Massachusetts legislation · 194th General Court
Massachusetts H2702: An Act to protect correctional officers
Status: Failed, March 19, 2026
What the bill says
From the introduced text, February 27, 2025:
SECTION 1. Section 38B of Chapter 127 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out subsection b and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:- “(b) Any person in the custody of a correctional facility, including any jail, house of correction, trial court detention facility or state prison, who commits an assault or an assault and battery upon an officer or other employee, any volunteer or employee of a contractor in any such facility or any duly authorized officer or other employee of any such facility engaged in the transportation of a prisoner for any lawful purpose shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than 5 years in a jail or house of correction or for not more than 10 years in a state prison. Such sentence shall begin from and after all sentences currently outstanding and unserved at the time of said assault or assault and battery.” SECTION 2. Section 1 of Chapter 94C of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the definition of "Narcotic drug" the following definition: “Synthetic Cannabinoids, A class of synthetic chemical compounds that are designed to mimic the effects of cannabis. Synthetic cannabinoids are often sprayed on plant material and consumed as a smokable …
Sponsors
- Michael Soter (R, 8th Worcester) · primary sponsor
- Steven Xiarhos (R, 5th Barnstable)
- Donald Berthiaume (R)
- Joseph McKenna (R, 18th Worcester)
- John Rogers (D, 12th Norfolk)
- David Vieira (R, 3rd Barnstable)
- John Marsi (R, 6th Worcester)
- Marcus Vaughn (R)
- Kenneth Sweezey (R)
- James Arena-DeRosa (D)
- Jonathan Zlotnik (D, 2nd Worcester)
- Patrick O'Connor (R, First Plymouth and Norfolk)
Latest actions
- : Accompanied a study order, see H5281 (under House Rule 27)
- : Accompanied a study order, see H5254 (under House Rule 27)
- : Hearing scheduled for 09/25/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2
- : Senate concurred
- : Referred to the committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security
- : Reported by committee to Clerk’s Office for processing, will accompany a study order
Common questions
- What is H2702?
- H2702 is a bill in the Massachusetts Legislature (194th General Court): An Act to protect correctional officers.
- What is the status of H2702?
- Failed as of March 19, 2026. Latest action: Accompanied a study order, see H5281 (under House Rule 27) (March 26, 2026).
- Who sponsored H2702?
- Michael Soter (R, 8th Worcester), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for H2702?
- On the Massachusetts Legislature website: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H2702
Source: official Massachusetts record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.