Lawmaker, survivors say new law ends loophole that let authority figures evade accountability

At the State House signing, Governor Maura Healey said the change addresses a "loophole that never ever should have existed," stressing that adults entrusted with care of young people who abuse that trust will face accountability.

"Teachers, coaches, social workers ' these are people entrusted with the care and guidance of our young people," Healey said. "When someone uses that authority ... that's an abuse of power, simply put." Representative Adam Scanlon and survivor Hillary Simon both described how the prior law treated 16-year-olds as able to consent in some circumstances; Simon said, "That was the law then. It is not the law today."

Legislators at the event said the provision responds to cases in which courts or defenses were allowed to argue that a minor had consented when the adult held a supervisory role. Sponsors and advocates said the change clarifies mandatory-reporter responsibilities and prevents adults from relying on prior consent rules where power imbalance exists.

The transcript does not include the bill number or exact statutory language; officials at the ceremony described the change in broad terms and linked it to long-term advocacy by survivors and groups such as Enough Abuse.