Rep. Alice Peisch

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Massachusetts cities and towns to publish required legal notices on local community news websites in addition to traditional newspapers. It defines a community news website as one focused on local news that receives at least 1,500 unique monthly visits. The law permits this alternative method unless a local newspaper already has over 50% of the residents as subscribers or no qualifying website exists in the area. This change aims to provide municipalities with more options for reaching residents while maintaining access to important legal information.

By Representative Driscoll of Milton, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3025) of William J. Driscoll, Jr., and others relative to remote access for public bodies and town meetings. State Administration and Regulatory Oversight.

By Representative Peisch of Wellesley, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2917) of Alice Hanlon Peisch for legislation to continue tax basis rules for property acquired from decedents. Revenue.

By Representative Peisch of Wellesley, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2918) of Alice Hanlon Peisch relative to small tax-exempt public charities. Revenue.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Massachusetts laws to ensure that legal parentage rights apply equally to all families, regardless of the parents' gender, marital status, or sexual orientation. It replaces gender-specific terms like "father" and "mother" with neutral language such as "other parent" and "person who gave birth," while also changing "paternity" to "parentage" throughout the statutes. The legislation introduces new definitions for various family arrangements, including surrogacy and assisted reproduction, to clarify how different types of parents are recognized under the law. By amending existing chapters on birth certificates and family law, the bill aims to provide consistent legal protections for children born through diverse circumstances, including those resulting from surrogacy or non-marital births.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows the town of Weston to issue up to two new licenses for food stores to sell wine that cannot be consumed on the premises. The law permits these stores to sell wine even if they do not currently hold a standard liquor license, provided they follow existing state rules for such sales. Additionally, the bill restricts transferring these specific licenses to different locations but allows a new license to be issued at the same address if the previous one was properly paid and in good standing. Once enacted, this change expands the options for local grocery and food retailers in Weston to offer wine sales.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to exempt Purple Heart recipients from paying municipal parking meter fees and Massachusetts State Parks entrance fees. To qualify for this exemption, a veteran must display a special "Order of the Purple Heart Recipient" placard or emblem on their vehicle, which indicates they were combat wounded. The exemption applies only when the recipient is driving or riding as a passenger and the vehicle is not parked in one location for more than 24 hours. Additionally, the law allows the surviving spouse of a deceased Purple Heart recipient to keep the special registration plates for a fee until they remarry or cancel the registration.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Massachusetts Attorney General to create a standardized form for real estate sales that sellers and brokers must use. The new form requires the disclosure of specific material information about a property, including details on structural components, appliances, mechanical systems, natural hazards, environmental risks like mold or asbestos, and zoning status. By mandating a uniform template, the legislation aims to ensure that all buyers receive consistent and comprehensive information about potential issues before purchasing a home. The rule applies to real estate brokers, salesmen, and property sellers across the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a dedicated PFAS Remediation Trust Fund to help Massachusetts communities address contamination in drinking water, groundwater, soil, and other environmental media. The fund will be financed through recovered amounts from lawsuits or settlements against manufacturers and sellers of PFAS-containing products, along with other designated transfers and donations. Expenditures from the fund will prioritize vulnerable environmental justice populations and can be used to provide grants to municipalities, counties, and health boards for remediation projects, treatment systems, and private well assistance. The law also establishes rules requiring grant recipients to repay the fund if they later recover costs from liable third parties and prohibits funding for projects caused by the applicant's own negligence.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts insurance laws to allow dental insurance plans to pay benefits directly to a patient's chosen dentist, even if that provider is not part of the plan's network. Under the new rules, a patient can sign a written form directing their insurance company to send payment straight to the dentist who performed the service, provided the dentist meets the plan's basic credentialing standards. The law requires that the amount paid to the out-of-network dentist must be at least equal to what the plan pays to its participating dentists, and it permits the insurer to verify that the specific service was actually rendered. This change applies to various types of dental coverage but excludes specific limited benefit policies such as hospital indemnity or disability income plans.