Rep. Hannah Kane

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to make phishing a criminal offense in Massachusetts by adding a new section to the state's general laws. It directly affects anyone who uses email, websites, or online services to pretend they represent a legitimate business without permission. The key provision establishes that doing so with the intent to steal money or personal information could result in a fine of up to $5,000, imprisonment for up to two and a half years, or both. The law specifically defines phishing as posing as an authorized business to procure payment or personal identifying information through electronic means.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Massachusetts Board of Parole to provide specific information about registered sex offenders directly to victims who have enrolled in victim services. Under the new provision, victims would receive details including the offender's final classification, home address, secondary address, work address, and school location upon request. The change aims to give victims clearer access to data about where offenders live and work, allowing them to better assess safety risks. It applies specifically to the state's sex offender registry system and the victim services unit within the board.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new crime of fetal homicide in Massachusetts, allowing prosecutors to charge individuals separately for causing the death or serious physical injury to a fetus. The law defines a "child in utero" as a human being at any stage of development carried in the womb and specifies that "bodily injury" includes significant physical harm such as broken bones or internal organ damage. Punishment for violating this new section would be the same as if the injury or death had occurred to the pregnant woman, without requiring proof that the offender knew the victim was pregnant or intended to harm the fetus. The legislation explicitly prohibits using these provisions to prosecute abortions performed with the pregnant woman's consent or any medical treatment provided to the mother or her unborn child.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to allow parents, legal guardians, and custodians to request Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) for childcare providers who have or may have direct contact with their children. The change expands existing access rules, which currently permit such requests only for specific licensed childcare facilities, to include individual family members seeking background checks for caregivers in their homes. By updating the statute, the legislation ensures that families can verify the criminal history of nannies, babysitters, or other informal caregivers without needing to go through a formal licensing process.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to extend the time limit for prosecuting incest cases in Massachusetts. It directly affects victims of incest and law enforcement agencies by delaying the start of the prosecution clock. The key provision states that the clock will not begin until the victim turns 16 or 18, depending on the specific charge, or until the crime is reported to police, whichever happens first. This change aims to give survivors more time to come forward and seek justice.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Massachusetts municipalities to invest their funds in credit unions and federal credit unions, expanding the types of financial institutions they can support alongside existing options like banks and cooperative banks. By amending several state laws, the legislation removes previous restrictions that limited municipal investments to specific bank types, thereby opening up credit unions as a potential investment vehicle for local governments. Additionally, the bill sets a safety limit requiring that public funds held by any single credit union cannot exceed 25% of that institution's total assets at any given time. These changes directly affect local governments and the credit unions operating within the state by creating new opportunities for public capital deployment while maintaining a cap to ensure financial stability.

By Representative Muratore of Plymouth, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Mathew J. Muratore and others for legislation to authorize insurance coverage for prosthetic devices and orthotic devices. Financial Services.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends state law to ensure that the identities of individuals under investigation for unclaimed property and their related records remain confidential. It explicitly states that this information is not public record and cannot be disclosed under existing open records laws. The changes apply immediately to all taxpayer data collected on or after the bill is signed into effect.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a special commission to study how Massachusetts can better support adults over 21 with developmental disabilities, particularly those whose conditions are not currently covered by the state's definition. The commission will consist of government officials and community representatives, including individuals with lived experience, to examine current service gaps and compare state definitions with federal standards. Its main task is to gather input from families and providers, identify unmet needs for specific diagnoses like cerebral palsy or fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, and propose recommendations to improve service availability and inter-agency collaboration. The group must submit a final report with findings, budget estimates, and potential new laws within one year of the bill taking effect.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a dedicated PFAS Remediation Trust Fund to help Massachusetts communities address contamination in drinking water, groundwater, soil, and other environmental media. The fund will be financed through recovered amounts from lawsuits or settlements against manufacturers and sellers of PFAS-containing products, along with other designated transfers and donations. Expenditures from the fund will prioritize vulnerable environmental justice populations and can be used to provide grants to municipalities, counties, and health boards for remediation projects, treatment systems, and private well assistance. The law also establishes rules requiring grant recipients to repay the fund if they later recover costs from liable third parties and prohibits funding for projects caused by the applicant's own negligence.