BOSTON — Survivors of sexual abuse and their advocates celebrated a major victory on Beacon Hill Friday as Gov. Maura Healey ceremonially signed legislation closing what supporters called the state’s age-of-consent loophole.
The new law prevents people in positions of authority or trust — including teachers, counselors, coaches, priests, police officers and other mandated reporters — from using consent as a defense when accused of sexually abusing teenagers under their supervision.
Advocates and survivors have spent years pushing for the change, arguing the loophole enabled sexual predators to prey on teenagers and later claim the victims consented to the acts.
At Friday’s bill-signing ceremony, Healey acknowledged it took too long for Massachusetts to enact the protections.
“I just want to acknowledge that it should never have taken this long,” Healey said. “I mean, it kills me, the idea that we didn’t have a law on the books that actually protected young people from abuse and exploitation by teachers, by coaches, police officers, people who are responsible for their care. So, I’m really glad to sign this into law.”
Healey said the legislation sends a clear message both to abusers and to organizations entrusted with the care of children and teenagers.
“The law will catch up to you,” Healey said. “And my message is also to those who are responsible for overseeing, you know, the schools, youth sports programs, law enforcement or other entities that are responsible for the care and wellbeing of young people.”
Among those attending the ceremony was survivor and advocate Hilary Simon, who said the law offers validation to victims who may still be suffering in silence.
“There are girls in their bedrooms across the Commonwealth tonight who haven’t told anyone, wondering if anyone would believe them,” Simon said. “If you’re one of them, hear this. It wasn’t your fault. You never consented. The law was wrong, not you.”
The legislation marks the culmination of a fight that lasted more than a decade, led in large part by Assistant Senate Majority Leader Joan Lovely, D-Salem. Along the way, Lovely publicly disclosed that she was a survivor of childhood sexual abuse.
Lovely said she repeatedly encountered pushback from people who doubted the problem existed or believed such abuse was not happening to children and teenagers in Massachusetts.
In an interview with 25 Investigates, she described the emotional toll of continuing to advocate for the bill while listening to survivors testify year after year.
“I’ll tell ya, it’s very painful to relive your own trauma and then to have survivors come in session after session and have to testify and we don’t move a bill,” Lovely told 25 Investigates’ Kerry Kavanaugh.
Despite years of setbacks, she said support from staff, fellow lawmakers and survivors helped keep the effort alive.
“Again, I have to credit so many people, my staff especially but many of my colleagues ... who thanked me and said keep going keep going,” she said.
Lovely also credited journalists who continued reporting on the issue and helped bring public attention to the legislation.
“And I have to thank the media,” Lovely said, specifically recognizing 25 Investigates reporter Kerry Kavanaugh, among others. “Thank you. Thank you for reporting on this, for letting the public know the work that we’re doing in this Statehouse and for letting the public know this happens.”
Healey also signed a second bill Friday aimed at expanding access to justice for sexual assault survivors. Under the new law, when DNA evidence emerges in a sexual assault case, an exception can be made to the statute of limitations, allowing prosecutors to move forward with charges that otherwise might have been time-barred.
Supporters say both measures strengthen protections for victims, increase accountability for offenders, and remove barriers that have historically prevented survivors from obtaining justice.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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