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H 2032MASSACHUSETTSSession 194thState Billin committee

Massachusetts bill requires verified complaints and mandatory guardian ad litem appointments for grandparent visitation petitions

Original title: An Act relative to grandparent visitation rights

Last action · March 26, 2026: Accompanied a study order, see H5281 (under House Rule 27)Sponsor: Marcus Vaughn

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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What This Bill Would Do

Grandparents petitioning for visitation rights must include a with admissible facts, and the court must appoint a at the grandparent's sole expense while assigning the issue to .

Why it matters

Grandparents seeking court-ordered visitation face new procedural hurdles and financial costs, including paying entirely for a court-appointed .

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.

Directly affected

Grandparents

Grandparents seeking visitation must provide stricter evidentiary filings and pay the full cost of a court-appointed guardian ad litem.

Directly affected

Minor children

A guardian ad litem is appointed for the minor child upon the filing of a grandparent visitation petition.

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 pays for the guardian ad litem under this bill?

The petitioning grandparent bears the sole expense of the .

What documentation must be included in the grandparent visitation petition?

The petition must include a showing personal knowledge, facts admissible in evidence, affiant competence, and non-conclusory statements.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.

Procedural history

5 actions

Mar 26, 2026House
Accompanied a study order, see H5281 (under House Rule 27)
Oct 14, 2025Joint
Hearing scheduled for 04/22/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2
Apr 18, 2025Joint
Hearing scheduled for 04/22/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2
Feb 27, 2025Senate
Senate concurred
Feb 27, 2025HouseCommittee
Referred to the committee on The Judiciary

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.

Connected Entities

Wrentham, The Judiciary, Marcus Vaughn

locationWrentham“Represented by Representative Marcus S. Vaughn”Map →

OrganizationThe Judiciary“Committee to which the bill was referred”Map →

PersonMarcus Vaughn“Representative who filed the petition relative to grandparent visitation rights”Map →

Sources

Open source document

malegislature.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance45
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy30
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz15
Current news / social attention level

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