Governor Maura Healey signs law creating DNA exception and expanding survivors' protections

Governor Maura Healey signed a bill into law at the State House that, she said, "allows DNA exceptions to statute of limitations" and ensures that advances in science do not let perpetrators escape accountability. The governor framed the signing as a response to survivors' advocacy and to technological progress in forensic testing.

"By eliminating statute of limitations in cases where new DNA evidence identifies the offender, we're making sure that the law catches up with both science and common sense," Healey said during opening remarks. She also said the law closes a loophole involving adults in positions of authority and 16- and 17-year-old victims, calling such abuses "an abuse of power."

Legislators and prosecutors who attended the ceremony credited years of advocacy, testing of backlogged evidence kits, and work by district attorneys for pushing the changes forward. Representative Adam Scanlon cited a case in which DNA identified an assailant after 35 years as an illustration of why the exception matters. "This law sends a powerful message," survivor Caitlin Scammon said in remarks introduced at the event.

The signing includes multiple provisions noted at the ceremony: the DNA exception to the statute of limitations for certain sexual-assault cases when DNA identifies a suspect; a specific change to acknowledge power imbalances when adults entrusted with youth (teachers, coaches, social workers) abuse that trust; and additional measures mentioned by the governor to strengthen survivor services. Officials said the law builds on work to test thousands of sexual-assault evidence kits and to invest in survivor services.

The governor signed the measure in a public ceremony; she and lawmakers said the change will allow prosecutors to pursue cases that previously would have been time-barred. The law was presented at the event as part of a broader package of reforms advocates said will make Massachusetts safer for children and survivors.