Rep. Tommy Vitolo

Maddy summaryHD 2592 requires retailers to stop providing single-use plastic carryout bags, instead offering only recycled paper bags (charged at minimum 10 cents each) or reusable bags. It also restricts disposable food service ware (like plates and cups) unless customers specifically request it, and bans black plastic for these items. The law exempts small businesses (under 4,000 sq ft, 10 employees, 10,000 bags/year), pharmacies, food charities, and certain state agency uses. Retailers must send 5 cents per recycled paper bag sold to a dedicated environmental fund, while prohibiting small plastic containers for alcohol (≤100ml) and small plastic water bottles (≤1 liter) for non-emergency use.

Maddy summaryHD 3369 establishes a Climate Change Adaptation Superfund to finance projects that help communities prepare for and recover from climate impacts. It requires fossil fuel companies and entities that extracted coal, oil, or natural gas in Massachusetts between 1995 and 2024 to pay into the fund based on their historical greenhouse gas emissions. Payments will support concrete adaptation projects like upgrading stormwater systems, retrofitting public buildings for energy efficiency, and protecting communities from extreme weather. The fund prioritizes environmental justice communities - neighborhoods with high poverty rates, minority populations, or limited English proficiency - to ensure equitable access to climate resilience efforts.

Maddy summaryH 1954 would provide legal representation to eligible immigrants and refugees facing deportation who cannot afford an attorney. The bill directs state funding to establish a program connecting these individuals with qualified legal aid providers. It specifically targets people in removal proceedings who lack access to counsel due to financial barriers. This creates a concrete system for fairer immigration court outcomes without altering federal immigration law.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits Massachusetts state and local government agencies (including police departments, sheriff's offices, and correctional facilities) from entering new agreements with federal immigration authorities for immigration enforcement or detention. It also requires all existing agreements of this type to end within 30 days (for enforcement agreements) or 90 days (for detention agreements) after the law takes effect. The Attorney General can enforce the law by seeking court orders to stop violations. The bill directly affects how Massachusetts law enforcement interacts with federal immigration authorities regarding detention and enforcement.

Maddy summaryThis procedural bill (H 5122) extends the deadline for the House Committee on Labor and Workforce Development to report on specific pending House documents (numbers 2066, 2067, 2069, 2082, 2098, 2128, 2131, 2133, 2182, 4291, and 4545) until Wednesday, March 18, 2026. It directly affects the committee's schedule for reviewing these documents, granting them additional time beyond the standard deadline under House Rule 27. The bill was adopted without opposition on February 17, 2026, to facilitate the committee's work on these specific legislative items.

Maddy summaryThis bill declares free public higher education a right for Massachusetts residents. It creates a state grant program covering tuition and mandatory fees at public colleges, universities, and vocational programs for eligible students. Eligibility requires graduating from a Massachusetts high school (or equivalent) after three years of attendance, or qualifying for in-state tuition under federal rules. The grants supplement, but do not replace, existing federal aid like Pell Grants and state scholarships, with no restrictions on academic programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits behind-the-wheel training, on-road driver education instruction, and driving tests from occurring on October 31st. It amends existing Massachusetts law (specifically sections 13D of Chapter 71 and 8 of Chapter 90) to add this date restriction. The change directly affects all motor vehicle driver education programs and testing centers operating under these statutes. The bill makes a specific scheduling adjustment without altering the substance of driver education requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires out-of-state drivers (from other states or U.S. territories) who surrender their existing license to apply for a Massachusetts driver's license to pass both the written test and driving test for a **junior license**. It directly affects new Massachusetts residents moving from other jurisdictions who seek to obtain a local license by giving up their previous one. The key change amends the existing process by adding this specific testing requirement to the registrar's examination for such applicants. This applies to all applicants surrendering out-of-state licenses, not just new residents.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Midwifery Workforce Development Fund to support midwifery education, retention, and birth center sustainability. The fund, administered by the state health department, receives state/federal maternal health funds and private donations, with unspent balances rolling over annually. It finances student education costs, midwife loan forgiveness (potentially requiring work in underserved areas), midwifery training programs, and mental health support for practicing midwives. Additionally, the bill mandates that state health insurance programs pay certified midwives and freestanding birth centers at rates no lower than those for physicians or hospital services for equivalent care.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the deadline for the House Committee on Labor and Workforce Development to finalize reports on seven specific pending documents (2094, 2095, 2115, 2120, 2162, 2163, 2176, 4208) from the standard timeframe to Wednesday, March 18, 2026. It directly affects the Labor and Workforce Development committee by granting them additional time to complete their review of these documents. The key mechanism is a procedural override of House Rule 27, which normally sets reporting deadlines, allowing the committee to work beyond the usual schedule. This is a routine procedural adjustment with no substantive policy changes.