Rep. Simon Cataldo

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development to create a five-year plan aimed at ending homelessness for unaccompanied adults by shifting resources from temporary shelters to permanent housing. The legislation requires the state to conduct a study predicting future shelter needs and to prioritize the construction of permanent supportive housing and non-congregate shelters, which offer private rooms with doors and walls, over mass dormitory-style congregate shelters. Additionally, the bill mandates the development of specific housing strategies for vulnerable groups such as the elderly, disabled, and LGBTQ+ individuals, while also exploring alternative construction methods like modular units and repurposed hotels to increase affordable capacity.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Commonwealth Water Infrastructure Trust Fund to finance water system improvements across Massachusetts. It requires cities and towns to collect an additional $250 for residential water connections and $1,000 for commercial or industrial connections, with these fees automatically deposited into the fund. The collected money is then distributed so that 50% returns to the originating municipality, 40% goes to the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust for broader projects, and 5% is allocated to the Department of Environmental Protection to specifically assist municipalities in economic target areas. The legislation also mandates that recipient towns report annually on how the funds are used for water infrastructure projects.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all four-year colleges and universities in Massachusetts to report annually on their admissions policies regarding legacy applicants, early decision, and early action programs. Specifically, institutions must disclose whether they offer preferences to students related to donors or alumni and provide detailed statistics on how many applicants from these groups are admitted. The law also mandates that these reports break down data by race and financial need, including information on Pell Grant recipients, to increase transparency in the admissions process. By collecting this information, the bill aims to give the public and state officials a clearer view of how different applicant categories are treated during college enrollment.

Maddy summaryThis bill aims to protect warehouse workers by establishing new definitions and rules regarding how employers collect and use performance data. It specifically targets nonexempt employees at distribution centers who are subject to work quotas, defining these quotas as specific productivity speeds or task counts within a shift. The legislation clarifies what constitutes "employee work speed data" and "aggregated data" while setting thresholds for which employers must comply, covering those with at least 100 employees at a single center or 500 across multiple centers in the state. Additionally, the bill holds companies and their related corporate groups jointly responsible for ensuring compliance with these new data and employment standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the Town of Concord to collect a special fee on building permits for new construction projects that exceed a specific value set by local officials. The collected funds must be placed into a designated trust to support affordable housing initiatives within the town. To qualify for the fee, a project must be intended for affordable housing, defined as units where initial rents or sale prices are capped at 150% of the area's median income. The town must vote to approve this surcharge at a Town Meeting before the fee can be implemented.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 1% real estate transfer fee in the town of Concord for the sale of residential properties where the purchase price exceeds $1 million. The fee is paid by the buyer and applies to direct property sales as well as transfers involving entities that hold controlling interests in residential real property. Several exemptions are included, such as transfers to government bodies, charitable organizations, family members, and properties already designated for affordable housing. All collected funds must be deposited into a specific trust to support affordable housing programs within the town. To enforce this, the town will require buyers to submit proof of payment or exemption before a deed can be officially recorded.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Science Advisory Board to help Massachusetts regulate emerging contaminants in public drinking water systems. The board will consist of 13 members appointed by the Governor, including representatives from state agencies, water utilities, and various health and environmental organizations. To regulate a new substance, both the board and the state Department of Environmental Protection must agree that the contaminant poses a health risk and that reducing it is feasible. The board is required to base its decisions on peer-reviewed scientific studies and must provide a detailed analysis explaining which studies it considered and why.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Massachusetts cities, towns, and water districts to create special funds to finance environmental improvements related to water use. Under the new law, these local entities can charge a fee based on increased water or sewer demand to support projects like stormwater recharge, water conservation, habitat restoration, and infrastructure upgrades. The collected money must be kept in separate accounts and used only for the specific water-related environmental measures listed in the act, without needing additional state approval for spending. Local governments retain the authority to decide how to collect and manage these funds, and they may also accept donations or federal grants to supplement the resources.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts state law to allow schools to excuse student absences for mental or behavioral health reasons in the same way they do for physical health issues. It requires that documentation rules and requirements be consistent between mental and physical health absences, while also permitting schools to accept notes from licensed mental health professionals. Additionally, the legislation mandates that students returning from such absences be offered, but not required to attend, a meeting with a certified school counselor. The primary impact is on school administrators, educators, and families who need to manage attendance policies related to a student's psychological well-being.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to explicitly define "doxing" as the unauthorized sharing of personal information intended to cause fear or harm, thereby creating a specific legal right against it. It establishes a new cause of action allowing victims to sue for damages, including up to three times the amount if the doxing was motivated by bias against race, gender, or other protected characteristics. The legislation clarifies that personal identifying information includes details like home addresses, phone numbers, and financial records, while also providing exceptions for reporting crimes or addressing unlawful conduct by public officials.