Rep. Sam Montaño

Maddy summaryThis bill reclassifies app-based delivery workers (like food or package couriers for companies such as DoorDash) as employees for wage purposes, requiring delivery network companies to pay them at least the state minimum wage for all "working time" (including both assigned delivery tasks and standby time). Companies must calculate wages to ensure workers earn the minimum wage on average for their first 40 hours per week, with an option to pay 150% of minimum wage for assigned time only if workers control their schedule. The bill mandates detailed payroll reporting for companies, including breakdowns of assigned time, standby time, and wages, and requires quarterly publication of aggregated data on pay and hours. It directly affects app-based delivery workers and the companies that employ them across Massachusetts.

Maddy summaryH 5032 requires that for public construction projects in Massachusetts exceeding $10 million in cost, contractors and subcontractors must ensure at least 15% of labor hours for each trade are performed by registered apprentices. This applies to all public works projects (like schools or roads) and directly affects construction companies bidding on such projects. Contractors must use apprentice programs approved by the Division of Apprentice Standards and maintain required apprentice-to-journeyperson ratios. Public agencies can exempt specific trades only after proving no qualified bidders with apprenticeship programs are available, with strict documentation requirements. The bill does not apply to projects under $10 million or exempt entire projects unless documented per trade.

Maddy summaryHD 433 modifies Massachusetts' unemployment insurance rules for overpayments. It limits deductions from future benefits to 10% of the weekly rate for recipients not at fault, sets a 3-year deadline for recovery in such cases, and expands waiver eligibility for people on public assistance (like SNAP or TAFDC) or facing financial hardship. The bill also requires a 60-day waiting period before collections begin and clarifies when overpayments must be waived due to department errors or specific hardship situations (e.g., pandemic-era payment mistakes). It directly affects unemployment benefit recipients who received overpayments through no fault of their own.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes paid time off (PTO) and break requirements for agricultural workers in Massachusetts. Non-family agricultural employees (defined in the bill) earn 1 hour of PTO for every 40 hours worked, up to 55 hours per calendar year, with a 45-day waiting period before use. It also mandates two 15-minute breaks for 8+ hour shifts, requiring employers to provide hydration and temperature regulation during extreme weather. The bill clarifies the definition of "agricultural work" and ensures PTO cannot replace required sick leave under existing law.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the fourth Thursday in March as Tuskegee Airmen Commemoration Day. It requires the governor to issue an annual proclamation recognizing the service of Tuskegee Airmen during World War II, including pilots, support personnel, and others who "changed the course of history." The public is recommended to observe the day appropriately. This is a ceremonial designation with no new regulations or funding.

Maddy summaryH 4974 requires contractors working on public construction projects costing over $10 million to hire registered apprentices, phasing in minimum apprentice-hour requirements: 5% after one year, 10% after three years, and 15% after four years. It mandates that contractors maintain approved apprentice training programs and register apprentices with the state, while allowing limited waivers for specific trades if qualified bidders aren't available. The bill also establishes a new commission to study apprenticeship programs and expands a high school career pathway program for building/transportation careers. These requirements apply to all public works projects, contractors, subcontractors, and public agencies involved in qualifying construction contracts.

Maddy summaryH 4912 proposes creating the Accessibility in the Creative Economy (ACE) grant program, which would establish a dedicated fund administered by the Office on Disability. The program would provide financial support to for-profit, non-profit, and public arts, humanities, and interpretive science organizations across Massachusetts to make physical and programmatic improvements - such as installing ramps, assistive listening systems, or accessibility training - to remove barriers for people with disabilities. A new ACE Commission, requiring majority representation from people with disabilities, would set grant criteria, prioritize racial and geographic diversity, and oversee funding distribution on a competitive basis. The bill is pending in committee and would require the Office on Disability to report annually on fund usage and grant recipients.

Maddy summaryH 4994 requires public agencies to mandate that contractors for public construction projects exceeding $10 million in cost must include registered apprentices in their workforce. Specifically, it sets increasing minimums: starting at 5% of total hours for each trade in 2026, rising to 10% in 2027, and 15% by 2028, all performed by apprentices in programs approved by the Division of Apprentice Standards. Contractors must register apprentices with this division and maintain required apprentice-to-journeyperson ratios. Public agencies may grant limited exemptions for specific trades if no qualified bidder with an apprentice program is available, but must document and report these exemptions. The bill directly affects public agencies, construction contractors, and subcontractors working on large public projects.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires most health insurance plans in Massachusetts to cover pain management options during IUD insertions without cost-sharing. It applies to state employee health plans, Medicaid, private accident/sickness insurance, and hospital service plans, covering methods like IV sedation, oral sedation, or topical anesthesia as prescribed by a provider. The law prohibits deductibles, copays, or cost-sharing for these services and ensures coverage extends to spouses and dependents. Religious employers may opt out but must notify enrollees about excluded contraceptive services.

Maddy summaryHD 2465 requires Massachusetts state prisons and county facilities to provide incarcerated people with at least eight hours of daily "out of cell" time for social interaction and activities, including at least six hours weekly of group programming like education and vocational training (with three hours eligible for good conduct credits). It mandates personalized rehabilitation plans for each person, involving input from staff and the individual, and requires facilities to send parole-eligible plans to the parole board for review. The bill also sets minimum standards for access to medical care, outdoor recreation, libraries, and facilities conditions (like temperature and water quality), and requires annual data collection on programming access and outcomes, reported by race, gender, and other demographics. This law directly affects all individuals held in Massachusetts correctional facilities.