Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Board of Registration in Midwifery within the Department of Public Health to oversee the licensing and regulation of midwives in the state. The board will consist of nine appointed members, including experienced midwives, obstetricians, and a public representative, with a specific requirement to consider racial disparities in maternal health during appointments. Additionally, the legislation expands the state's allied health professions board to include lactation consultants and updates various laws to formally recognize certified nurse-midwives and licensed midwives in official definitions and hospital settings. The bill also mandates that the insurance commission cover postpartum depression screenings for state employees and allows coverage for medically necessary donor human milk for infants at high risk of certain conditions.
Rep. Jim O'Day
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill strengthens the HomeBASE program in Massachusetts to help families maintain stable housing by allowing them to receive financial assistance without needing to be evicted first. It removes income eligibility limits for enrolled families and permits those facing eviction due to no-fault or excused-fault reasons to apply for help even after court summons is filed. Under the new rules, eligible families can receive up to $30,000 in the first 24 months and up to $15,000 in subsequent 12-month periods, with the option to combine these funds with other specific housing transition resources. The legislation directly affects low-income households with children under 21 or pregnant individuals who need support to prevent eviction or relocate to new housing.
Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to amend Massachusetts law to ensure that the state minimum wage applies to both public and private employers. The key provision explicitly states that the minimum wage rules override any conflicting state laws, such as those regarding tipped minimum wages. By removing the word "It" and adding "public or private," the legislation aims to create a uniform minimum wage standard across all workplaces in the state. This change would directly affect all employees in Massachusetts, regardless of whether they work for the government or a private company.
Maddy summaryThis bill aims to stop wage theft and hold employers accountable by strengthening how the state enforces labor laws. It creates a new public enforcement unit within the Attorney General's office to investigate unpaid wages and other violations. The legislation also expands the types of penalties available to punish companies that fail to pay workers correctly. These changes directly affect employees who may have been underpaid and the businesses that employ them.
Maddy summaryThis bill proposes banning the sale of cell phone location information to protect reproductive health access, LGBTQ individuals, religious liberty, and freedom of movement. It directly affects telecommunications companies and data brokers by restricting their ability to sell precise location data to third parties. The legislation aims to prevent the misuse of location tracking that could expose individuals to discrimination or surveillance in sensitive situations.
By Representative Barber of Somerville, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2989) of Christine P. Barber and others relative to the annual issuance of a proclamation from the Governor setting apart the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples day. State Administration and Regulatory Oversight.
May 2, 2024 -- The committee on The Judiciary, to whom was referred the petitions (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1142) of John C. Velis, Patrick M. O'Connor, Jack Patrick Lewis, Steven George Xiarhos and other members of the General Court for legislation relative to the humane protection of animals; and (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1718) of Edward R. Philips, Jessica Ann Giannino and others for legislation relative to the humane protection of animals and establishing a task force to complete a systematic review of the laws pertaining to animal cruelty and protection, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2757).
Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Massachusetts General Laws to expand the legal definition of a "prostituted person" for the purposes of the state's sex trafficking statute. The change directly affects individuals currently involved in sex work by including them under the protections of the law if they are victims of sexual servitude, sex trafficking, or specific forms of prostitution involving fees, necessities, minors, or street solicitation. By broadening this definition, the legislation ensures that a wider range of people engaged in the sex trade can access existing legal remedies and support services designed for trafficking victims. The bill does not alter criminal penalties but rather clarifies who qualifies for the state's victim assistance framework.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new law in Massachusetts to prevent individuals convicted of specific animal cruelty crimes from owning, fostering, or working with animals. It directly affects people who have been found guilty of offenses such as animal abuse or neglect, banning them from possessing or residing with animals for a minimum of five years for a first offense and fifteen years for repeat offenses. The law requires courts to notify animal control and licensing officials about these restrictions within thirty days to ensure enforcement, while also allowing convicted individuals to petition the court once per year to potentially shorten the ban if they demonstrate rehabilitation.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new chapter in Massachusetts law to address controlling and abusive litigation, specifically targeting legal actions taken by individuals who have a history of abuse or harassment against a family or household member. The legislation defines such litigation as cases where the accuser has a prior court finding of abuse and is suing primarily to harass or intimidate the other party, often by making claims without legal basis or evidence. Key provisions allow courts to dismiss these specific types of lawsuits if the allegations are unsupported by law or facts, or if similar issues have already been decided unfavorably in previous court cases.