Rep. Sam Montaño

Maddy summaryHD 2660 bans the use of painful procedures and the denial of basic human needs in facilities serving people with disabilities. The bill prohibits any Commonwealth-funded program, agency, or facility from administering procedures causing physical pain (like hitting, pinching, or electric shock) to change behavior, or denying reasonable access to sleep, food, shelter, or bathroom facilities. It directly affects all facilities receiving state funding that serve individuals with physical, intellectual, or developmental disabilities. The law mandates humane treatment by explicitly prohibiting practices that would be illegal if used on non-disabled individuals.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts local housing authorities from penalties under the MBTA Communities Law. Specifically, it amends state law to exclude housing authorities defined in Chapter 121B from the penalties for not meeting housing development requirements near transit hubs. The change adds a clear exception to Section 3A of Chapter 40A, ensuring these authorities are not penalized for failing to meet the law's housing goals. This directly affects municipal housing authorities that manage public housing under Chapter 121B.

Maddy summaryHD 627 requires Massachusetts' Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to update teacher training regulations. Specifically, it mandates that all approved teacher programs include instruction on using augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) tools and assistive technologies. The bill also requires school districts to address the needs of nonverbal students or those with limited speech in teacher professional development plans. This directly affects teachers through new training requirements and students with disabilities who rely on AAC for communication. The policy change focuses on integrating these essential communication supports into standard educator preparation and professional growth.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a standardized system for school interpreters to improve access for Limited English Proficient (LEP) parents and students. It creates three interpreter tiers: Tier 3 (required for specialized meetings like IEPs or discipline discussions), Tier 2 (for standard meetings), and Tier 1 (only for emergencies when higher tiers aren't available). The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education must develop training, assessment, and a public registry for Tier 3 interpreters, including required field experience and competency standards. The law mandates phased implementation, with full statewide use of Tier 3 interpreters for specialized meetings required after the commissioner certifies readiness. It directly affects schools, LEP families, and interpreters working in Massachusetts public schools.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HD 855) allows dental hygienists to administer Botox and dermal fillers under a dentist's direct supervision, after completing specific training approved by the state board. It directly affects dental hygienists seeking to expand their scope of practice and patients seeking these cosmetic treatments. The key provision requires hygienists to complete the same additional training as dentists for these procedures, and they cannot perform them independently without a supervising dentist present. The law modifies existing regulations to permit this expanded service within dental settings.

Maddy summaryHD 507 extends Massachusetts' prevailing wage requirements to offsite fabrication work for public construction projects. It requires contractors to pay prevailing wages for prefabricated items like pipes, electrical systems, or modular units made offsite, and to include specific payroll details in weekly reports (e.g., facility location, worker names, hours, and wages). This applies to all public projects covered by existing wage laws, ensuring offsite manufacturing work meets the same labor standards as on-site construction. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryHD 935 requires virtual currency kiosk operators in Massachusetts to obtain a money transmitter license and register locations with the Commissioner of Banks before operating. Operators must submit quarterly location reports and provide clear, mandatory disclosures to customers, including prominent warnings about irreversible transactions, lack of government backing, scam risks (with specific examples like impersonation scams), and volatility. The bill also sets a $1,000 daily transaction limit per customer and mandates disclosure of fees, exchange rates, and policy changes. This directly affects businesses operating physical kiosks for buying/selling virtual currency in Massachusetts.

By Representative Gentile of Sudbury, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Carmine Lawrence Gentile, Liz Miranda and Samantha Montaño for legislation to establish LGBTQIA+ parent advisory councils in public schools. Education.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires most Massachusetts employers (those with more than 25 employees) to adopt written anti-harassment policies by January 1, 2027, and provide annual interactive training to all employees focused on preventing sexual harassment and unlawful retaliation. The training must cover specific examples, bystander intervention, internal/external remedies, and supervisory responsibilities, with online sessions requiring anonymous Q&A and participation tracking. Employers must maintain records of training completion for five years and provide written policy copies to all employees at hire or role change. Smaller employers (25 or fewer employees) are exempt from these requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance plans in Massachusetts to cover prescription medications for gender-affirming care services as defined in state law. It mandates coverage for up to a 12-month period for subsequent dispensings of the same medication, allowing full or partial dispensing within that timeframe. Coverage must be provided regardless of enrollment status when the prescription was first issued, but insurers are not required to cover more than one 12-month prescription per plan year. The bill directly affects insured individuals seeking ongoing gender-affirming medication treatment.