Rep. Sam Montaño

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Massachusetts laws to remove specific criminal penalties for sex work and to protect individuals who report crimes from facing charges related to their own prior offenses. It achieves this by deleting language in Chapter 272 that criminalizes street solicitation and repealing a separate section of the same chapter entirely. Additionally, the bill adds a new provision to Chapter 94C that grants immunity from prosecution for drug possession or sex work violations if the evidence was obtained while the person was acting as a crime reporter. These changes directly affect transgender people and low-income women who are frequently targeted by current enforcement practices, aiming to reduce their criminal liability when engaging in sex work or assisting law enforcement.

Maddy summaryThis Massachusetts bill expands health insurance coverage for breast cancer screening and diagnostic services for women. It mandates that insurance plans cover baseline mammograms for women aged 35 to 40 and annual mammograms for those 40 and older, while also providing earlier screenings for younger women with specific risk factors like family history or dense breast tissue. The legislation requires coverage for advanced imaging options, such as ultrasound and MRI, when medically necessary due to abnormalities or high-risk conditions, and ensures these services are free of co-pays, deductibles, or dollar limits.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to change how people are handled when caught possessing controlled substances without a prescription. Instead of facing traditional criminal penalties, individuals would be required to complete a needs screening that assesses their health, housing, employment, and legal needs. The screening must be conducted by trained professionals using trauma-informed and culturally competent methods, and the citation is dismissed once the screening is finished within 45 days. This approach aims to connect people with necessary services rather than pursuing prosecution, while explicitly stating that participating in the screening does not count as an admission of guilt.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all four-year colleges and universities in Massachusetts to report annually on their admissions policies regarding legacy applicants, early decision, and early action programs. Specifically, institutions must disclose whether they offer preferences to students related to donors or alumni and provide detailed statistics on how many applicants from these groups are admitted. The law also mandates that these reports break down data by race and financial need, including information on Pell Grant recipients, to increase transparency in the admissions process. By collecting this information, the bill aims to give the public and state officials a clearer view of how different applicant categories are treated during college enrollment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all public higher education institutions in Massachusetts to provide free disposable menstrual products, such as tampons and sanitary napkins, in the restrooms of their buildings. The law mandates that these items be made available in a way that does not stigmatize individuals seeking them. It directly affects public universities and colleges by ensuring access to essential hygiene products for menstruating students and staff.

Maddy summaryThis Massachusetts bill directs the Department of Housing and Community Development to create a three-year pilot program to test the effects of a universal basic income. The program would provide $1,000 monthly stipends to 100 residents selected from three economically diverse communities, including at least one rural area. Participants must agree to fully engage in the study, which involves collecting data on how the money is spent and its impact on health and the economy. After the pilot concludes, the department must submit a detailed report analyzing the results and provide recommendations for a potential statewide program.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Massachusetts eviction laws to create a two-step process for all housing court cases and pause evictions when tenants are seeking rental aid. Under the new rules, every case must first attend a mediation session to explore options before a trial date is set, and no default judgments or evictions can occur if a tenant has an active application for financial help. The legislation directly affects landlords, tenants, and courts by requiring judges to grant delays in eviction proceedings whenever a rental assistance request is pending. These changes aim to ensure tenants have time to secure funding before facing removal from their homes.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes the automatic ban on voting for people convicted of felonies in Massachusetts. By deleting specific language from state election laws, it allows individuals who have served their sentences to vote again without needing a separate court order. The legislation directly affects formerly incarcerated citizens, restoring their ability to participate in elections once they are no longer in prison. The bill is written as an emergency measure to take effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund in Massachusetts to support recreational programs, planning, and projects. It creates the Office of Outdoor Recreation to administer the fund and defines key terms such as "underserved communities" and "recreational use" to guide its operations. The primary mechanism is dedicating all state sales tax revenue from sporting goods stores directly to this fund, ensuring the money remains separate from the general state budget. Additionally, the fund is authorized to accept public and private donations to further outdoor recreation goals, with a specific focus on equity for historically underserved populations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Massachusetts courts to automatically seal criminal and juvenile records related to the possession, cultivation, or distribution of small amounts of marijuana that were previously decriminalized by state law. It also directs the state to use available funds to create a uniform, digital system for managing these records, ensuring that such information is automatically hidden from public view when penalties are removed. The legislation directly affects individuals with past low-level cannabis charges and the court system responsible for maintaining those files. By mandating automatic sealing, the bill aims to reduce the long-term legal and social consequences for people with these specific non-violent offenses.