Rep. Sam Montaño

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Massachusetts law to allow individuals held in pre-trial detention to earn sentence reduction credits for their good behavior, even before they are convicted. Under the new rules, these credits accumulate while the person is waiting for trial but can only be applied to shorten their prison sentence once they are found guilty and sentenced. The bill also specifies that these accumulated credits will expire when the person is released from custody related to the original charges and cannot be used to reduce time served in future incarcerations.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new fund within the Department of Public Health to support programs that prevent sexual exploitation and assist victims, while also requiring the department to publish an annual report on service usage and gaps. The legislation repeals existing laws that criminalize certain behaviors associated with prostitution and establishes a task force to train law enforcement officers on identifying and responding to human trafficking cases. By removing criminal penalties for specific acts and focusing resources on prevention and victim support, the bill aims to shift the approach toward addressing sexual exploitation through public health and community-based services rather than solely through punishment.

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 bill amends the Massachusetts General Laws to expand the legal definition of a "prostituted person" for the purposes of the state's sex trafficking statute. The change directly affects individuals currently involved in sex work by including them under the protections of the law if they are victims of sexual servitude, sex trafficking, or specific forms of prostitution involving fees, necessities, minors, or street solicitation. By broadening this definition, the legislation ensures that a wider range of people engaged in the sex trade can access existing legal remedies and support services designed for trafficking victims. The bill does not alter criminal penalties but rather clarifies who qualifies for the state's victim assistance framework.

Maddy summaryThis bill reforming juvenile offender law in Massachusetts primarily affects young people charged with serious crimes, specifically murder. It raises the age of criminal responsibility for murder from 18 to 19, meaning individuals who commit murder between ages 16 and 19 will face adult sentencing but retain a right to parole based on their maturity and rehabilitation. Additionally, the legislation mandates that youths aged 14 to 16 accused of murder be tried in juvenile court rather than adult court, while ensuring they are held in separate facilities from adult prisoners until their 18th birthday. The bill also requires that these youthful offenders have access to educational and treatment programs regardless of their crime or sentence length, and it establishes procedures to pause legal proceedings if a juvenile's ability to understand the trial process is questioned.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new chapter in Massachusetts law to prohibit professional investors, such as banks and venture capital firms, from discriminating against individuals based on protected characteristics like race, gender, or veteran status when making investment decisions. It specifically bans sexual harassment in investment transactions and allows for exceptions where funds are designated exclusively for historically disadvantaged groups. The legislation outlines that private individuals can sue for damages and legal fees for violations related to sexual harassment, while the Attorney General is responsible for enforcing rules against general discrimination and may also seek damages on behalf of the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits family and juvenile courts in Massachusetts from discriminating against parents with disabilities when making custody or parenting time decisions. It requires judges to consider a parent's disability as a neutral factor unless there is clear evidence that the disability directly harms the child and cannot be fixed through accommodations like adaptive equipment or supportive services. If a court decides a disability negatively impacts a custody ruling, it must provide written findings explaining the specific harm to the child and why accommodations would not prevent it. The legislation also formally defines key terms such as "disability" and "supportive parenting services" to ensure consistent application across legal proceedings.

Maddy summaryThis bill aims to reduce mass incarceration by expanding parole eligibility for certain prisoners currently serving life sentences in Massachusetts. It removes specific exclusions that previously barred individuals with multiple life sentences or those convicted of first-degree murder as minors from applying for parole. Under the new rules, prisoners serving multiple life sentences would become eligible for parole 25 years after their most recent conviction began, and courts would be required to set a minimum prison term of 25 years for first-degree murder cases. Additionally, the legislation adjusts the minimum parole term for juveniles who commit murder before their 18th birthday, ensuring they are not automatically excluded from future parole consideration.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new law in Massachusetts to prevent individuals convicted of specific animal cruelty crimes from owning, fostering, or working with animals. It directly affects people who have been found guilty of offenses such as animal abuse or neglect, banning them from possessing or residing with animals for a minimum of five years for a first offense and fifteen years for repeat offenses. The law requires courts to notify animal control and licensing officials about these restrictions within thirty days to ensure enforcement, while also allowing convicted individuals to petition the court once per year to potentially shorten the ban if they demonstrate rehabilitation.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new project within the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to prevent human trafficking and support the health and safety of sex workers. The legislation requires the department to create a strategic plan that offers resources such as housing, healthcare, legal aid, and cash assistance, while also setting up a public system for reporting incidents of trafficking or abuse. Additionally, the bill defines key terms like "commercial sex" and "sex worker" and mandates the formation of an interagency committee to study the decriminalization of sex work. These measures aim to reduce the vulnerability of individuals involved in sex work and those at risk of trafficking by providing concrete support services and a formal reporting mechanism.