Rep. Michelle DuBois

Maddy summaryThis bill requires gas and distribution companies in Massachusetts to publicly disclose details about construction contracts valued at $100,000 or more that involve work on public roads or pathways. Specifically, the law mandates that companies must notify all qualified bidders of their selection decision within two business days and publish the winning contractor's name, project location, and work duration on their websites. By making these procurement details accessible, the legislation aims to increase transparency in how private utility firms award construction projects to qualified bidders.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands dental coverage for Massachusetts residents aged 65 and older who receive state-funded medical assistance. It requires the Division of Medical Assistance to cover specific dental treatments, including dentures, restorative work, root canals, and gum disease treatment, for this senior population. Additionally, the legislation ensures that seniors enrolled in the Essential program receive dental benefits equivalent to those provided to Basic program enrollees as of 2002. The changes apply only to individuals already eligible for MassHealth and do not affect private insurance or other payment methods.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a permanent commission on anti-racist education to create a mandatory curriculum for public and charter schools in Massachusetts. The commission would include members appointed by various organizations, such as the Massachusetts Asian American Commission and the NAACP, alongside historians and education officials. Its primary task is to develop specific lesson plans covering topics like the legacy of scientific racism, systemic racism in literature, and the history of slavery and genocide. Once the curriculum is approved, schools must teach it, and the commission will meet annually to review and update the content.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all public schools in Massachusetts to include a specific unit of instruction on Black History as part of their curriculum. It mandates that higher education institutions, including community colleges and universities, offer a dedicated course covering the same topics. The required content must address the history of the African slave trade, slavery in America, its lasting effects, and the contributions of African Americans to society, alongside a commitment to respect and non-discrimination. While the state Department of Education may provide instructional guidelines, individual schools and colleges retain the authority to determine the minimum time required to complete these requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires every school district in Massachusetts to create and update an annual professional development plan that includes specific training on racial and cultural bias. The training must address implicit bias, the effects of bias against Black, Indigenous, and People of Color in the classroom, and strategies for creating inclusive school environments. Additionally, districts with English learners must include second language acquisition techniques in their plans, and all proposals must be submitted to the state commissioner of education. The state commissioner is also tasked with developing a plan to provide statewide assistance and data on how these training programs are implemented across the commonwealth.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Massachusetts public schools to include the history of Asian Pacific Islander Desi Americans in their curriculum starting with the 2023-2024 school year. It mandates that the state update its history and social science frameworks to cover the political, economic, and cultural contributions of this diverse group while also addressing historical racism and prejudice. To support these changes, the legislation establishes a dedicated trust fund financed by donations and fines from hate crimes to assist schools and provide teacher training. The law also directs the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to help districts access quality educational materials and ensures that instruction promotes diverse perspectives and anti-racist practices.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new state fund called the Racially Inclusive Curriculum Trust Fund to support schools in developing and implementing racially inclusive educational materials. The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education would manage the fund, which can be financed through state appropriations, interest, and private donations, and the money would not be subject to annual budget cuts. The legislation authorizes the department to use these funds for creating curriculum frameworks, providing professional development training for teachers, and issuing grants to public schools and districts. Additionally, the bill establishes a specific grant program that requires applicants to demonstrate how their proposed curriculum can be replicated across other districts.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources from approving new pipeline capacity or gas storage contracts if the proposed infrastructure would be built on land protected by Article 97 of the state constitution. It directly affects developers seeking to build gas lines on constitutionally protected areas and the state agency responsible for reviewing such projects. Under this law, any future approval of gas infrastructure on protected land would automatically invalidate existing contracts for pipeline capacity or gas storage related to that site. The measure aims to prevent the creation of new gas infrastructure on lands already designated for conservation under the state constitution.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires gas and distribution companies in Massachusetts to increase transparency when awarding construction contracts worth $100,000 or more for work on public roads. Under the new rules, companies must notify all bidders of the award decision within two business days and post the winning contractor's name, bid amount, and project location on their website. The law also mandates that written notices to bidders include the specific criteria used for the award and the score the bidder received. Companies may withhold certain information if doing so would harm law enforcement, public interest, or fair competition, and the state department is tasked with enforcing these requirements.