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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2855 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3677
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Danielle W. Gregoire
_________________
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 authorization for electronic signatures with motor vehicle title and
registration transactions.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Danielle W. Gregoire4th Middlesex1/16/2025Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr.12th Hampden2/19/2025Mark J. Cusack5th Norfolk2/19/2025Joseph W. McGonagle, Jr.28th Middlesex2/19/2025Patrick Joseph Kearney4th Plymouth2/19/2025Hannah Kane11th Worcester2/19/2025 1 of 4
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2855 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3677
By Representative Gregoire of Marlborough, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3677)
of Danielle W. Gregoire and others that the Registry of Motor Vehicles be authorized to accept
electronic signatures on any document. Transportation.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
_______________
An Act relative to the authorization for electronic signatures with motor vehicle title and
registration transactions.
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. The General Laws are hereby amended by inserting after chapter 90J the
2following chapter:-
3 Chapter 90K. Electronic Signatures with Motor Vehicle Title and Registration
4Transactions
5 Section 1. Definitions. In this chapter, except when the context otherwise requires, the
6following words shall have the following meanings:—
7 “Electronic signature”, as defined in section 2 of chapter 110G.
8 “Electronic”, as defined in section 2 of chapter 110G.
9 “Physical odometer document”, a physical document as defined in Part 580 of Title 49
10United States Code of Federal Regulations containing an odometer disclosure statement printed 2 of 4
11on paper by a secure printing process or other secure process by any jurisdiction in compliance
12with the Part. Physical odometer documents, for the purposes of this chapter, are limited to
13certificates of title, secure powers of attorney, and reassignment documents. The term does not
14include any other form or document, even if the document contains a space for an odometer
15reading.
16 Section 2. Acceptance of Electronic Signatures.
17 (a) The registrar shall accept electronic signatures on any document, form, physical
18odometer document, or record necessary or required by the registrar related to or for the purposes
19of registering or titling any motor vehicle in the commonwealth, inclusive of, but not limited to,
20chapters 90 and 90D.
21 (b) A physical odometer document that is made electronic by imaging, scanning, or
22similar process: (i) is not an “electronic power of attorney” or “electronic title” as those terms are
23defined in Part 580 of Title 49 United States Code of Federal Regulations; and (ii) shall be
24accepted by the registrar if subsequently executed with an electronic signature.
25 (c) The registrar shall accept any document, form, physical odometer document, or record
26with electronic signatures by: (i) electronic means through any process or system available,
27including but not limited to the electronic vehicle registration program, to accept documents,
28forms, physical odometer documents, or records by electronic means; or (ii) physical means,
29such that the document, form, physical odometer document, or record is printed to paper.
30 (d) A physical odometer document which is made electronic by imaging, scanning or
31other similar process that is subsequently executed with an electronic signature that requires
32submission to the registrar by physical means shall require the physical odometer document, in 3 of 4
33its original format, prior to its execution by electronic signature, to accompany the printed copy
34if the physical odometer document is a: (i) certificate of title; or (ii) secure power of attorney or
35dealer reassignment and it has physically completed data or information, such as by handwriting
36or printing, that preceded the execution by electronic signature.
37 Section 3. Requirements and Limitations.
38 (a) The registrar: (i) may require a document containing an electronic signature to include
39an indication that the signature is electronic; (ii) shall not require an electronic signature process
40or an electronic signature vendor be certified by the registrar before accepting a document that is
41executed with an electronic signature; (iii) shall not require a document which has been executed
42with an electronic signature to be converted to physical format by printing for any purpose,
43except when submission by physical means is necessary and required; (iv) shall not impose any
44additional requirement upon an electronic signature except as authorized by this chapter; and (v)
45may require a certification of authenticity, audit trail, or similar statement or proof of assurance.
46 (b) The system or person granting access to the system used to capture an electronic
47 signature must verify the identity of the user accessing the system. The system must: (i)
48be securely maintained; (ii) capture and retain the user information, including the Internet
49Protocol address of the signer and date and timestamp of system access or electronic signature
50capture; and (iii) retain all information provided to the system for a period of five years, which
51shall be made available to the registrar, other regulatory agencies, or law enforcement upon
52request.
53 (c) This chapter shall not be construed to require, limit, prohibit, or otherwise hinder the 4 of 4
54 ability of the registrar to provide electronic services, systems, or alternative methods to
55receiving and transmitting electronic data, documents, or records, including electronic signature
56capturing or identity verification.
57 (d) This chapter shall not be construed to require, limit, prohibit, or otherwise hinder the
58 registrar to provide or issue an “electronic power of attorney” or “electronic title” as
59those terms are defined in Part 580 of Title 49 United States Code of Federal Regulations, or
60provide an electronic signature process, system, platform, or service.
61 Section 4. Utilization.
62 Electronic signatures may not be used for any purpose other than the purpose indicated
63by the signer on the document and shall be linked to their respective electronic records to ensure
64that the signatures cannot be excised, copied, or otherwise transferred unless expressly
65authorized by the signer.
66 Section 5. Conflict.
67 This chapter shall prevail in any conflict arising with another provision in chapters 90,
6890D, and 110G of the General Laws. Chapter 110G of the General Laws shall govern any area
69not expressly addressed in this chapter.
70 SECTION 2. Any permissive clause not expressly exercised by the registrar by policy,
71rule, or regulation on or after the effective date is deemed not in effect on the date the electronic
72signature is captured. The registrar shall not retroactively enforce provisions once exercised.
73 SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon its passage.