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Read. Follow. Verify.Massachusetts authorizes familial DNA searching and partial matches for unsolved violent crimes under strict oversight
Last action · October 30, 2025: Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Ways and MeansSponsors: Danielle Gregoire and 1 other
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What This Bill Would Do
By Representative Gregoire of Marlborough, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2626) of Danielle W. Gregoire and Alyson M. Sullivan-Almeida for legislation to permit familial searching and partial DNA matches in investigating certain unsolved crimes. Public Safety and Homeland Security.
Law enforcement agencies gain a new investigative tool to identify suspects in unsolved violent crimes through genetic relatives in the state DNA databank, while facing strict prohibitions against building unregulated external DNA databases.
- The Massachusetts General Court is the state legislature, operating in its 194th session for the filing of House Bill 2626. context
- Chapter 22E of the Massachusetts General Laws governs the state's DNA database and collection system. context
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
State or local police investigators
Investigators gain the ability to request familial DNA searches and receive confidential investigative leads for unsolved violent felonies.
Forensic DNA laboratories
Laboratories must follow new regulatory steps, conduct confirmatory testing, and adhere to strict prohibitions against aggregating records in external databases.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who oversees the familial search process in Massachusetts?
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
4 actions- Oct 30, 2025HouseCommitteeBill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Ways and Means
- Jul 23, 2025JointHearing rescheduled to 07/24/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2 and Virtual
- Feb 27, 2025SenateSenate concurred
- Feb 27, 2025HouseCommitteeReferred to the committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Introduction of Regulated Familial DNA Searching
The legislation shifts Massachusetts policy from prohibiting or leaving unregulated external aggregation of DNA records to establishing a formal, centralized oversight committee for familial searches.
Connected Entities
Sources
malegislature.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy60Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz40Current news / social attention level
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