By Representative Rogers of Cambridge, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2932) of David M. Rogers and others for legislation to establish a family caregiving tax credit. Revenue.
By Representative O'Day of West Boylston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2384) of James J. O'Day and Daniel M. Donahue for legislation to require landlords to install window guards in certain residential units housing children under 10 years of age. Public Safety and Homeland Security.
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 eight appointed members, including licensed midwives with significant experience, a physician, a nurse-midwife, and a public representative, with specific requirements for members to address racial disparities in maternal health. Additionally, the legislation establishes a new Board of Allied Health Professions that includes representatives from various health fields such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and lactation consulting. The bill also expands the legal definition of "licensed midwife" to allow them to issue prescriptions and grants local health agencies the authority to conduct in-depth reviews of fetal and infant deaths to improve community health services.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Board of Registration in Midwifery within the Department of Public Health to oversee and regulate the practice of midwifery in the state. The board will consist of nine appointed members, including licensed midwives, obstetricians, and a public representative, with a specific requirement to consider racial disparities in maternal health during appointments. Additionally, the legislation expands the definition of who can prescribe medication to include licensed midwives and establishes a program for postpartum depression screenings for state employees. It also updates various state laws to formally recognize and define the roles of certified nurse-midwives and licensed midwives across different departments.
By Representative O'Day of West Boylston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2908) of James J. O'Day and others relative to excluding certain income from the calculation of the tax on incomes in excess of one million dollars. Revenue.
By Representative O'Day of West Boylston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2909) of James J. O'Day and others for legislation to require certain married couples to submit joint income tax returns. Revenue.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new Board of Registration of Licensed Recovery Coaches within the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to oversee the professional licensing of recovery coaches. The board will consist of twelve appointed members representing diverse backgrounds, including recovery coaches, individuals with lived experience of substance use disorders, and healthcare professionals. It creates a formal definition for "Licensed Recovery Coach" and sets the stage for a structured licensure process, ensuring that those providing recovery support services meet specific state standards.
Maddy summaryThis bill expands health coverage for state employees and retirees by mandating that their insurance plans cover opioid antagonists and licensed recovery coach services without deductibles or prior authorization. It also requires all medical practitioners to complete training on non-opioid pain management alternatives and the risks of opioid misuse before renewing their licenses. Additionally, the legislation directs pharmacies in high-overdose areas to maintain a continuous supply of over-the-counter opioid antagonists and requires substance use disorder treatment facilities to educate patients and provide at least two doses of these medications upon discharge.
By Representative Puppolo of Springfield, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3103) of Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr., and others for legislation to establish standard time as the permanent time of the Commonwealth. State Administration and Regulatory Oversight.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Massachusetts Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act to clarify how legal representatives can access a deceased person's email and other digital accounts. It defines key terms such as "digital asset," "custodian," and "fiduciary" to create a clear framework for managing electronic records after death. The law allows designated recipients, agents, conservators, and personal representatives to access digital assets unless the user has explicitly restricted access through an online tool provided by the service. By amending state law, the bill gives legal standing to these representatives while respecting a user's specific instructions regarding privacy and data disclosure.
