Rep. Adam Scanlon

Maddy summaryThis bill allows municipalities to designate parking spaces for veterans with specific registration plates (not for handicap access). It permits up to two spaces in parking lots over 1,000 spaces, plus two additional spaces for every extra 500 spaces. Municipalities must display clear signs stating "Veteran Parking Only" and violations carry a $100 fine (not a surchargeable offense). The law directly affects veterans with designated plates and requires local officials to coordinate with parking lot owners to implement the program.

Maddy summaryHD 4025 amends a state law to extend disability benefits for POST-certified police officers disabled by cardiac disease to additional police forces. The bill adds the University of Massachusetts police, Massachusetts Port Authority police, state university and community college police, environmental law enforcement, and Department of Mental Health campus police to the list of covered entities. Previously, officers in these forces were excluded from the same benefit provision that applied to entities like the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. This change directly affects POST-certified officers in these newly included forces by making them eligible for the same cardiac disability benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Massachusetts rodeos to follow safety and operational rules established by the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association (PRCA). It defines "rodeo" as competitions featuring traditional cowboy activities like bull riding, calf roping, and steer wrestling, including the use of animals such as bulls and horses. The law would apply to all rodeo events held in Massachusetts, mandating compliance with PRCA standards instead of state-specific rules. The bill adopts PRCA guidelines as the official regulatory framework for rodeo operations in the state.

By Mr. Gomez, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1546) of Adam Gomez, Sal N. DiDomenico, John F. Keenan and Jason M. Lewis for legislation to create a task force to identify, monitor, and remediate indoor air pollution and indoor mold contamination in schools, long term care facilities, correctional facilities, early childhood education facilities, public housing and privately-owned residential buildings. Public Health.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 15-member commission to study school discipline policies and bullying in Massachusetts public and charter schools serving grades K-8. The commission will examine how these policies affect student learning, safety, and mental/physical health, and make recommendations on whether new policies should be state-mandated, incentivized, model-based, or district-level. The bill also directly mandates that schools provide at least 30 minutes of supervised, unstructured outdoor recess daily (when weather permits) for K-8 students, prohibiting reductions for academic purposes or to accommodate individualized education plans. The commission must report its findings to education officials by January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHD 1877 requires Massachusetts health insurance companies to count all payments toward deductibles, copays, and coinsurance (including payments made by others on behalf of the insured) toward the insured's annual out-of-pocket maximum. It also mandates that insurers include all covered health services within essential health benefits when calculating this annual limit. The bill applies to health plans entered into, amended, extended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2026. The Massachusetts Insurance Commission may create rules to implement these changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HD 151) directs Massachusetts' Department of Higher Education to review whether public colleges should require standardized tests like the SAT or ACT for undergraduate admission. The review must examine testing trends in Massachusetts and other states, the tests' accuracy in measuring college readiness, evidence of bias, and impacts on student diversity (including race, income, and first-generation status). The department must consult with educators, students, experts, and advocacy groups, then publish findings and submit a report to key legislative committees within one year. The bill does not change current admission policies but mandates a study to inform future decisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Massachusetts to provide the next of kin of qualifying public safety personnel with both the Massachusetts state flag and a U.S. flag during memorial services. It applies specifically to sworn police officers (city/town or state police) or firefighters (city/town fire departments) who die while on duty, from work-related injuries, or from hazards inherent to their job. The state will cover all costs for these flags, which must be presented at the memorial service. The law creates a concrete, ceremonial support measure for families of fallen officers and firefighters.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a special "Blue Star Family" license plate for relatives (spouses, parents, siblings, children) of Massachusetts police officers killed in the line of duty, allowing them to display it on one vehicle or affix an emblem on a motorcycle. It also strengthens penalties for violating the "Move Over Law" (requiring drivers to move for emergency vehicles), increasing fines for repeat offenses and mandating driver behavior programs after second or third violations. Additionally, it establishes a "Massachusetts Law Enforcement Memorial Fund" funded by 50% of fines collected from Move Over Law violations, to support the state memorial honoring fallen officers. The bill further directs the state to develop a statewide "Blue Alert" system for cases involving attacks on law enforcement.

By Mr. Collins, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1802) of Nick Collins for legislation to provide for a COVID-19 retirement credit to essential first responders employees. Public Service.