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Read. Follow. Verify.Massachusetts Senate bill directs state safety office to create statewide police drug recognition certification
Last action · January 27, 2026: Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Senate Ways and MeansSponsors: Bruce Tarr and 1 other
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What This Bill Would Do
The Secretary of the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security must develop a statewide standardization and accreditation certification for municipal and state police officers to serve as s for court testimony. The official recommendations must be submitted to legislative clerks and committees by December 31, 2025.
Changes training and accreditation requirements for municipal and state police officers seeking to qualify as s for court proceedings.
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.
municipal and state police officers
Police officers must obtain a new statewide standardization and accreditation certification to serve as drug recognition experts in court.
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 must develop the new police certification?
What is the purpose of the drug recognition expert certification?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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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- Jan 27, 2026SenateCommitteeBill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Senate Ways and Means
- Aug 26, 2025JointHearing scheduled for 09/10/2025 from 1:00 PM-5:00 PM in A-2
- Feb 27, 2025HouseHouse concurred
- Feb 27, 2025SenateCommitteeReferred 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
Connected Entities
Sources
malegislature.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance45How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy15Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz20Current news / social attention level
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