HB 198-FN (2025): relative to legalizing certain quantities of cannabis and establishing penalties for the smoking or vaping of cannabis in public.

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@misc{bill-2025-hb198, title = {HB 198-FN (2025): relative to legalizing certain quantities of cannabis and establishing penalties for the smoking or vaping of cannabis in public.}, howpublished = {Granite Record}, url = {https://graniterecord.org/bill/2025/hb198}, note = {Accessed 19 Oct. 2026} }

HB 198-FN (2025)

relative to legalizing certain quantities of cannabis and establishing penalties for the smoking or vaping of cannabis in public.

  • Status: Died on the table
  • Term: 2025-2026
  • House committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
  • Senate committee: Judiciary
  • Subject: Crimes, Criminal Procedure and Corrections

The Story

It was introduced on January 8, 2025 and referred to the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety committee. The committee held a public hearing on January 23, 2025, with 25 people signed in online: 18 in support and 7 in opposition. The committee met in executive session on March 5, 2025 to vote on its recommendation. The majority recommended that the House pass it, and the minority recommended that the House kill it, by a vote of 9–7. The report was placed on the regular calendar. On March 26, 2025 the House voted to pass it on a roll call 208–125. It crossed to the Senate on March 27, 2025 and was referred to the Senate Judiciary committee. The committee held a public hearing on April 15, 2025. The committee voted 3–2 to recommend that the Senate kill it. On May 1, 2025 the Senate voted to lay it on the table, on a motion by Sen. Bill Gannon. The bill died on the table under Senate Rule 3-23 on October 31, 2025, having been set aside and never taken back up.

Sponsors

Hearings and Sessions

  • January 23, 2025, 1:30 PM: public hearing, House Criminal Justice and Public Safety, LOB 202-204
  • March 5, 2025, 10:00 AM: executive session, House Criminal Justice and Public Safety, LOB 202-204
  • March 26, 2025: floor debate, House
  • April 15, 2025, 1:40 PM: hearing, Senate Judiciary, SH 100
  • May 1, 2025: floor debate, Senate

Votes

  • March 26, 2025, House: Ought to Pass — yeas 208, nays 125, passed
  • May 1, 2025, Senate: Lay on Table — yeas 12, nays 10, passed

The Docket

  • January 8, 2025: Introduced 01/08/2025 and referred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety
  • January 23, 2025: Public Hearing: 01/23/2025 01:30 pm LOB 202-204
  • March 5, 2025: Executive Session: 03/05/2025 10:00 am LOB 202-204
  • March 5, 2025: Majority Committee Report: Ought to Pass 03/05/2025 (Vote 9-7; RC)
  • March 19, 2025: Minority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate
  • March 26, 2025: Ought to Pass: MA RC 208-125 03/26/2025
  • March 27, 2025: Introduced 03/27/2025 and Referred to Judiciary
  • April 15, 2025: Hearing: 04/15/2025, Room 100, SH, 01:40 pm
  • May 1, 2025: Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate, 05/01/2025, Vote 3-2
  • May 1, 2025: Sen. Gannon Moved Laid on Table, RC 12Y-10N, MA; 05/01/2025
  • May 1, 2025: Pending Motion Inexpedient to Legislate; 05/01/2025
  • October 31, 2025: Inexpedient to Legislate, Senate Rule 3-23, 10/31/2025

Laws It Would Change

Related Bills

From the General Court