Bill
Bill > H1670
MA H1670
MA H1670Relative to the repeal or reform of certain unenforceable or unconstitutional archaic laws on religion, piety, and morality
summary
Introduced
02/27/2025
02/27/2025
In Committee
02/27/2025
02/27/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
194th General Court
Bill Summary
Relative to the repeal or reform of certain archaic laws on religion, piety, and morality. The Judiciary.
AI Summary
This bill proposes to repeal or reform several outdated laws related to religion, piety, and morality in the Massachusetts General Laws. Specifically, the bill removes Section 30 of Chapter 71 (related to schools), amends Section 31 of Chapter 71 by striking its first sentence, and modifies Section 15 of Chapter 233 to standardize oath-taking procedures. The new oath-taking language requires individuals to simply raise their hand and affirm the truthfulness of their testimony without any religious references. The bill also completely repeals Sections 16-19 of Chapter 233, as well as Sections 26, 29, 34, 35, and 36 of Chapter 272, which likely contained archaic or unconstitutional provisions related to religious practices or moral conduct. By removing these sections, the bill aims to update Massachusetts law to remove potentially discriminatory or outdated language that may no longer be legally enforceable or consistent with modern constitutional principles of religious freedom and equal treatment.
Committee Categories
Justice
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Hearing scheduled for 05/06/2025 from 01:00 PM-04:00 PM in A-2 (on 10/20/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H1670 |
| BillText | https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H1670.pdf |
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