By Representative Rogers of Norwood and Senator Rush, a joint petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3107) of John H. Rogers, Michael F. Rush and others for legislation to designate cookies and cream as the official ice cream flavor of the Commonwealth. State Administration and Regulatory Oversight.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a special legislative commission to study challenges facing public libraries and their digital resource collections. The commission will investigate costs, consumer satisfaction, privacy concerns, and how licensing for digital materials differs from traditional print resources. It will also review actions taken by other states and make recommendations to support diverse collections and protect patron data. Additionally, the bill prohibits library contracts from restricting the sharing of license terms or requiring libraries to violate patron confidentiality, labeling such violations as unfair business practices. The commission is set to submit its findings and recommendations by October 15, 2025.
By Representative Higgins of Leominster, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2196) of Natalie M. Higgins and others relative to registered nurse patient assignment. Public Health.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to explicitly authorize libraries to purchase and license electronic books and digital audiobooks. It directly affects a wide range of library types, including public, school, academic, and tribal libraries, by legally defining these digital formats and the companies that provide them. The legislation clarifies that "publishers" include both traditional book sellers and digital aggregators who license collections to libraries. By updating Chapter 78 of the General Laws, the bill removes potential legal barriers that might have prevented libraries from acquiring modern digital reading materials.
By Representative Rogers of Norwood, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2934) of John H. Rogers for legislation to create an income tax credit for qualified tuition and fees for higher education. Revenue.
By Representative Rogers of Norwood, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2933) of John H. Rogers relative to community preservation surcharges. Revenue.
By Representative Rogers of Norwood, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2936) of John H. Rogers relative to the commitment of a certain percentage of revenue to the stabilization fund. Revenue.
By Representative Philips of Sharon, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2922) of Edward R. Philips and others relative to deeds excise receipts. Revenue.
Maddy summaryThis bill allows specific Massachusetts counties to keep a portion of the money collected from property deed transfer taxes. Under the new rules, Bristol, Dukes, Nantucket, Norfolk, and Plymouth counties will retain 20 percent of these receipts, while Barnstable County will keep 7.5 percent, starting July 1, 2023. The funds collected by these counties must be placed into their general funds and can be used to cover local operating costs or saved for future expenses. This change applies to all deed excise receipts generated on or after the specified start date.
Maddy summaryThis bill updates Massachusetts laws to ensure that legal parentage rights apply equally to all families, regardless of the parents' gender, marital status, or sexual orientation. It replaces gender-specific terms like "father" and "mother" with neutral language such as "other parent" and "person who gave birth," while also changing "paternity" to "parentage" throughout the statutes. The legislation introduces new definitions for various family arrangements, including surrogacy and assisted reproduction, to clarify how different types of parents are recognized under the law. By amending existing chapters on birth certificates and family law, the bill aims to provide consistent legal protections for children born through diverse circumstances, including those resulting from surrogacy or non-marital births.
