HD 4196 establishes a two-year pilot program (starting January 2026) allowing research into psilocybin-assisted therapy for adults aged 21+ with specific conditions like PTSD, end-of-life distress, or depression in designated areas. The program, managed by the Department of Public Health, will partner with universities and community-based providers (such as mental health clinics and hospices) to conduct studies under FDA-approved pathways. Key provisions include developing professional standards, training facilitators, collecting data on efficacy and cost, and reporting annually to legislative committees on statewide impacts and potential MassHealth coverage feasibility. The pilot focuses solely on research in controlled settings, not legalization, with funding covering administration, training, data collection, and community education.
This bill amends a section of Massachusetts law to allow registered dental hygienists to administer nitrous oxide (laughing gas) for pain relief during dental procedures. It directly affects licensed dental hygienists by expanding their scope of practice to include this specific technique. The key change adds "nitrous oxide inhalation analgesia" to the list of permitted treatments alongside local anesthesia agents. This update enables hygienists to provide a common, non-invasive sedation option directly during patient care without requiring a separate dentist's supervision for this specific service.
This bill allows the Fall River City Council to change election polling locations up to 20 days before an election if doing so improves public convenience or health. The law permits placing voters from different precincts in the same location and requires the council to assess whether such changes negatively affect access based on race, disability, income, or age. Before finalizing any changes, the council must publish an evaluation report online and at the City Clerk's office three days in advance. Additionally, the bill mandates that no alcohol be served or consumed in the parts of buildings used as polling places during voting or ballot counting hours. Finally, the Board of Registrars must notify voters of these new locations using electronic methods like email or reverse 911 calls where possible.
This bill establishes a formal process for citizens to remove elected officials in the town of Sudbury through a recall election. It allows a recall petition to be initiated by an affidavit signed by at least 250 voters, which must then be supported by signatures from 10% of registered voters to trigger an election. The law sets specific timelines for filing petitions, certifying signatures, and holding the vote, while also defining ballot procedures where voters first decide whether to recall an official before selecting a replacement. Additionally, the measure prohibits individuals who are recalled or resign during a pending recall from holding any town office for two years.
This bill establishes a formal process for registered voters in Danvers to recall town-wide elected officials who have more than six months left in their term. The procedure begins with an initial affidavit signed by at least 350 voters, which must be followed by a petition gathering signatures from 20% of all registered voters to trigger an election. The law explicitly excludes an official's voting record from being grounds for recall unless it involves a conflict of interest, and it prohibits filing petitions against new officials within their first six months or against those who survived a previous recall attempt. If the recall petition is certified, a vote is held where residents choose to keep or remove the official, with the incumbent continuing to work until the election concludes.
By Representative Jones of North Reading, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 5462) of Bradley H. Jones, Jr., Sally P. Kerans and Bruce E. Tarr (by vote of the town) relative to recall petitions in the charter of the town of Middleton. Election Laws. [Local Approval Received.]
Senate, July 16, 2026 -- The committee on Senate Ways and Means, to whom was referred the Senate Bill authorizing the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance to grant easements to NSTAR electric company d/b/a Eversource Energy in return for NSTAR releasing or modifying easements for the benefit of the Commonwealth (Senate, No. 2922),- reports, recommending that the same ought to pass with an amendment substituting a new draft with the same title (Senate, No. 3180).
This bill authorizes the use of ranked choice voting for local elections in the city of Salem, but it does not become active until voters approve it in a future ballot measure. Under this system, voters would rank candidates in order of preference rather than selecting just one, and votes are redistributed to remaining candidates in rounds until a winner or winners are determined. The legislation also repeals existing preliminary election rules for Salem and directs the city to create specific rules for ballot design and tie-breaking. Because the bill requires voter acceptance to take effect, it is currently a proposal rather than an immediate change to election procedures.
By Mr. Eldridge, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 3186) (subject to Joint Rule 12) of James B. Eldridge for legislation to conform with the electoral count reform act of 2022 and ensure uniform faithful presidential electors. Election Laws.
By Representative Smola of Warren, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Todd M. Smola for legislation to create a Legion of Merit motor vehicle license plate. Transportation.
HD 896 requires Massachusetts' Office of Health Resource Planning to assess pharmacy access across the state, specifically identifying "pharmacy deserts" defined as areas with limited access due to geographic distance (e.g., >1 mile in urban areas), excessive travel time (15+ min by car, 30+ min by transit), or transportation barriers. The office must analyze the impact of these deserts on medication access, health outcomes, healthcare costs (including ER visits), and pharmacy closures, while identifying affected neighborhoods and populations. By September 1, 2026, the office must submit a detailed report to state legislative committees and health agencies, including policy recommendations to address existing deserts and prevent new ones. This bill is procedural, focusing on data collection and analysis to inform future policy decisions, not on immediate regulatory changes.
This bill amends the statute governing the Betsy Lehman Center for Patient Safety and Medical Error Reduction (now formally named as such). It clarifies the Center's core duties: coordinating state agencies and health care providers to develop a statewide patient safety strategy, analyzing safety data, and sharing best practices. The bill also adds authority for the Center to establish a trust fund to manage federal and foundation grants supporting its work. This directly affects the Center, state health agencies, and licensed health care providers by defining how they collaborate on safety initiatives and access grant funding.
