Family members of a 14‑year‑old who died at a motocross track told the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security that Massachusetts currently lacks basic, statewide safety requirements for motocross and BMX tracks.

Tammy Lippincott, Colby’s mother, described the October incident that killed her son and told the committee there was no on‑site medical staff, no perimeter access for emergency vehicles and no standardized safety protections at the track. "When Colby crashed, no one was ready," she said. "It took 30 minutes for the emergency personnel to reach him on the backside of the track because there was no way to get there." Jacqueline Densmore, a friend of the family, and track‑user and insurance professional Kathy Balores testified the bill would require proof of insurance, on‑site medical personnel or established emergency protocols, adequate flagging and communication, routine inspections, and physical protections such as netting or hay pads at key impact points.

Industry witnesses told the committee that motorsports are inherently risky but that minimum safety standards and operational practices are feasible. Timothy Cotter of MX Sports testified that tracks should require medical staff, permit appropriate bike sizes and skill levels, provide medical access roads, use automated or standardized warning flags, and install runoff barriers or hay pads where riders could be deflected into obstacles. Cotter said many of these measures are already standard in organized amateur and national events.

Family members and supporters emphasized the bill aims to make tracks safer, not to close them, and suggested offsetting costs with modest race‑day donations or mandatory contributions. Committee members asked how many tracks operate in the state and whether other states regulate tracks; witnesses estimated several motocross and BMX facilities in Massachusetts and pointed to national organizations (AMA, MX, BMX) that maintain standards and could provide templates.

The hearing included strongly emotional testimony from family members about response times and the absence of medical protocols; witnesses said enforcement would involve routine inspections and required documentation of insurance and emergency plans. The committee did not vote on H.2740 during the session; proponents asked for a favorable report so the legislature can adopt minimum, uniform safety standards.