Rep. Sally Kerans

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new driver education program specifically for public high school students living in gateway municipalities across Massachusetts. It creates a dedicated trust fund to collect and manage money, primarily by taking a one percent fee from existing driver's license application charges, to finance the initiative. Under the new program, eligible schools can offer driver education courses during the regular school day or as evening electives at no cost to low-income students. The legislation ensures that funds from the trust are used exclusively to reduce or eliminate tuition fees for participants in these courses.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all Massachusetts public high schools to include hands-only CPR and automated external defibrillator training in their health or physical education curricula for grades 9 through 12. The law mandates that every student participate in this instruction as a graduation requirement, though students with a physician's note or a parent's written objection may be exempted. School districts must choose a free training program modeled after guidelines from a nationally recognized CPR organization and ensure it includes hands-on practice for each student. The new requirements are scheduled to take effect on September 1, 2025.

By Representative Kerans of Danvers and Senator Lovely, a joint petition (subject to Joint Rule 9) of Sally P. Kerans, Joan B. Lovely and Jennifer Balinsky Armini for legislation to further regulate the Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Company board of directors. Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a temporary halt on approving new natural gas infrastructure projects in Massachusetts until at least 2026. It directly affects utility companies and local governments by prohibiting the construction of new facilities or expansions of existing ones, with the sole exception being projects deemed necessary for public safety. The legislation also prevents towns without current gas service from digging up streets to build new gas lines. By amending existing state laws, the bill aims to pause the development of oil, natural gas, renewable natural gas, and hydrogen distribution systems during this period.

By Representative Cataldo of Concord, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3150) of Simon Cataldo and others relative to clean energy, equity, and innovation within municipal utilities. Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands Massachusetts' existing bottle deposit law to include a wider range of drinkable liquids, such as water and sports drinks, while explicitly excluding items like milk, infant formula, and small-scale juice producers. Under the new rules, the refundable deposit on beverage containers would increase from five cents to ten cents, applying to most prepackaged containers up to 2.5 liters for non-carbonated drinks and 3 liters for carbonated ones. The legislation also adjusts the size requirement for businesses to qualify for exemptions from refunding requirements, raising the threshold from 1,000 to 2,000 square feet. Additionally, it clarifies that redemption centers and reverse vending machines must pay the refund immediately unless a customer opts into an account system.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires applicants seeking permits from the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities to notify nearby communities about their projects. Specifically, applicants must email local government officials within 30 days of filing, while the department must send written notices to officials within 60 days, including details on public hearings. The law also mandates that applicants appear at public hearings if requested by local governments, and failure to do so could result in granting intervenor status to previously excluded entities. These changes directly affect utility project developers and the local towns and cities where projects are proposed.

By Representative Vargas of Haverhill, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3232) of Andres X. Vargas and others for legislation to establish a zero carbon renovation fund to provide for the costs associated with energy efficiency renovations of certain existing buildings. Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy.

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.

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.