Rep. Kay Khan

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new requirement for state officials to inspect every polling place and early voting site in Massachusetts at least once every four years to ensure they meet federal and state accessibility standards. If an inspection reveals a failure to comply with these laws, the responsible local officials must immediately fix the issue and submit a written plan to the state secretary within five days. The state secretary has the authority to order local towns to comply if they do not act, and the Attorney General can file a lawsuit to enforce these rules. Additionally, the bill mandates that the state secretary report annually to the legislature on all activities related to enforcing these accessibility requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to restrict the roles of school resource officers, specifically prohibiting them from acting as disciplinarians or using police powers for non-violent student behavior. It mandates that these officers only intervene when conduct poses substantial harm to physical well-being, causes significant property damage, or involves theft with intent to permanently deprive. Additionally, the legislation requires school superintendents to publicly report detailed data on officer costs, mental health support budgets, and specific student interactions like arrests and searches. Failure to provide this transparent data would prevent the state from approving the assignment of new security personnel to a school district.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts education laws to establish stricter rules for school dress and grooming codes, aiming to prevent discriminatory practices against students. It requires that any such codes allow for religious head coverings, apply equally to all genders, and limit racial disparities in enforcement to no more than 10%. Additionally, the law prohibits suspending or expelling a student solely for violating a dress code and bans school employees from forcing students to undress or using physical contact to enforce these rules. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is tasked with creating necessary training and policies to ensure these new standards are properly implemented.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Massachusetts governor to issue an annual proclamation designating March 21 as Massachusetts Child Nutrition Day. It also mandates that food service companies serving public schools ensure at least 50% of their weekly lunch entrées are healthy options containing whole grains, vegetables, fruits, legumes, and fiber-rich proteins. Additionally, the law prohibits schools from serving more than 20% of their lunch entrées as ultra-processed foods or items with excessive cholesterol and saturated fat. To enforce these rules, providers must publicly share monthly nutrition data, and they will have a three-year phase-in period to meet the new requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts education law to ensure fair access to vocational-technical schools and programs by implementing a weighted lottery system for students who are over-enrolled. Under the new rules, if there are more qualified applicants than available spots, schools must hold a lottery that favors protected groups, including students of color, those from low-income families, students with disabilities, and English language learners. The legislation also requires schools to create waitlists for students who are not immediately admitted and mandates that the state education department collect and publish annual data on enrollment demographics to monitor progress.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new Workforce Skills Cabinet within the Governor's office to coordinate state efforts on education and job training. The cabinet will include leaders from key agencies like education, labor, and housing, along with appointed representatives from businesses, workers, and community groups. Its main duties involve aligning school programs with future job needs, studying how well current training paths serve all students, and creating better tools to track student progress. The group is required to meet monthly, publish an annual report on labor market needs, and submit yearly updates to the state legislature.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new funding program within the Massachusetts School Building Authority specifically for vocational-technical education and regional vocational-technical schools. The legislation aims to improve access and capacity by directing capital investments toward infrastructure that supports industry-relevant workforce training and economic development. By establishing this dedicated tool, the bill seeks to ensure equitable access to public education and modern facilities for students pursuing technical careers.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes establishing a universal school meal program in Massachusetts to provide free breakfast and lunch to all public school students. It would require the state to allocate funding for these meals and mandate that every school district participate in the program. The legislation aims to ensure that every child attending a public school in the Commonwealth receives nutritious food at no cost to their families.