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MA S1202

Bill

Status

Introduced

2/27/2025

Primary Sponsor

Michael Moore

Click for details

Origin

Senate

194th General Court

AI Summary

  • Establishes that Massachusetts citizens have the right to harvest fish and wildlife free from harassment, subject to sustainable population regulations

  • Prohibits nine specific interference actions including driving/disturbing wildlife, blocking or following hunters, using stimuli to affect wildlife, erecting barriers, interjecting into line of fire, tampering with equipment, trespassing with intent to interfere, verbal/physical harassment, and using drones to harass or intimidate

  • Creates tiered penalties: up to 1 year imprisonment and/or $1,000 fine for interference violations; up to 2 years and/or $5,000 for equipment vandalism; up to 5 years and/or $10,000 for causing bodily injury

  • Makes it illegal to post land as closed to hunting without property owner authorization, punishable by up to 1 year imprisonment and/or $1,000 fine

  • Directs all fines collected to the Inland Fisheries and Game Fund for the Hunter Education Program and authorizes civil action for punitive damages by victims

Legislative Description

Updating hunter harassment laws

Last Action

Accompanied a study order (under JR10), see S2886

12/18/2025

Committee Referrals

Judiciary2/27/2025

Full Bill Text

No bill text available