Rep. Sally Kerans

Maddy summaryThis bill defines "Abandoned Remains" as a dead body not claimed by a legal authority or next of kin within 15 days. It requires the Chief Medical Officer's office to temporarily store such remains from specific facilities (like hospitals or nursing homes licensed under MGL Chapter 111) when no next of kin exists or a disposition plan is absent. The office may later transfer these remains to the Department of Transitional Assistance under Section 13 of the same chapter. The law directly affects medical facilities, the Chief Medical Officer, and the Department of Transitional Assistance in handling unclaimed bodies.

By Ms. Lovely, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 152) of Joan B. Lovely and Mark C. Montigny for legislation relative to preventing sexual abuse of children and youth by adults in positions of authority or trust. Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.

Maddy summaryHD 457 transfers operation and oversight of Bridgewater State Hospital from the Department of Correction to the Department of Mental Health. The bill directly affects the hospital's patients, staff, and the two departments, changing who manages care and security. Key provisions include assigning the Mental Health Commissioner responsibility for treatment, forensic services, and facility operations under new regulations, while removing all references to the Department of Correction in related laws. The transfer becomes effective by December 31, 2026, and requires a study on constructing a new facility for current patients.

Maddy summaryH 4824 is a procedural bill that extends the Public Health committee's deadline for reporting on two specific House bills (2499 and 4122) from the standard timeframe to Tuesday, January 6, 2026. It directly affects the committee's schedule for reviewing these documents. The bill modifies a standard rule to grant the committee additional time to complete its work on these items.

Maddy summaryHD 3719 establishes the Flexible Assistance for Survivors (FAS) pilot grant program to provide direct cash assistance to survivors of violence and their families. The program, administered by the Department of Public Health, funds community-based organizations to distribute flexible cash payments (e.g., prepaid cards, checks, or direct deposits) to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, homicide, firearm injuries, and other specified violence, including family members who witnessed such acts. Eligible organizations must serve survivors directly, with priority given to those working with disproportionately impacted groups like survivors of color, undocumented individuals, people with disabilities, and those facing homelessness. The bill mandates an advisory committee including survivor voices to streamline applications and reduce paperwork burdens for grant recipients.

Maddy summaryH 4773 is a procedural bill that extends the deadline for the House Committee on Public Health to report on five specific pending bills (documents 2362, 2401, 2506, 2532, and 2544). It grants the committee until Friday, December 19, 2025 - beyond the standard timeline under House Rule 27 - to finalize their report on these documents. This extension directly affects the Public Health committee and the legislative process for those five bills. The bill was adopted on November 24, 2025, without debate.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies and streamlines site plan review processes for municipal zoning. It defines key terms like "bulk and height of structures" (using architectural features such as offsets and setbacks) and prohibits zoning rules from regulating building aesthetics. The bill requires performance standards for site plans (e.g., traffic, safety, parking) to be objective, publicly available, and limited to zoning ordinance requirements. It sets a 90-day timeline for municipalities to approve or deny site plans and bans conditions exceeding zoning regulations or imposing off-site restrictions unrelated to direct project impacts. This directly affects municipalities, developers, and local planning boards managing land development projects.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new assessment system for streaming entertainment companies using public rights-of-way in Massachusetts. It requires companies earning over $250,000 annually in the state to pay an assessment based on their gross revenues, with rates set annually by a new advisory board. The collected funds aim to maintain previous revenue levels for community media facilities (PEG access facilities), which provide public, educational, and government programming. The bill directly affects streaming operators, not end-users, and establishes a structured process for collecting payments while prohibiting rate regulation of these services.

Maddy summaryThis bill bans insurance companies from including policy terms that prevent homeowners or businesses from hiring public insurance adjusters to help with claims. It makes such restrictions invalid and requires insurers to remove them from property and casualty insurance policies. The law directly affects policyholders who want to use independent adjusters and insurers who must comply with this change. It applies to all standard property and casualty insurance policies in the state, ensuring policyholders can access independent adjuster services without insurer barriers.

Maddy summaryHD 2739 creates a Massachusetts tax-advantaged savings account to help first-time homebuyers. It allows individuals to open a designated savings account (with a financial institution) to save for down payments and closing costs on a single-family home, with tax deductions for contributions (up to $10,000 annually for individuals or $20,000 for joint filers). The account must be used within 15 years for eligible home purchases by a qualified beneficiary (a Massachusetts resident who hasn’t owned a home in 3 years), with a lifetime cap of $100,000 in contributions and earnings. Unused funds after the 15-year period become taxable income. The bill applies specifically to Massachusetts income tax returns and does not provide direct grants or loans.