Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Board of Registration in Midwifery within the Department of Public Health to oversee the licensing and regulation of midwives in the state. The board will consist of eight appointed members, including licensed midwives with significant experience, a physician, a nurse-midwife, and a public representative, with specific requirements for members to address racial disparities in maternal health. Additionally, the legislation establishes a new Board of Allied Health Professions that includes representatives from various health fields such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and lactation consulting. The bill also expands the legal definition of "licensed midwife" to allow them to issue prescriptions and grants local health agencies the authority to conduct in-depth reviews of fetal and infant deaths to improve community health services.
Rep. Tony Cabral
Sponsored bills
By Representative O'Day of West Boylston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2908) of James J. O'Day and others relative to excluding certain income from the calculation of the tax on incomes in excess of one million dollars. Revenue.
By Representative O'Day of West Boylston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2909) of James J. O'Day and others for legislation to require certain married couples to submit joint income tax returns. Revenue.
By Representative Uyterhoeven of Somerville, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2960) of Erika Uyterhoeven and others for legislation to raise the estate tax threshold. Revenue.
By Representatives Barber of Somerville and Uyterhoeven of Somerville, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2708) of Christine P. Barber, Erika Uyterhoeven and others relative to further regulating the inclusion of federal gross income in the calculation of the taxation of corporations and to create progressive revenue. Revenue.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a state funding program to help Massachusetts cities and towns build or upgrade municipal parking lots with electric vehicle charging stations. To receive financial assistance, local governments must submit a financing plan that commits to reducing surface parking, supporting affordable housing, and designing spaces that encourage walking. The state will reimburse municipalities for their share of project costs, with the amount varying based on the local median income. Ultimately, the legislation aims to ensure that electric vehicle infrastructure is distributed equitably across different neighborhoods while promoting walkable downtown areas.
Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to increase overtime pay rates for employees who work on Sundays and legal holidays in Massachusetts from 1.1 times their regular hourly wage to 1.5 times. By amending existing state labor laws, the legislation would require employers to pay these workers time and a half for hours worked on these specific days. The measure also repeals several previous statutes related to overtime calculations to align them with this new standard.
Maddy summaryThis bill restricts state funding for higher education construction projects unless they meet specific location or timing requirements. It requires that projects either began construction before July 1, 2021, or are situated in gateway cities or adjacent municipalities. Additionally, any project within a gateway city must be located within 2,000 feet of the city hall and 500 feet of public transportation once finished. The law aims to direct capital investment toward areas that support transit access and urban centers.
Maddy summaryThis bill mandates that the Department of Correction and local sheriffs provide free voice telephone services to all inmates in Massachusetts correctional facilities, including jails and mental health units. The law requires these communication services to be available at all times, provided they do not disrupt educational programs or daily facility operations. Additionally, the bill ensures that both the incarcerated person and the recipient of the call incur no charges for these calls for a period of 90 days following the bill's enactment.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Youth Restorative Justice Fund to support programs that divert first-time juvenile offenders from the traditional court system. Money generated from the seizure of property related to minor crimes will be split, with a significant portion directed to this new fund to expand restorative justice initiatives. The secretary of public safety will manage the fund to provide annual grants to youth courts and diversion programs, which use community-based volunteers to resolve cases instead of formal prosecution. To ensure transparency, the bill requires these programs to submit annual financial reports and mandates that law enforcement agencies publicly report how much money is collected and spent each year.