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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1242 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1156
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Jason M. Lewis
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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 protect the privacy of 911 callers.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Jason M. LewisFifth MiddlesexBrian W. Murray10th Worcester1/27/2025James K. Hawkins2nd Bristol1/27/2025Erika Uyterhoeven27th Middlesex1/29/2025William J. Driscoll, Jr.Norfolk, Plymouth and Bristol3/10/2025 1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1242 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1156
By Mr. Lewis, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1156) of Jason M. Lewis, Brian W.
Murray, James K. Hawkins, Erika Uyterhoeven and others for legislation to protect the privacy
of 911 callers. The Judiciary.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 1022 OF 2023-2024.]
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 protect the privacy of 911 callers.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 Chapter 6A of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-
2 Section 18BB. The audio recording of a call placed to a 911 system for the purpose of
3requesting service from a law enforcement, fire, or medical agency is private data on individuals
4with respect to the individual making the call, except that a written transcript of the audio
5recording is public. A transcript shall be prepared upon request. The person requesting the
6transcript shall pay the actual cost of transcribing the call, in addition to any other applicable
7costs for transcript preparation. The audio recording may be disseminated to law enforcement
8agencies for investigative purposes. The audio recording may be used for public safety and
9emergency medical services training purposes. 2 of 2
10 The release of the audio recording of a 911 telephone call without the express written
11consent of the caller or the caller’s legal representative shall be prohibited, except pursuant to a
12court order finding that the right of the public to the release of the recording outweighs the
13privacy interests of the individual who made the 911 call or any person involved in the facts or
14circumstances relating to the 911 call. This section shall not apply to law enforcement personnel
15conducting an investigation where the 911 telephone call is or may be relevant to the
16investigation.