Massachusetts legislation · 194th General Court
Massachusetts H2008: An Act prohibiting name-changing for registered sex offenders
Status: Failed, March 26, 2026
What the bill says
From the introduced text, February 27, 2025:
SECTION 1. Section 178E of chapter 6 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following subsection:- (r) A sex offender required to register pursuant to sections 178C to 178P, inclusive, shall not hold him or herself out under any other name except the name by which such sex offender registered under this section. SECTION 2. Section 178H of said chapter 6, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting, in line 4, after the word “information” the following words:- ; or (v) fails to comply with subsection (r) of section 178E. SECTION 3. Section 1D of chapter 46 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph:- A party to a marriage who is a sex offender as defined in section 178C of chapter 6 may not adopt or use any other surname than that which such party is required to register pursuant to sections 178C to 178P, inclusive of said chapter 6. SECTION 4. Section 12 of chapter 210 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding the following sentence:- No change of name shall be granted for a person listed as a sex offender on the sex offender registry under section 178D of chapter 6.
Sponsors
- Alyson Sullivan-Almeida (R) · primary sponsor
- Kelly Dooner (R)
- Steven Xiarhos (R, 5th Barnstable)
Latest actions
- : Accompanied a study order, see H5281 (under House Rule 27)
- : Hearing scheduled for 06/17/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2
- : Hearing scheduled for 06/17/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2
- : Senate concurred
- : Referred to the committee on The Judiciary
- : Reported by committee to Clerk’s Office for processing, will accompany a study order
Common questions
- What is H2008?
- H2008 is a bill in the Massachusetts Legislature (194th General Court): An Act prohibiting name-changing for registered sex offenders.
- What is the status of H2008?
- Failed as of March 26, 2026. Latest action: Accompanied a study order, see H5281 (under House Rule 27) (March 26, 2026).
- Who sponsored H2008?
- Alyson Sullivan-Almeida (R), with 2 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for H2008?
- On the Massachusetts Legislature website: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H2008
Source: official Massachusetts record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.