Massachusetts legislation · 194th General Court
Massachusetts S1205: An Act relative to controlling and abusive litigation
Status: In committee, July 13, 2026
What the bill says
From the introduced text, February 27, 2025:
SECTION 1. The General Laws are hereby amended by inserting after chapter 209D the following chapter:- Chapter 209E. CONTROLLING AND ABUSIVE LITIGATION PREVENTION Section 1. As used in this chapter, the following words shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings: “Abuse”, as defined in section 1 of chapter 209A. "Controlling and abusive litigation", litigation where the following apply: (a)(i) The opposing parties have a current or former family or household member relationship; (ii) The party who is filing, initiating, advancing or continuing the litigation has been found by a court to have committed abuse against the other party pursuant to an order entered under chapters 208, 209, 209A, 209C or 258E, or who is found after a hearing in the instant case, to have committed abuse or harassment against the other party that may have warranted the issue of an order under said chapters; and (iii) The litigation is being initiated, advanced or continued primarily for the purpose of abusing, harassing, intimidating, threatening or maintaining contact with the other party; and (b) At least 1 of the following factors apply: (i) Claims, allegations or other legal contentions made in the litigation are not warranted by existing law or by a reasonable argument for the extension, modification or reversal of existing law, or the establishment of new …
Sponsors
- Michael Moore (D, Second Worcester) · primary sponsor
- Joanne Comerford (D, Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester)
- Jacob Oliveira (D)
- Joan Lovely (D, Second Essex)
- John Velis (D, Hampden and Hampshire)
- Vanna Howard (D, 17th Middlesex)
- Tarr, Andrew (D, 5th Essex)
- Salvatore DiDomenico (D, Middlesex and Suffolk)
- Paul Mark (D)
- Kennedy, Robyn K. (D, First Worcester)
- Barry Finegold (D)
- Jason Lewis (D, Fifth Middlesex)
Latest actions
- : Accompanied a new draft, see S3158
- : Reporting date extended to Tuesday June 30, 2026
- : Reporting date extended to Thursday April 2, 2026
- : Reporting date extended to Monday March 2, 2026
- : Hearing scheduled for 06/03/2025 from 01:00 PM-09:00 PM in A-2
- : Hearing scheduled for 06/03/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2
- : House concurred
- : Referred to the committee on The Judiciary
Common questions
- What is S1205?
- S1205 is a bill in the Massachusetts Legislature (194th General Court): An Act relative to controlling and abusive litigation.
- What is the status of S1205?
- In committee as of July 13, 2026. Latest action: Accompanied a new draft, see S3158 (July 13, 2026).
- Who sponsored S1205?
- Michael Moore (D, Second Worcester), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for S1205?
- On the Massachusetts Legislature website: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S1205
Source: official Massachusetts record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.