HB 652-FN (2026): abolishing the family division, creating the office of family mediation, and reassigning the jurisdiction of the family division.

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MLA
“HB 652-FN (2026): abolishing the family division, creating the office of family mediation, and reassigning the jurisdiction of the family division.” Granite Record, https://graniterecord.org/bill/2026/hb652. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.
APA
Granite Record. (n.d.). HB 652-FN (2026): abolishing the family division, creating the office of family mediation, and reassigning the jurisdiction of the family division. Retrieved 19 Oct. 2026, from https://graniterecord.org/bill/2026/hb652
Chicago
Granite Record. “HB 652-FN (2026): abolishing the family division, creating the office of family mediation, and reassigning the jurisdiction of the family division.” Accessed 19 Oct. 2026. https://graniterecord.org/bill/2026/hb652.
BibTeX
@misc{bill-2026-hb652, title = {HB 652-FN (2026): abolishing the family division, creating the office of family mediation, and reassigning the jurisdiction of the family division.}, howpublished = {Granite Record}, url = {https://graniterecord.org/bill/2026/hb652}, note = {Accessed 19 Oct. 2026} }

HB 652-FN (2026)

abolishing the family division, creating the office of family mediation, and reassigning the jurisdiction of the family division.

  • Status: Died on the table
  • Term: 2025-2026
  • House committee: Children and Family Law
  • Subject: Courts and Procedure

The Story

It was introduced on January 9, 2025 and referred to the House Children and Family Law committee. The committee held a public hearing on February 11, 2025, with 151 people signed in online: 133 in support and 18 in opposition. The committee met in executive session on March 4, 2025 to vote on its recommendation. The committee retained the bill, holding it for further work rather than reporting it out this year. The majority of the committee recommended that the House kill it by a vote of 12–2, and the report was placed on the regular calendar. The committee met in executive session on September 30, 2025 to vote on its recommendation. The minority of the committee recommended that the House study it after the session ends. On January 7, 2026 the House adopted “Recommit” on a division vote 183–161, on a motion by Rep. Debra DeSimone. The committee met in executive session on February 10, 2026 to vote on its recommendation. The committee voted unanimously, 15–0, to recommend that the House kill it, and the report was placed on the consent calendar. On February 19, 2026 the House adopted “Lay HB652 on Table” on a division vote 268–66, on a motion by Rep. Debra DeSimone. The bill died on the table when the session ended on August 19, 2026, having been set aside and never taken back up.

Sponsors

Hearings and Sessions

  • February 11, 2025, 1:30 PM: public hearing, House Children and Family Law, LOB 206-208
  • March 4, 2025, 11:00 AM: executive session, House Children and Family Law, LOB 206-208
  • September 30, 2025, 11:00 AM: executive session, House Children and Family Law, GP 230
  • January 7, 2026: floor debate, House
  • February 10, 2026, 10:00 AM: executive session, House Children and Family Law, GP 230
  • February 19, 2026: floor debate, House

Votes

  • January 7, 2026, House: Recommit — yeas 183, nays 161, passed
  • February 19, 2026, House: Lay HB652 on Table — yeas 268, nays 66, passed

The Docket

  • January 9, 2025: Introduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Children and Family Law
  • February 11, 2025: Public Hearing: 02/11/2025 01:30 pm LOB 206-208
  • March 4, 2025: Executive Session: 03/04/2025 11:00 am LOB 206-208
  • March 5, 2025: Retained in Committee
  • September 30, 2025: Majority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate 09/30/2025 (Vote 12-2; RC)
  • September 30, 2025: Executive Session: 09/30/2025 11:00 am GP 230
  • October 2, 2025: Minority Committee Report: Refer for Interim Study
  • January 7, 2026: Recommit (Rep. DeSimone): MA DV 183-161 01/07/2026
  • February 10, 2026: Executive Session: 02/10/2026 10:00 am GP 230
  • February 10, 2026: Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate 02/10/2026 (Vote 15-0; CC)
  • February 17, 2026: Removed from Consent (Reps. Nalevanko, Kaczynski, Sabourin dit Choiniere, D. Kelley, Barton, Sirois, Perez, DeRoy, Bernardy, Post) 02/16/2026
  • February 19, 2026: Lay HB652 on Table (Rep. DeSimone): MA DV 268-66 02/19/2026
  • August 19, 2026: Died on Table, Session ended 08/19/2026

Laws It Would Change

From the General Court