Rep. Dan Cahill

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Board of Registration in Midwifery within the Department of Public Health to oversee the licensing and regulation of midwives in the state. The board will consist of nine appointed members, including experienced midwives, obstetricians, and a public representative, with a specific requirement to consider racial disparities in maternal health during appointments. Additionally, the legislation expands the state's allied health professions board to include lactation consultants and updates various laws to formally recognize certified nurse-midwives and licensed midwives in official definitions and hospital settings. The bill also mandates that the insurance commission cover postpartum depression screenings for state employees and allows coverage for medically necessary donor human milk for infants at high risk of certain conditions.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Massachusetts Flexible Supportive Housing Subsidy Pool Program to provide sustainable funding for permanent supportive housing aimed at individuals and families experiencing chronic homelessness. The program creates a centralized system where cities and care networks can access funds to combine long-term rental assistance with supportive services for those facing long-term or repeated homelessness. By requiring the use of a coordinated assessment system, the legislation ensures that eligible participants are efficiently referred to housing resources funded through a mix of federal and state resources.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires that on public construction projects in Massachusetts costing over one million dollars, a specific percentage of work hours be performed by apprentices in approved training programs. The law mandates that five percent of these hours be done by apprentices six months after the bill passes, increasing to ten percent after one year, and reaching fifteen percent after two years. It applies to contractors and subcontractors who hire hourly workers for projects where prevailing wage rules are in effect. The goal is to create more opportunities for skilled workers to learn their trades while working on state-funded projects.

Maddy summaryThis bill strengthens the HomeBASE program in Massachusetts to help families maintain stable housing by allowing them to receive financial assistance without needing to be evicted first. It removes income eligibility limits for enrolled families and permits those facing eviction due to no-fault or excused-fault reasons to apply for help even after court summons is filed. Under the new rules, eligible families can receive up to $30,000 in the first 24 months and up to $15,000 in subsequent 12-month periods, with the option to combine these funds with other specific housing transition resources. The legislation directly affects low-income households with children under 21 or pregnant individuals who need support to prevent eviction or relocate to new housing.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands compensation for individuals wrongfully convicted in Massachusetts by lowering the legal standard of proof required to receive financial aid from "clear and convincing" evidence to merely a "preponderance of the evidence." It also broadens eligibility to include those who have received judicial relief based on innocence, even if the court did not explicitly address every ground for their release. The legislation mandates that cases be processed on a fast track and ensures that claimants receive preliminary relief immediately upon filing their complaint. Additionally, the bill requires the state to assign social service advocates to help eligible individuals access transitional services for their physical, social, and emotional needs after release from incarceration.

By Representative Cahill of Lynn, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Daniel Cahill relative to the financing of qualifying improvements to residential property. Revenue.

Maddy summaryThis bill adjusts the salaries of various clerks and registers within the Massachusetts Judicial Branch to ensure they are paid at a consistent rate relative to the Chief Justice. Specifically, it sets the pay for these administrative staff members at 84.57 percent of the Chief Justice's salary, overriding previous laws that established different pay scales. The legislation also updates specific dollar amounts in state statutes to reflect these new salary figures, with the changes taking effect on July 1, 2023.

By Representative Scarsdale of Pepperell, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2654) of Margaret R. Scarsdale and others relative to certain exemptions from the civil service laws. Public Service.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to amend Massachusetts law to ensure that the state minimum wage applies to both public and private employers. The key provision explicitly states that the minimum wage rules override any conflicting state laws, such as those regarding tipped minimum wages. By removing the word "It" and adding "public or private," the legislation aims to create a uniform minimum wage standard across all workplaces in the state. This change would directly affect all employees in Massachusetts, regardless of whether they work for the government or a private company.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to specifically include public transit workers as protected employees under assault and battery statutes. It expands the definition of assault to cover attacks using bodily substances, such as blood, saliva, or urine, when directed at these workers. By updating the legal text, the legislation ensures that harming transit staff with such substances is treated as a distinct offense. The changes directly affect law enforcement, prosecutors, and public transit employees by clarifying the scope of protected conduct.