H2621 (2026): Critical Incident Leave for Officers Involved in Firearm Discharges

What the Bill Would Do

House Bill 2621 would require a law enforcement agency that places an officer on administrative leave pending an investigation of a qualifying serious use-of-force incident to record and publicly describe that time as "Critical Incident Leave"^[1]. The bill does not require an agency to place an officer on leave and does not state that the leave is paid. The bill addresses a gap in Massachusetts law: while most police departments have internal policies governing officer-involved shootings, there is no statewide statutory standard for how officers are treated in the immediate aftermath of a firearm discharge incident.

As filed, the bill standardizes terminology and record-keeping when an agency already places an officer on administrative leave after a listed serious use-of-force incident. It does not set a minimum leave period, require counseling, or establish return-to-duty procedures.

Current Status

H2621 has been read a second time and ordered to a third reading as of December 4, 2025^[2]. This makes it the most advanced firearms-related bill in the 194th General Court. A third reading is the final step before a floor vote in the House. If it passes the House, it would move to the Senate for consideration.

What to Watch

The official history shows the bill ordered to a third reading on December 4, 2025. Any change to leave duration, counseling, or return-to-duty rules would require later amendment because those subjects are absent from the filed text.