Bill > H1988

This bill establishes a comprehensive commission to study and make recommendations about privacy protections for sensitive information in court documents. The commission will be composed of 13 members representing various stakeholders, including legislative leaders, judicial officials, safety experts, and representatives from organizations like the Massachusetts Bar Association and Jane Doe, Inc. The commission's primary task is to evaluate the accessibility and privacy of sensitive personal information in legal documents, such as residential addresses, financial details, social security numbers, medical information, and child-related data. Specifically, they will consider and recommend guidelines about whether such information should be accessible online, available only through in-person courthouse requests, or restricted from public view. The commission is required to submit its findings and recommendations to the judiciary committee, Chief Justice of the Trial Court, and Court Administrator by January 1, 2026, with the goal of developing more robust privacy protections in the state's legal document systems.

Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H1988