Rep. Simon Cataldo

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Acton residents aged 16-17 to vote in local elections, including town meetings and ballot questions, despite being ineligible under state law due to age. It creates a separate voter registration list managed by the town clerk, requiring a special form for 16-17 year olds. Once they turn 18, they are removed from this list and must register as regular voters. The bill explicitly states these voters cannot participate in state or federal elections or ballots.

Maddy summaryHD 3426 establishes standardized rules for resolving family law disputes through private arbitration in Massachusetts. It applies to issues like child custody, visitation, and financial support (but excludes divorce, adoption, or termination of parental rights). Parties must sign a written agreement designating a qualified arbitrator (a licensed attorney trained in family law), and courts can enforce or terminate arbitration based on specific legal criteria. This provides a structured alternative to traditional court proceedings for families who choose to use arbitration.

Maddy summaryHD 346 requires all 4-year, degree-granting colleges in the state to annually report detailed admissions data, including whether they use legacy preferences, donor relationships, or early decision/admission policies, and to disaggregate student enrollment by race, financial aid status, and admission pathway. The bill prohibits colleges from considering legacy status, donor relationships, or early decision policies without paying a public service fee calculated as a percentage of their endowment per student. Fees range from 0.01% to 0.2% of endowment, with minimum payments of $1 million for institutions with over $1.5 billion in endowment. All collected fees fund the Higher Education Opportunity Trust Fund, which supports public community colleges and state universities.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all public buildings and public accommodations (such as hotels, theaters, and amusement parks) with public restrooms to install and maintain at least one private or semi-private diaper changing station. The stations must be accessible to any caretaker regardless of sex, gender, or disability, with clear signage posted at building entrances and in central directories. It applies to new constructions, substantial renovations, and all public buildings, but excludes facilities restricted to those 13 or older. The requirement must comply with existing accessibility, fire, health, and safety standards.

Maddy summaryHD 665 establishes a state Office of Restorative Justice within the executive office for administration and finance. The office, led by a director with restorative justice expertise, will serve as the central hub for developing, funding, and supporting restorative justice programs across Massachusetts. It will assist courts, local governments, community organizations, and the public in implementing restorative practices like victim-offender conferences and community circles - focusing on healing harm rather than solely punishment. The office must also create a diverse statewide advisory committee and submit annual reports to state officials on its activities and finances. This bill directly affects state agencies, courts, and community groups implementing restorative justice initiatives.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Massachusetts school districts to use research-backed reading methods (like structured phonics instruction) for students in kindergarten through third grade, replacing less effective approaches such as guessing from pictures. It mandates early literacy screenings for K-3 students, requiring districts to implement intervention if over half of students fall below reading benchmarks. Districts must align all literacy curricula with evidence-based practices covering the five key reading components (phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, comprehension), and provide teacher training on these methods. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will create guidelines for identifying reading deficiencies, approve professional development programs, and collect annual data on implementation starting in 2025.

Maddy summaryHD 2800 requires state and municipal agencies using public funds to install new permanent outdoor lighting to meet specific energy and light pollution standards by 2026. Key provisions include mandating fully shielded fixtures (except for ornamental lighting or historic structures), limiting light color to 3000K or warmer, minimizing glare and light trespass, and using only necessary illuminance levels. The bill directly affects how municipalities and state agencies fund, install, and operate outdoor lighting like streetlights, parking lots, and building façades. It aims to conserve energy and improve night sky visibility by reducing unnecessary or poorly directed light. Regulations must be finalized by January 2026, with exemptions for emergencies, aviation safety, and certain historical or decorative lighting.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Massachusetts law to expand how municipalities can publish required legal notices. It defines a "community news website" as one with newsletter subscriptions reaching at least 15% of municipal households. Municipalities can now meet notice requirements through qualifying community news websites, print newspapers, or a statewide notice repository, while still maintaining the existing requirement to publish notices on their own municipal websites. The bill does not change the timing or format of notices required by law.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows public school teachers with 20+ years of service who return to full-time work after part-time teaching to count their part-time teaching years toward retirement benefits. Teachers may receive credit for up to 5 years of part-time service, calculated proportionally based on full-time equivalents. To qualify, teachers must pay the retirement system the equivalent of full-time deductions (plus interest) in a lump sum or installments. The policy directly affects teachers in Massachusetts' public school retirement systems who took part-time roles for parenting reasons.

Maddy summaryHD 254 clarifies ballot language for Governor's Councillors by adding "governor's" before specific terms in election laws. It modifies sections of the general laws to ensure the position is clearly listed on ballots alongside other officials like congressmen. This bill does not change voting rules or create new policies - it only adjusts how the position is named on official ballots. The change directly affects election materials and ballot design in Massachusetts. (Procedural bill; summary focuses solely on the textual amendment.)