Rep. Michelle DuBois

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Massachusetts public housing rules to exclude certain veteran benefits from rent calculations. Specifically, it directs housing authorities to ignore income derived from Chapter 115 benefits, such as VA disability compensation, when determining how much a veteran or their spouse must pay in rent. The change aims to ensure that these specific government benefits do not count as income for the purpose of setting housing assistance payments. It directly affects veterans and their spouses who receive these benefits and live in Massachusetts public housing.

Maddy summaryThis bill aims to prevent senior homelessness by capping rent increases for elderly tenants in specific situations. It applies to individuals over 60 who live in rental units sold to new owners and are either applying for public housing or waiting for a spot on a public housing list. Under the new rules, landlords can only raise rents by the lower of the local Consumer Price Index change or five percent for a period of five years. The protections do not apply to owner-occupied buildings with two units or fewer or to units already regulated by public authorities. Additionally, the law requires cities and towns to ensure these rent limits are available to seniors earning at or below 80 percent of the area median income.

Maddy summaryThis bill improves long-term care in Massachusetts by creating a dedicated fund to support workforce training and capital improvements for skilled nursing facilities. The new fund will finance education and stipends for nurses' aides and home health workers, while also offering interest-free loans to help facilities build specialized care units like dementia or behavioral health wings. Additionally, the law clarifies definitions for assisted living services, specifying which medical tasks qualified staff can perform under a doctor's order. An advisory committee involving health officials and labor union representatives will oversee these programs to ensure they meet the needs of both workers and residents.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new Hospital Workforce Training & Apprenticeship Trust Fund to help hospitals in Massachusetts recruit and keep staff. The fund will be managed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services and can be supported by public and private donations, grants, and interest earnings. Money from the fund will be distributed as grants to eligible hospitals and training organizations to pay for workforce education programs and registered apprenticeships. All acute care hospitals and accountable care organizations in the state are considered eligible to receive these financial supports.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits state-funded programs and facilities from using procedures that cause physical pain or deny basic humane conditions to people with disabilities. Specifically, it bans practices such as hitting, pinching, or electric shock used to change behavior, while also forbidding any punishment that would be illegal if applied to non-disabled individuals. Additionally, the law prevents institutions from denying individuals reasonable access to sleep, food, shelter, bedding, and bathroom facilities. These changes directly affect agencies licensed or approved by the Commonwealth that care for persons with physical, intellectual, or developmental disabilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Massachusetts state law to ensure that children under three years old who were exposed to opioids in the womb receive early intervention services. It achieves this by adding specific legal definitions for "Substance-Exposed Newborn" and "Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome" and requiring the state department to revise its operational standards. Under the new rules, these children would be automatically considered eligible for support services until their third birthday, regardless of whether withdrawal symptoms are immediately detected at birth. The legislation directly impacts families with infants who have prenatal opioid exposure and the agencies responsible for providing early childhood development support.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance plans in Massachusetts to cover vision screenings for children before they enter kindergarten. It applies to various types of coverage, including state employee plans, private insurance policies, and hospital service contracts. The screenings must be performed by personnel approved by the Department of Public Health and trained in specific techniques. If a child fails the screening or has a neurodevelopmental delay, the bill also mandates coverage for a comprehensive eye exam by a licensed eye care professional.

Maddy summaryThis bill aims to prevent the eviction of families with children under eighteen from public housing, subsidized housing, or publicly funded shelters. It requires the Department of Children and Families to work with the Department of Housing and Community Development to create a plan ensuring all children in such families are moved to safe housing before any removal occurs. The legislation emphasizes keeping children with their parents or existing caregivers whenever possible. By mandating these specific steps, the law seeks to stop the displacement of families without guaranteeing immediate alternative housing.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to create a new program that provides grants for expanding mental health services to pregnant and postpartum individuals. It defines key terms such as "perinatal" to cover the time from pregnancy through one year after birth and establishes specific criteria for identifying areas with inadequate access to care. The legislation authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to fund projects aimed at growing and diversifying the workforce of mental health providers who specialize in perinatal care. By creating these definitions and funding mechanisms, the bill seeks to improve access to mental health support for new parents and those involved in the care of infants.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes changes to the Massachusetts health care system to better support family members who serve as unpaid caregivers for relatives receiving home care services. The legislation aims to establish a formal recognition program that would allow these family caregivers to receive training, respite care services, and other resources to help manage the demands of their role. By creating a structured support framework, the bill seeks to improve the well-being of both the caregivers and the individuals they support without altering the core funding or eligibility rules for existing home care programs.