place thereof the following:- In all cases in which an oath or affirmation 6of truthfulness is required by law, the oath or affirmation shall make no religious reference and 7the person administrating the oath or affirmation shall require only that the person taking the 8oath or affirmation hold up his or her hand and affirm that the testimony or declaration is truthful 9and, when appropriate, made under the penalties of perjury. 10 SECTION 4. Sections 16 through 19 of Chapter 233 of the General Laws are hereby 11repealed. 2 of 2 12 SECTION 5. Section 26 of Chapter 272 of the General Laws is hereby repealed. 13 SECTION 6. Section 29 of Chapter 272 of the General Laws is hereby repealed. 14 SECTION 7. Section 34 of Chapter 272 of the General Laws is hereby repealed. 15 SECTION 8. Section 35 of Chapter 272 of the General Laws is hereby repealed. 16 SECTION 9. Section 36 of Chapter 272 of the General Laws is hereby repealed.