Rep. Jeff Roy

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Auto Damage Appraiser Licensing Board within Massachusetts' occupational licensure division. The board, consisting of seven members, will directly affect auto damage appraisers, insurance companies, auto body repair shops, and consumers by setting licensing standards. Key provisions include requiring the governor to appoint two industry representatives (auto repair and insurance), the attorney general to appoint a consumer advocate and a neutral office representative, and the licensing commissioner to appoint a chair who cannot represent either industry. The board will handle licensing requirements, with members limited to two consecutive 3-year terms.

Maddy summaryHD 245 creates a state-wide pancreatic cancer initiative administered by the Department of Public Health. It establishes a 13-member pancreatic cancer advisory council (including patient advocates and representatives from cancer networks) to develop hospital certification standards, identify underserved areas for improved care access, create a multi-provider consortium for best practices, and develop a standard tissue consent form for research. The bill also mandates a comprehensive study on pancreatic cancer prevalence and patient needs, plus a public education program about genetic risks and symptoms. Additionally, it requires the insurance commissioner to survey genetic testing coverage and the health center to update pancreatic cancer screening benefit reviews by 2026. This bill directly affects pancreatic cancer patients, healthcare providers, and the state's public health infrastructure.

Maddy summaryHD 1176 allows Massachusetts schools to maintain emergency asthma medication supplies (bronchodilators, spacers, nebulizers) for students with asthma. It requires schools to have an asthma action plan from a healthcare provider and written parental permission for each student using the medication. Trained school staff (not just nurses), called "designated unlicensed assistive personnel," can administer the medication under a school nurse's direction, following specific safety protocols. The bill also mandates annual reporting on medication use and provides legal immunity for school staff who follow its procedures, protecting them from liability in good-faith emergency situations.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to extend the statute of limitations for certain lawsuits. Specifically, it changes the time limit for filing tort claims related to latent diseases caused by toxic exposures (like asbestos) from 3 years to 6 years. This directly affects individuals who develop illnesses years after exposure to harmful substances and seek legal compensation. The change applies to all such cases accruing before, on, or after the bill's effective date, including ongoing lawsuits.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new assessment system for streaming entertainment companies using public rights-of-way in Massachusetts. It requires companies earning over $250,000 annually in the state to pay an assessment based on their gross revenues, with rates set annually by a new advisory board. The collected funds aim to maintain previous revenue levels for community media facilities (PEG access facilities), which provide public, educational, and government programming. The bill directly affects streaming operators, not end-users, and establishes a structured process for collecting payments while prohibiting rate regulation of these services.

Maddy summaryThis bill bans insurance companies from including policy terms that prevent homeowners or businesses from hiring public insurance adjusters to help with claims. It makes such restrictions invalid and requires insurers to remove them from property and casualty insurance policies. The law directly affects policyholders who want to use independent adjusters and insurers who must comply with this change. It applies to all standard property and casualty insurance policies in the state, ensuring policyholders can access independent adjuster services without insurer barriers.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates rules for estate executors, conservators, or agents (like those named in wills or powers of attorney) to access a person's digital accounts (e.g., email, social media) after death or incapacity. It allows users to specify through online tools provided by tech companies who can access their digital content, overriding conflicting terms-of-service agreements. Fiduciaries can only access what the user authorized, and companies must comply with these user directions. The law applies to all Massachusetts residents' digital assets, regardless of when their will or trust was created.

Maddy summaryHD 2072 requires Massachusetts' energy department to annually report by August 15th on how it spends money from Clean Energy Standard programs. The report must detail all expenditures from alternative compliance payments and certificates/credits, including specific cost impacts on electric and gas customers broken down by customer type. It also must explain how these spending decisions help meet state clean energy targets under Chapter 21N. This bill focuses on transparency for lawmakers and the public regarding program funding and its effects on utility customers.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a Task Force to analyze electricity cost components affecting Massachusetts residential and commercial customers. The Task Force, chaired by the Attorney General and including utility representatives, will produce a report identifying all charges on electricity bills - such as distribution, transmission, and energy supply costs - along with historical and projected rate changes over 10 years. The report will compare Massachusetts rates to those in other New England states and key economic competitors. It will also examine how costs relate to greenhouse gas reduction goals and be subject to public comment before final submission to state leaders.

Maddy summaryHD 518 amends a Massachusetts law to specifically exclude tort lawsuits seeking damages for latent diseases caused by toxic substance exposure (like asbestos) from certain legal provisions. This bill directly affects individuals or families filing lawsuits related to illnesses such as mesothelioma or lung cancer resulting from workplace or environmental exposure to toxins. The key provision adds a new exception stating that the amended section does not apply to these specific cases. The change applies to all pending and future lawsuits, regardless of when the exposure or injury occurred. This is a procedural clarification within the legal framework for personal injury claims.