Laws by popular name A-C

An index to Massachusetts laws with popular names A-C

A

Subject	Citations
209A restraining order (abuse prevention)	MGL c. 209A
Abandoned property	MGL c. 200A (General) Lost goods & stray animals: MGL c. 134 Procedures for administration of abandoned property: 960 CMR 4 Unclaimed and abandoned property: MGL c. 135 Vessels (boats) MGL c. 10, § 35GG MGL c. 255, § 17
Abortion	See: Law About Abortion Parental consent for minor's abortion: MGL c. 112, § 12R Parental consent for minor's abortion (one parent): Planned Parenthood of Mass. v. Att'y Gen'l, 424 Mass. 586 (1997)
Abuse of elderly persons	MGL c. 19A, §§ 14-26
Abuse prevention	MGL c. 209A
Adoption	See: Law About Adoption Records: MGL c. 210, § 5D
Adverse possession	See: Law About Adverse Possession
AEDs (Automatic External Defibrillators) in Health Clubs	MGL c. 93, § 78A
Affordable housing	MGL c. 40B, § 20, § 21, § 22, § 23
Age of majority	MGL c. 4, § 7 (cl. 48-51)
Aguilar-Spinelli test (of informant information)	Aguilar v. Texas, 378 U.S. 108 (1964) Spinelli v. United States, 393 U.S. 410 (1969)
Alimony	MGL c. 208, § 34
Allergies, Food, Restaurant Requirements	MGL c. 140, § 6B(b)(2) 105 CMR 590.003(B)(17)  Department of Public Health Information
Ally's Law (Restroom access)	MGL c. 270, § 26
Amanda's Law (taking pictures of crime victims)	St. 2022, c. 146
Anatomical gifts	MGL c. 113A Required requests: 105 CMR 130.380
Annulment	MGL c. 207, § 14
Anti-lapse statute	MGL c. 190B, § 2-603
Anti-SLAPP laws (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation)	See: About Mass. Anti-SLAPP
Anti-snob zoning (40B)	MGL c. 40B, § 20, § 21, § 22, § 23 760 CMR 56
Anti-stalking law	MGL c. 265, § 43
Armed career criminal	MGL c. 269, §10G 18 U.S.C. § 924(e)
Assignment of wages	MGL c. 154
Autism, Health Insurance Coverage	St. 2010, c. 207
Automobile insurance	See: Mass. Law About Auto Insurance
Automobile lemon law (new & used cars)	MGL c. 90, § 7N 1/4 & § 7N 1/2 Lemon aid laws (voiding sale contracts): MGL c. 90, § 7N Motor vehicle arbitration: 201 CMR 11 Motor vehicle sales & repair shop regulations: 940 CMR 5 Private party sales: Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation

B

Subject	Citations
Baby Safe Haven law	MGL c. 119, § 39-1/2
Bail jumping	MGL c. 276, § 82A
Ban the Box: limits criminal record questions on job applications	MGL c. 151B, § 4 (9-1/2)
Bank accounts, Seizure	MGL c. 246, § 28A
BB guns	MGL c. 269, § 12B
Beagle bill	MGL c. 140 § 174D 1/2
Bed bugs	105 CMR 410.550
Benefit corporations	MGL c. 156E
Benevolent gestures statute	MGL c. 233, § 23D
Bicycles	MGL c. 85, §§ 11B-11E
Birth control	See: Law About Contraception
Blue laws	Mass. Blue Laws
Booster seats	MGL c. 90, § 7AA
Bottle bill	MGL c. 94, §§ 321-323E Recycling beverage containers: 301 CMR 4  Reporting deposits and refunds: 204 CMR 3  Abandoned deposits: 830 CMR 94
BRAVE Act (veterans' benefits)	St. 2018, c. 218
Breakfast after the bell	MGL c. 69, § 1C
Breathalyzer	MGL c. 90, § 24K Safe Roads regulations: 501 CMR 2
Bucket shops	MGL c. 271, §§ 35-36
Building codes	MGL c. 143 780 CMR (Massachusetts State Building Code)
Bullying	See: Law About Bullying and Cyberbullying
Bump stocks	Banned by MGL c. 140, § 121
Bus drivers' wages	MGL c. 71, § 7A

C

Subject	Citations
Calorie reporting for restaurants	PL 111-148, § 4205
Campaign expenditures and contributions	MGL c. 55 970 CMR
Campaign financing	MGL c. 10, § 42
Campus sexual violence act	MGL c. 6, § 168D & § 168E
Capital punishment	See: Law About the Death Penalty
CARE Act (Health care: Caregiver Advise, Record, Enable)	MGL c. 111, § 236
Caregiver Authorization Affidavit	MGL c. 201F
Carjacking	MGL c. 265, § 21A
Castle Law	MGL c. 278, § 8A
Chapter 766 (special education)	MGL c. 71B 603 CMR 28
Checks, dishonored	MGL c. 93, § 40A
Child abandonment	MGL c. 119, § 39
Child custody	See: Law About Child Custody
Child endangerment	MGL c. 265, § 13L
Child labor	See: Law About Child Labor
Child requiring assistance	MGL c. 119, § 21 MGL c. 119, §§ 39E-39I
Child support	See: Law About Child Support
Child support (Children over 18)	See: Law About Child Support Over Eighteen
CHINS (Children in need of services). Now known as CRA (Child requiring assistance)	MGL c. 119, § 21 MGL c. 119, §§ 39E-39I Department of Social Services: Intake: 110 CMR 4 Department of Social Services: Services: 110 CMR 7 Department of Youth Services: 109 CMR 1-12
Christian's Law (Drowning prevention)	MGL c. 90B, § 5A MGL c. 111, § 127A 1/2 See also: Christian's Law
Circuit Breaker Tax Credit (Property tax credit for seniors)	MGL c. 62, § 6(k)
Citizen's arrest	Comm. v. Harris, 11 Mass. App. Ct. 165 (1981)
Civil & criminal commitment (Mental health laws)	MGL c. 123
Civil motor vehicle infractions (CMVI)	Civil Motor Vehicle Assessment Schedule
Civil rights, punishment for violation	MGL c. 265, § 37 & § 39
Civil rights, unlawful discrimination	MGL c. 151B
Civil rights, violation of constitutional rights	MGL c. 12, § 11H, § 11I, § 11J
Civil service	MGL c. 31 Hearing Rules of Procedure: 801 CMR 1
Clean Waters Act	MGL c. 21, §§ 26-53 Division of Water Pollution Control: 314 CMR 2-18
CMVI (Civil Motor Vehicle Infractions)	Civil Motor Vehicle Assessment Schedule
COBRA	P.L. 99-272, Title X as appearing in 29 USC 1161-1168 Mini COBRA: MGL c. 176J, § 9
Cockfighting	MGL c. 272, §§ 94-95
Common day of rest law	Mass. Blue Laws
Common law marriage	While Massachusetts recognizes a valid common law marriage from another state, a common law marriage cannot be created in Massachusetts.
Community Preservation Act	MGL c. 44B
Community property	Mass. is not a community property state. See instead: Law About Divorce
Compulsory motor vehicle liability insurance	See: Law About Auto Insurance
Condominium conversion	St.1983, c. 527
Condominiums	MGL c. 183A
Conflict of interest, public officials & employees	See: Law About Ethics
Consumer credit cost disclosure	MGL c. 140D
Consumer protection	See: Law About Consumer Protection
Continued without a finding	MGL c. 278, § 18
Controlled substances (drugs & narcotics)	MGL c. 94C
CORI (Criminal Offender Record Information)	See: Law About Criminal Records
Cotto order	Commonwealth v. Cotto, 471 Mass. 97 (2015)
CRA (Child Requiring Assistance)	MGL c. 119, § 21 MGL c. 119, §§ 39E-39I
Credit: Mass. Fair Credit Reporting Act	MGL c. 93, §§ 50-68
Crime Victims Rights and Compensation	See: Law About Victims and Witnesses
Criminal & civil commitment (mental health laws)	MGL c. 123
Criminal harassment ("Sandy's law")	MGL c. 265
Crowdfunding	950 CMR 14.402(B)(13)(o)
CROWN act	St. 2022, c. 117
Custody of children	See: Law About Child Custody

Last updated:	November 3, 2025