By Representatives Decker of Cambridge and Vargas of Haverhill, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2761) of Marjorie C. Decker, Andres X. Vargas and others relative to establishing a child and family tax credit. Revenue.
By Representative Linsky of Natick, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2365) of David Paul Linsky and others for legislation to require that firearms safety courses provide live fire practice for firearms licenses. Public Safety and Homeland Security.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new coordinating council to guide the implementation of a statewide system that integrates behavioral health services into schools. The council will be made up of representatives from schools, healthcare providers, parents, and other community groups, who will work together to develop a three-year plan for expanding access to mental health support for students. Under the legislation, school districts are required to adopt this comprehensive system by September 2026, while the council will regularly report progress and identify any barriers to equitable access. Additionally, the bill mandates that the state department provide specific reporting formats to track how well districts are meeting these new behavioral health goals.
Maddy summaryThis law establishes a mandatory educational diversion program in Massachusetts for minors charged with specific offenses related to possessing or sharing sexual images, commonly known as sexting. The Attorney General will lead the creation of this program in collaboration with various state agencies and community groups, focusing on informing youth about legal penalties, social consequences, and the risks of online image sharing. If a child is charged with these offenses, the court will typically pause legal proceedings to require the completion of this program instead of immediate prosecution, unless the district attorney objects. Successful completion of the program allows the case to be dismissed, while failure to participate results in the case being restored for standard legal processing. Additionally, the bill expands the legal definition of abuse to include "coercive control" and requires schools to teach media literacy skills using materials from the new diversion program.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new annual transportation excise tax specifically for large employers operating within Massachusetts. The tax applies to businesses with at least 50 employees, with the amount owed increasing as the company size grows, ranging from roughly $10 per employee for firms with 50 to 99 workers up to $100 per employee for those with 1,000 or more staff. The total revenue collected from all participating employers is capped at $250 million per year, and the Department of Revenue is responsible for calculating individual liabilities based on each company's share of the state's total workforce.
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.
By Representative Fluker Oakley of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2325) of Brandy Fluker Oakley and others for legislation to maximize out-of-cell time and opportunities for incarcerated people to attend education, training, employment, and other programs. Public Safety and Homeland Security.
By Representative Cahill of Lynn, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2297) of Daniel Cahill for legislation to establish a violence prevention trust fund. Public Safety and Homeland Security.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts state law to formally include embodied carbon - the greenhouse gas emissions from building materials and construction processes - in the state's climate policy. It requires the creation of an Embodied Carbon Advisory Board composed of engineers, architects, industry representatives, and public officials to guide efforts in this area. The Department of Energy Resources, working with the board, must assess current industry knowledge, recommend training and certifications, and develop best practice guidelines for measuring and reducing these emissions in buildings and infrastructure.
Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to offer a 1.5% reduction in corporate tax rates to benefit corporations in Massachusetts that meet specific employee benefit standards. To qualify, these companies must provide at least four of six designated benefits, including a living wage, paid parental leave, a CEO-to-worker pay ratio capped at 25:1, or profit sharing for employees. The Department of Revenue would be responsible for certifying eligible corporations after they demonstrate they have offered these benefits for at least 12 consecutive months. The legislation aims to incentivize businesses to adopt higher standards for worker compensation and benefits through a financial tax incentive.
