By Representative Walsh of Peabody and Senator Lovely, a joint petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Thomas P. Walsh and Sally P. Kerans for legislation to authorize electrocardiogram screenings prior to participation in interscholastic athletic competitions. Financial Services.
Maddy summaryThis bill (H 4985) extends the deadline for the House Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery to report on two specific House documents (2200 and 2220). It grants the committee until Wednesday, March 18, 2026 - instead of the original deadline - to complete its final report. The extension modifies House Rule 27, which typically sets committee reporting timelines, but does not change the content or policy of the documents themselves.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a special commission to study the costs and challenges foster care providers face in obtaining liability insurance. The commission, including representatives from child welfare agencies, insurance providers, foster care organizations, and foster care families, will gather data on insurance costs, claims, and barriers across Massachusetts and other states. It will make recommendations to lawmakers by October 2025 to address financial pressures on foster care providers, but does not create new laws itself.
Maddy summaryH 5032 requires that for public construction projects in Massachusetts exceeding $10 million in cost, contractors and subcontractors must ensure at least 15% of labor hours for each trade are performed by registered apprentices. This applies to all public works projects (like schools or roads) and directly affects construction companies bidding on such projects. Contractors must use apprentice programs approved by the Division of Apprentice Standards and maintain required apprentice-to-journeyperson ratios. Public agencies can exempt specific trades only after proving no qualified bidders with apprenticeship programs are available, with strict documentation requirements. The bill does not apply to projects under $10 million or exempt entire projects unless documented per trade.
Maddy summaryH 4974 requires contractors working on public construction projects costing over $10 million to hire registered apprentices, phasing in minimum apprentice-hour requirements: 5% after one year, 10% after three years, and 15% after four years. It mandates that contractors maintain approved apprentice training programs and register apprentices with the state, while allowing limited waivers for specific trades if qualified bidders aren't available. The bill also establishes a new commission to study apprenticeship programs and expands a high school career pathway program for building/transportation careers. These requirements apply to all public works projects, contractors, subcontractors, and public agencies involved in qualifying construction contracts.
Maddy summaryH 4994 requires public agencies to mandate that contractors for public construction projects exceeding $10 million in cost must include registered apprentices in their workforce. Specifically, it sets increasing minimums: starting at 5% of total hours for each trade in 2026, rising to 10% in 2027, and 15% by 2028, all performed by apprentices in programs approved by the Division of Apprentice Standards. Contractors must register apprentices with this division and maintain required apprentice-to-journeyperson ratios. Public agencies may grant limited exemptions for specific trades if no qualified bidder with an apprentice program is available, but must document and report these exemptions. The bill directly affects public agencies, construction contractors, and subcontractors working on large public projects.
Maddy summaryHD 2465 requires Massachusetts state prisons and county facilities to provide incarcerated people with at least eight hours of daily "out of cell" time for social interaction and activities, including at least six hours weekly of group programming like education and vocational training (with three hours eligible for good conduct credits). It mandates personalized rehabilitation plans for each person, involving input from staff and the individual, and requires facilities to send parole-eligible plans to the parole board for review. The bill also sets minimum standards for access to medical care, outdoor recreation, libraries, and facilities conditions (like temperature and water quality), and requires annual data collection on programming access and outcomes, reported by race, gender, and other demographics. This law directly affects all individuals held in Massachusetts correctional facilities.
Maddy summaryHD 3241 requires Massachusetts state and county correctional facilities to maximize in-person visitation for incarcerated individuals by mandating specific schedules: at least two daily visiting periods (one at least four hours long), an eight-hour weekend visit, and a four-hour holiday visit. It prohibits facilities from limiting visitor numbers, excluding visitors based on criminal history, community involvement, or religious practices, or restricting physical contact like hugging during visits. The bill also mandates accommodations for children (with designated areas and activities), reasonable dress code policies respecting cultural/religious needs, and written justifications with appeal options for any visitation restrictions. Facilities must ensure visitation does not decrease below 2025 baseline levels and must exhaust all means to meet the schedule.
Maddy summaryHD 1085 requires Massachusetts to provide free state identification cards to homeless adults and unaccompanied homeless youth (under age 24 without stable housing or parental care). The bill mandates that state ID regulations include a fee waiver process and allow alternative proof of residency, such as documentation from homeless shelters, youth services, or state housing/human services agencies. It also requires the state registrar and secretary to create a formal agreement to implement these provisions. This directly affects individuals experiencing homelessness by removing financial and residency barriers to obtaining official identification. The policy change creates a concrete pathway for this population to access essential services requiring ID.
Maddy summaryHD 1114 creates new parole pathways for incarcerated individuals aged 55+ and those with qualifying medical conditions. It requires parole boards to schedule hearings within 60 days of a person turning 55 or meeting a 15-year service threshold, with special consideration for age, medical conditions, and diminished capacity. For medical parole, it revises definitions of "permanent incapacitation" and "terminal illness," requiring medical documentation, a risk assessment, and 24-hour video evidence of incapacity before release. The bill mandates annual reporting on parole decisions and prohibits denial based on race, disability, or prior conviction alone.
