Rep. Paul McMurtry

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to restrict the sale of over-the-counter diet pills and muscle-building supplements to anyone under the age of eighteen. It requires physical retail stores to keep these products behind counters or in locked cases and to ask for valid identification from customers who appear to be minors. Additionally, online sellers must verify that the recipient is at least 18 years old by requiring a signature and a government-issued photo ID upon delivery, while also collecting and verifying the buyer's name, birth date, and address. These measures aim to prevent children from accessing weight loss or muscle-building products without parental supervision.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a special commission to study the costs and benefits of creating a fund dedicated to public safety, sustainability, and waste mitigation for non-profit public events in Massachusetts. The commission will be composed of state officials, elected representatives, and members appointed by tourism and municipal organizations to review security and sustainability expenses for these events. After its review, the commission must submit recommendations and proposed legislation to the state legislature within 120 days to help offset the financial burdens these organizations face.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Massachusetts laws to allow disability retirees to apply for specific job openings outside their original retirement system. It permits these individuals to be evaluated for any position they can perform, rather than just their former role, and allows them to return to active service if they qualify. If a retiree returns to work in a different system, their previous disability service time counts toward their new pension, though the original system may recoup some pension funds if they later retire again due to the same injury.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands legal protections for the surviving families of public emergency medical technicians in Massachusetts by adding them to the list of covered first responders. It amends existing state laws to ensure that families of EMS workers who die while on duty receive the same benefits and support as those of firefighters, police officers, and corrections officers. The changes specifically apply to deaths resulting from assaults, accidents during emergency responses, or vehicle incidents involving EMS departments. By updating multiple sections of the relevant chapter in the General Laws, the legislation formally recognizes the risks faced by public EMTs and extends survivor benefits to their loved ones.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a legal shield for farmers in Massachusetts who are affected by PFAS contamination in their soil, water, or crops. It grants immunity from lawsuits and civil liability to individuals or entities engaged in farming for any damages resulting from these chemical contaminants. The primary mechanism is the amendment of state law to prevent farmers from being sued by third parties when PFAS exposure occurs on their land.

Senate, January 25, 2024 --The committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure, to whom was referred the petitions (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 180) of Adam Gomez, Joanne M. Comerford, James B. Eldridge, John F. Keenan and others for legislation to end housing discrimination in the Commonwealth; and (accompanied by bill, House, No. 359) of Adrian C. Madaro, Carlos González and Kevin G. Honan for legislation to further regulate real estate brokers and salespersons, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2566).

Senate, January 29, 2024 --The committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure, to whom was referred the petitions (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 213) of Michael F. Rush for legislation relative to the licensure of appraisers; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 214) of Michael F. Rush and Paul McMurtry for legislation relative to the licensure of appraisers; and (accompanied by bill, House, No. 262) of Tackey Chan, Paul R. Feeney and others relative to the licensure of appraisers, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2568).

Maddy summaryThis bill aims to strengthen protections against housing discrimination in Massachusetts by updating the rules for the state's real estate licensing board. It requires the board to publish quarterly reports detailing complaints filed against brokers, the results of investigations, and the names of license holders who face disciplinary action for discrimination. Additionally, the legislation extends the time limit for filing certain housing discrimination complaints from ninety to one hundred and eighty days and mandates that real estate licenses be immediately suspended if a court finds a broker or salesperson violated fair housing laws. These changes directly affect real estate professionals, tenants, and the public by increasing transparency and accountability within the housing market.

Maddy summaryThis bill reassigns the authority to license real estate appraisers in Massachusetts from the Division of Insurance to the Division of Professional Licensure. It achieves this by updating the state's General Laws to replace references to the "division of insurance" and "commissioner of insurance" with the "division of professional licensure" and "director of the division of professional licensure." The change directly impacts the administrative oversight of appraisers, shifting their regulatory management to a different state agency.