Rep. Kay Khan

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes banning the sale of cell phone location information to protect reproductive health access, LGBTQ individuals, religious liberty, and freedom of movement. It directly affects telecommunications companies and data brokers by restricting their ability to sell precise location data to third parties. The legislation aims to prevent the misuse of location tracking that could expose individuals to discrimination or surveillance in sensitive situations.

By Representative Holmes of Boston, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Russell E. Holmes for legislation to require automated external defibrillators at sporting events. Public Health.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Massachusetts laws to ensure that all children have equal legal rights and protections regarding parentage, regardless of their parents' marital status, gender, or the method of conception. It achieves this by replacing gender-specific terms like "paternity" and "mother" with the gender-neutral term "parentage" and removing distinctions based on whether parents are married. The legislation also expands legal definitions to explicitly include children born through assisted reproduction and surrogacy, ensuring that intended parents and surrogates are clearly recognized under the law. By amending existing statutes, the bill aims to create a consistent legal framework that treats all parent-child relationships equally without regard to how the child was born.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Massachusetts agencies to fast-track research and demonstration projects that use nature-based solutions to help communities adapt to climate change. These projects can temporarily bypass certain standard regulations to test methods for reducing wave energy and mimicking natural systems, as long as they protect Indigenous groups, cultural sites, and underserved communities. The legislation is designed to speed up the development of resiliency strategies by reducing bureaucratic hurdles for specific pilot programs. The law will automatically expire five years after it is signed into effect.

Senate, July 3, 2024 -- The committee on The Judiciary, to whom was referred the petitions (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 313) of Joan B. Lovely for legislation relative to supporting survivors of child sexual abuse; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 916) of William N. Brownsberger and Joan B. Lovely for legislation relative to governmental and charitable tort liability; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1038) of Joan B. Lovely for legislation to eliminate the statute of limitation in civil child sexual abuse cases; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1039) of Joan B. Lovely for legislation to amend the statute of limitations regarding criminal prosecutions for the crimes of sexual assault and rape of a child; (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1446) of Michael S. Day relative to eliminating liability limits for abuse of minors; (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1536) of Kenneth I. Gordon relative to the statute of limitations relating to civil rights actions and criminal prosecutions for the sexual assault and rape of a child; and (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1614) of John J. Lawn, Jr., Carol A. Doherty and Vanna Howard for legislation to eliminate the statute of limitation in civil child sexual abuse cases, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2853).

The committee of conference on the disagreeing votes of the two branches with reference to the Senate amendment of the House Bill relative to salary range transparency (House, No. 4109), reports, in part, recommending passage of the accompanying bill (House, No. 4890).

Maddy summaryThis bill requires construction contractors and subcontractors in Massachusetts to hire apprentices from state-approved programs on specific building projects. Under the new rules, these companies must have an active apprenticeship program and employ apprentices throughout the duration of the contract, with a new requirement effective in 2025 that the program must have successfully trained at least three apprentices to journey worker status in the past five years. Contractors must also submit proof of compliance and identify their apprenticeship program to the Attorney General within 45 days after a contract is awarded. The law applies to contracts issued more than 90 days after the bill takes effect and covers a wide range of construction, maintenance, and repair work.

By Representative Barber of Somerville, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2989) of Christine P. Barber and others relative to the annual issuance of a proclamation from the Governor setting apart the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples day. State Administration and Regulatory Oversight.

By Representatives Fiola of Fall River and Jones of North Reading, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3245) of Carole A. Fiola, Bradley H. Jones, Jr., and others relative to the use of elephants, big cats, primates, giraffes, and bears in traveling exhibits and shows. Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as Ollie's Law, aims to improve safety standards for commercial kennels and dog daycares by establishing a dedicated fund to support efforts in reducing homeless animal populations. It requires kennel owners to obtain a license before operating and mandates that these facilities pass an inspection by an animal control officer before the license is issued or renewed. The legislation also empowers local officials to inspect kennels at least once a year and creates a process for citizens to petition for hearings if they believe a kennel is causing a nuisance through excessive barking or other conditions. Additionally, the bill directs the state to create detailed regulations covering facility requirements, staff training, and safety protocols for businesses that board or train dogs.