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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1658 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1139
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
John F. Keenan
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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 restore the statute of limitations for deaths due to tobacco use.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :John F. KeenanNorfolk and Plymouth 1 of 1
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1658 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1139
By Mr. Keenan, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1139) of John F. Keenan for
legislation to restore the statute of limitations for deaths due to tobacco use. The Judiciary.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act to restore the statute of limitations for deaths due to tobacco use.
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 2 of Chapter 229 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022
2Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting, after the word “deceased”, in line 34, the
3following words:- “. An action to recover damages under this section is not derivative of any
4personal injury claim brought by the decedent and may be commenced regardless of whether the
5decedent timely commenced a claim for the injury causing death”.
6 SECTION 2. This act shall apply retroactively to July 6, 2023.