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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2162 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 544
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
William N. Brownsberger
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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 prohibiting the mistreatment of birds.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :William N. BrownsbergerSuffolk and MiddlesexJoanne M. ComerfordHampshire, Franklin and Worcester2/5/2025Dylan A. FernandesPlymouth and Barnstable2/5/2025Jason M. LewisFifth Middlesex2/5/2025 1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2162 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 544
By Mr. Brownsberger, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 544) of William N.
Brownsberger, Joanne M. Comerford, Dylan A. Fernandes and Jason M. Lewis for legislation to
prohibit the mistreatment of birds. Environment and Natural Resources.
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 prohibiting the mistreatment of birds.
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 118 of chapter 94 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022
2Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting before the definition of “broker” the following
3definition:- Bird, any winged vertebrate, such as a duck or goose.
4 SECTION 2. Section 118 of chapter 94 is further amended by inserting after the
5definition of “department” the following definition:- Force feeding, a process that causes a bird
6to consume more food than a typical bird of the same species would consume voluntarily. These
7methods include but are not limited to delivering feed through a tube or other device inserted into
8the bird’s esophagus.
9 SECTION 3. Section 118 of chapter 94 is further amended by striking the definition of
10“Poultry” and replacing it with the following:- any domesticated bird, whether live or dead,
11including a duck or goose. 2 of 2
12 SECTION 4. Section 127 of chapter 94, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting
13after clause 3 of Subsection (a) the following clause:- (4) force feed a bird for the purpose of
14enlarging the bird’s liver beyond the normal size or hire another person to do so.
15 SECTION 5. Section 127 of said chapter 94, as so appearing, is further amended by
16inserting after clause 3 of Subsection (b) the following clause:- (4) any products that are the
17result of force feeding a bird for the purpose of enlarging the bird’s liver beyond the normal size.