Rep. Jeff Roy

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance to use eminent domain to acquire the Norwood hospital property and any adjacent land owned by MPT of Norwood-Steward, LLC. The goal of this acquisition is to ensure public access to healthcare, and the process requires state funding through appropriation. Once the land is taken, control will be transferred to the Department of Public Health, which has the authority to sell or lease the property to a qualified nonprofit hospital operator. The legislation includes an emergency preamble, allowing it to take effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill defines "serious mental illness" using the DSM criteria (including conditions like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and PTSD) to clarify which patients qualify for protections. It prohibits health insurers and state health programs from requiring prior authorization, step therapy, or other delays for FDA-approved medications treating these conditions. The law directly affects patients with qualifying mental health conditions by removing insurance barriers to accessing necessary medications. It applies to both private insurance plans and state-managed health programs under Massachusetts law.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Massachusetts utilities to create a public online dashboard showing real-time breakdowns of residential utility bills, including clean energy program benefits and costs. It mandates that at least 70% of certain clean energy compliance payments must be returned to ratepayers as annual bill credits within 90 days. The dashboard will display historical rate components, program benefits (like reduced emissions and system reliability), and utility cost recovery mechanisms. These changes directly affect residential electricity and gas customers by increasing bill transparency and providing direct financial returns for clean energy investments.

Maddy summaryH 5022 prohibits health insurance companies from denying payment for covered services solely because a patient received a referral from a doctor outside the insurance network. This affects patients seeking care from non-network providers and requires insurers to cover services under the same terms as network referrals. The bill amends multiple sections of Massachusetts health insurance laws (including Chapters 32A, 32B, 94C, 175, 176A, 176B, 176G, and 176I) to include this uniform rule. It takes effect one year after enactment for all new, renewed, or amended insurance contracts.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance to use eminent domain to acquire specific land parcels in Norwood owned by MPT of Norwood-Steward, LLC. The acquired land includes Norwood Hospital and any adjacent properties needed to support the project. After acquisition, the Division will transfer control of the land to the Department of Public Health, which will then assign it to a qualified nonprofit hospital operator. The stated goal is to ensure public access to healthcare, and the bill applies specifically to the town of Norwood and the named property owner.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows the town of Franklin to raise its local tax on hotel and motel stays from six percent to eight percent. It directly affects lodging businesses in Franklin and the guests who pay the tax on their room rates. The change overrides the previous state limit for municipalities other than Boston, permitting the town to collect up to eight percent on these transactions. The law becomes effective immediately upon passing.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends wage payment laws to include employees of nonprofit institutions of higher education (like colleges and universities) under existing agricultural work protections. It directly affects nonprofit colleges/universities and their employees by adding them to the list of workers exempt from certain wage payment rules. Key provisions create civil immunity for these institutions starting July 1, 2024, shielding them from lawsuits claiming monthly wage payments violated the law. The bill makes a specific policy change to expand an existing exemption and modify liability rules for nonprofit higher education employers.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HD 1282) requires insurance companies to pay settled amounts to plaintiffs within 21 days of receiving a properly executed release document. It directly affects insurance companies and plaintiffs involved in settlements where an insurer pays on behalf of a defendant. The key provision mandates a strict 21-day payment timeline after the plaintiff provides the required release. This change aims to speed up payments following settlement agreements without altering insurance coverage terms or liability rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires new gasoline stations (over 1,500 square feet with operational gas pumps) to assess proximity to designated "optimal sites" for electric vehicle (EV) charging hubs, as identified by a state EV coordinating council. If located in one of these optimal sites, the station must install at least one level 3 fast-charging station capable of serving multiple EV brands. Building permits for new stations will be denied if documentation doesn’t include this assessment or the required charging station installation. The law directly affects new gas station developers planning to build or expand facilities meeting the size and pump criteria.

Maddy summaryHD 2392 requires telephone and distribution companies (as defined in Chapter 164 of Massachusetts General Laws) to file annual reports by April 1 each year, starting in 2027. These reports must detail double pole counts, attachment transfers, unlicensed attachments, and timelines/costs for removing existing double poles. The companies must also provide a list of communities using the statewide notification system for pole attachment transfers. The report requirements apply indefinitely, with the first report covering data as of December 31, 2026.