The Massachusetts Senate on June 19, 2025, passed An Act Relative to the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (S.2550), adopting the UCCJEA to align state practice with other jurisdictions and to limit forum-shopping in interstate custody disputes. The chamber adopted a Ways and Means substitute amendment before ordering the bill to a third reading and passing it to be engrossed.

The measure, sponsored on the floor by Senator Crane, was presented as bringing Massachusetts “in line with every other state in the country” by adopting the UCCJEA, which the senator said gives the original state exclusive jurisdiction over custody matters so long as a parent or child remains in that state. Crane said the current Massachusetts rule relinquishes jurisdiction over its own custody orders after six months of residency in another state and that the change will reduce the burden on noncustodial parents who otherwise may have to litigate in another state.

Crane also described several edits made after consultations with family law practitioners and domestic violence advocates, saying the bill allows parties to petition to testify remotely, protects rights of custodial parents returning to Massachusetts for proceedings, and aligns the bill’s definition of domestic violence with the definition under 209A. "Notably, the versions of the legislation was culminated by many conversations with family law community and input from domestic violence advocates to ensure survivors are adequately protected," Crane said.

Senator "Chuck" asked whether the bill is based on a model act and whether its constitutionality has been litigated in other states. Crane replied that the legislation began from a model act used by other jurisdictions and noted the Massachusetts version includes the specific changes described on the floor. Crane said she was not aware of any constitutional challenges in other states and observed that taking jurisdiction away from a parent with an existing Massachusetts order could raise constitutional claims.

The Senate adopted the Ways and Means amendment and ordered the bill to a third reading. After a roll call, the presiding officer announced that the bill passed to be engrossed. The floor record shows the amendment adoption and final passage votes were recorded during that session; the presiding officer then placed the Senate briefly in recess.

Why it matters: supporters said the change reduces burdens on parents required to litigate in other states and prevents forum shopping; advocates for survivors of domestic violence helped shape the language. No litigation-related timelines or implementation steps were specified on the floor, and senators noted that practical and constitutional questions remain if cases are litigated across jurisdictions.

The Senate will transmit the engrossed bill as its next procedural step. Additional implementation details — including any guidance for trial courts about remote testimony or the interaction of the new law with existing Massachusetts domestic-relations procedures — were not specified during the debate.