THE HOUSE PLANS to vote Wednesday on bills to restrict police use of drones to surveil people who have reasonable expectations of privacy, to increase access to EpiPens, and to create a program to improve interactions between police and autistic drivers.
The House Ways and Means Committee, which is buried with more than 1,000 bills that have cleared other committees, released seven bills ahead of a formal session on Wednesday.
One bill (H 4637) would ban anyone in Massachusetts from manufacturing, selling, possessing or operating a robotic device equipped with a weapon. It defines robotic devices to include remotely operated or autonomous machines such as drones, while weapons would include firearms, explosives and chemical agents.
Violators would face mandatory prison sentences of between 18 months and five years, with tougher penalties for repeat offenses. The legislation is based on bills filed by Rep. Michael Finn of West Springfield (H 1688) and Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa of Northampton (H 1978).
The legislation would also prohibit robotic devices to threaten, harass or physically restrain people. Exemptions in the bill would apply to the U.S. military, the Massachusetts National Guard and some defense contractors, along with limited attorney general-approved waivers for research, education or entertainment.
Police could still use weaponized robots for bomb disposal or imminent threats, but would be required to obtain a warrant to use a drone on private property or to conduct surveillance or location tracking. Agencies would also have to publicly report robotic-device use, and individuals could sue over alleged violations of the law.
Similar legislation has been filed every session since 2017, and on Tuesday it received a 31-0 favorable vote out of House Ways and Means.
The House also plans to take up Senate-priority bills to create a blue envelope program for autistic drivers (S 2565) and establish Blue Star license plates for families who have lost loved ones in the line of duty (S 2903).
For years, the Senate has tried to codify a blue envelope program to improve interactions between police and autistic drivers. Under the bill, participating drivers could choose to place copies of their license, registration and insurance cards inside a blue envelope, which acts as a visual cue for police and other public safety officials during stressful and potentially dangerous traffic stops.
The envelope would notify police that the driver is autistic and provide guidance for how to handle certain behaviors, such as stimming. Drivers can also share emergency contact information on the envelope.
The Massachusetts State Police began a voluntary program modeled after the legislation last year.
The House Ways and Means Committee also gave a 30-0 favorable recommendation to a bill (H 4607) that would increase access to epinephrine auto-injectors such as EpiPens, medicine that can save a person’s life if they are experiencing an allergic reaction resulting in anaphylaxis.
The bill allows licensed pharmacists to dispense the devices under a statewide standing order instead of requiring individual prescriptions. It shields pharmacists from civil or criminal liability while “acting in good faith,” and directs state agencies to create training standards for dispensing the medication.
It also allows trained employees at businesses and organizations — including restaurants, summer camps, sports leagues, colleges and arenas — to carry and administer epinephrine during allergic emergencies, even if the person experiencing anaphylaxis does not have a prescription. These businesses can buy EpiPens from a Department of Public Health-authorized wholesaler, and employees would receive DPH training.
In addition, the legislation creates limited legal protections for people seeking emergency help during an allergic reaction, preventing simple drug possession charges from being brought if the evidence was obtained because someone called for medical assistance.
The House also plans to vote on a bill (H 4367) to require screenings for newborns for congenital cytomegalovirus, or cCMV, a common virus that can cause hearing loss, developmental delays and other serious health problems in newborns. Testing would have to be conducted within 21 days of a birth for newborns born at hospitals and birthing facilities, unless parents object for religious reasons.
The legislation also charges the Department of Public Health with creating a statewide public education program about cCMV and creates an advisory committee to guide the rollout of the screening program and recommend standards for testing and follow-up care.
Two local bills sponsored by top deputies to Speaker Ron Mariano were also released Tuesday.
The House could vote Wednesday on a land transfer in Speaker Pro Tempore Rep. Kate Hogan’s district (H 3346) by allowing the state to sell or transfer two former state-owned parcels connected to the old Lancaster Industrial School for Girls and the Bolton dam, to the town of Bolton for municipal use.
House Majority Leader Michael Moran is also seeing movement on a bill tied to development in his Boston neighborhood of Brighton (H 4415).
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s Office of Arts and Culture has pushed the project on 290 North Beacon St. that would be redeveloped for affordable housing, mixed-use housing, a musician rehearsal and recording studio space, and additional arts and culture spaces. The bill would waive some standard procurement requirements for the Boston Housing Authority to redevelop the so-called Faneuil Gardens site, to accelerate the project.