HB 638-FN (2025): allowing an older prisoner serving a sentence of life without parole to be eligible for parole upon meeting certain criteria.

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“HB 638-FN (2025): allowing an older prisoner serving a sentence of life without parole to be eligible for parole upon meeting certain criteria.” Granite Record, https://graniterecord.org/bill/2025/hb638. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.
APA
Granite Record. (n.d.). HB 638-FN (2025): allowing an older prisoner serving a sentence of life without parole to be eligible for parole upon meeting certain criteria. Retrieved 19 Oct. 2026, from https://graniterecord.org/bill/2025/hb638
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Granite Record. “HB 638-FN (2025): allowing an older prisoner serving a sentence of life without parole to be eligible for parole upon meeting certain criteria.” Accessed 19 Oct. 2026. https://graniterecord.org/bill/2025/hb638.
BibTeX
@misc{bill-2025-hb638, title = {HB 638-FN (2025): allowing an older prisoner serving a sentence of life without parole to be eligible for parole upon meeting certain criteria.}, howpublished = {Granite Record}, url = {https://graniterecord.org/bill/2025/hb638}, note = {Accessed 19 Oct. 2026} }

HB 638-FN (2025)

allowing an older prisoner serving a sentence of life without parole to be eligible for parole upon meeting certain criteria.

  • Status: Killed
  • Term: 2025-2026
  • House committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
  • Subject: Crimes, Criminal Procedure and Corrections

The Story

It was introduced on January 9, 2025 and referred to the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety committee. The committee held a public hearing on February 7, 2025, with 135 people signed in online: 123 in support and 12 in opposition. The committee met in executive session on March 19, 2025 to vote on its recommendation. The majority recommended that the House kill it, and the minority recommended that the House pass it, by a vote of 9–7. The report was placed on the regular calendar. On March 26, 2025 the House voted to kill it on a roll call 214–127.

Sponsors

Hearings and Sessions

  • February 7, 2025, 10:00 AM: public hearing, House Criminal Justice and Public Safety, LOB 202-204
  • March 19, 2025, 10:00 AM: executive session, House Criminal Justice and Public Safety, LOB 202-204
  • March 26, 2025: floor debate, House

Votes

  • March 26, 2025, House: Inexpedient to Legislate — yeas 214, nays 127, passed

The Docket

  • January 9, 2025: Introduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety
  • February 7, 2025: Public Hearing: 02/07/2025 10:00 am LOB 202-204
  • March 14, 2025: ==CANCELLED== Executive Session: 03/14/2025 10:00 am LOB 202-204
  • March 19, 2025: Executive Session: 03/19/2025 10:00 am LOB 202-204
  • March 19, 2025: Majority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate 03/19/2025 (Vote 9-7; RC)
  • March 19, 2025: Minority Committee Report: Ought to Pass
  • March 26, 2025: Inexpedient to Legislate: MA RC 214-127 03/26/2025

Laws It Would Change

From the General Court