1 of 1
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2129 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1831
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
John J. Lawn, Jr.
_________________
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 to extend statute of limitations for incest.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:John J. Lawn, Jr.10th Middlesex1/15/2025Natalie M. Blais1st Franklin1/27/2025 1 of 1
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2129 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1831
By Representative Lawn of Watertown, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1831) of
John J. Lawn, Jr. and Natalie M. Blais relative to extending the statute of limitations for incest.
The Judiciary.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 1613 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
_______________
An Act to extend statute of limitations for incest.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 The second paragraph of Section 63 of Chapter 277, is hereby amended to provide as
2follows: -
3 Notwithstanding the first paragraph, if a victim of a crime set forth in section 13B, 13F,
413H, 22, 22A, 23, 24B, 26A or 50 of chapter 265, or section 1, 2, 3, 4, 4A, 4B, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13,
526, 28, 29A, 29B, 33, 34, 35 or 35A of chapter 272 is under the age of 16 at the time the crime is
6committed, or, if a victim of section 17 of chapter 272 is under the age of 18 at the time the
7crime is committed, the period of limitation for prosecution shall not commence until the victim
8has reached the age of 16 (or has reached age 18 if a victim of section 17 of chapter 272) or the
9violation is reported to a law enforcement agency, whichever occurs earlier.