Mass. House OKs Bill Targeting Habitual Offenders

The Massachusetts House of Representatives on Wednesday approved a bill denying parole to anyone convicted of a third serious felony.

The bill would require that anyone convicted of two crimes from a list of the state's most serious offenses — including murder, rape and kidnapping — be considered a habitual offender.

An offender convicted of a third crime on the list would have to serve out his full sentence without parole.

The bill, approved on a 142-12 vote, is a stripped-down version of a far more reaching bill approved by the Senate.

The Senate bill includes other measures like updating the state wiretapping laws to include text messages and creating the crimes of assault with a firearm, murder for hire and strangulation.

Both bills head to a conference committee to work out a compromise.