By Representative Livingstone of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2876) of Jay D. Livingstone and others relative to the community investment tax credit. Revenue.
By Representative Kerans of Danvers, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2858) of Sally P. Kerans for legislation to allow cities and towns to increase the local tax rate on meals. Revenue.
By Representative Connolly of Cambridge, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2747) of Mike Connolly and others for legislation to support affordable housing with a local option for a fee to be applied to certain real estate transactions. Revenue.
By Representatives Pignatelli of Lenox and Vitolo of Brookline, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2923) of Smitty Pignatelli, Tommy Vitolo and others for legislation to establish a local option gas tax. Revenue.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to expand access to medical parole for incarcerated individuals by updating the definitions of permanent incapacitation and terminal illness. It requires correctional facilities to consider parole requests from prisoners, attorneys, family members, or medical providers, with a strict timeline for reviewing these petitions. The legislation also mandates that the Department of Correction identify cognitively incapacitated prisoners through annual standardized assessments and allows them to choose a surrogate decision-maker to advocate on their behalf. Additionally, the bill ensures that risk assessments for violent recidivism account for a prisoner's medical condition and considers whether community-based treatment could reduce that risk.
By Ms. Creem, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2623) of Cynthia Stone Creem (by vote of the town) to authorize the town of Brookline to implement rent stabilization and tenant eviction protections. Housing. [Local Approval Received.]
By Representative Vitolo of Brookline, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3468) of Tommy Vitolo relative to out of state operator motor vehicle license applications. Transportation.
Maddy summaryThis bill improves long-term care in Massachusetts by creating a dedicated fund to support workforce training and capital improvements for skilled nursing facilities. The new fund will finance education and stipends for nurses' aides and home health workers, while also offering interest-free loans to help facilities build specialized care units like dementia or behavioral health wings. Additionally, the law clarifies definitions for assisted living services, specifying which medical tasks qualified staff can perform under a doctor's order. An advisory committee involving health officials and labor union representatives will oversee these programs to ensure they meet the needs of both workers and residents.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new Hospital Workforce Training & Apprenticeship Trust Fund to help hospitals in Massachusetts recruit and keep staff. The fund will be managed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services and can be supported by public and private donations, grants, and interest earnings. Money from the fund will be distributed as grants to eligible hospitals and training organizations to pay for workforce education programs and registered apprenticeships. All acute care hospitals and accountable care organizations in the state are considered eligible to receive these financial supports.
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits state-funded programs and facilities from using procedures that cause physical pain or deny basic humane conditions to people with disabilities. Specifically, it bans practices such as hitting, pinching, or electric shock used to change behavior, while also forbidding any punishment that would be illegal if applied to non-disabled individuals. Additionally, the law prevents institutions from denying individuals reasonable access to sleep, food, shelter, bedding, and bathroom facilities. These changes directly affect agencies licensed or approved by the Commonwealth that care for persons with physical, intellectual, or developmental disabilities.
