Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Board of Registration in Midwifery within the Department of Public Health to oversee the licensing and regulation of midwives in the state. The board will consist of eight appointed members, including licensed midwives with significant experience, a physician, a nurse-midwife, and a public representative, with specific requirements for members to address racial disparities in maternal health. Additionally, the legislation establishes a new Board of Allied Health Professions that includes representatives from various health fields such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and lactation consulting. The bill also expands the legal definition of "licensed midwife" to allow them to issue prescriptions and grants local health agencies the authority to conduct in-depth reviews of fetal and infant deaths to improve community health services.
Rep. Sam Montaño
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new coordinating council to guide the implementation of a statewide system that integrates behavioral health services into schools. The council will be made up of representatives from schools, healthcare providers, parents, and other community groups, who will work together to develop a three-year plan for expanding access to mental health support for students. Under the legislation, school districts are required to adopt this comprehensive system by September 2026, while the council will regularly report progress and identify any barriers to equitable access. Additionally, the bill mandates that the state department provide specific reporting formats to track how well districts are meeting these new behavioral health goals.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Board of Registration in Midwifery within the Department of Public Health to oversee and regulate the practice of midwifery in the state. The board will consist of nine appointed members, including licensed midwives, obstetricians, and a public representative, with a specific requirement to consider racial disparities in maternal health during appointments. Additionally, the legislation expands the definition of who can prescribe medication to include licensed midwives and establishes a program for postpartum depression screenings for state employees. It also updates various state laws to formally recognize and define the roles of certified nurse-midwives and licensed midwives across different departments.
Maddy summaryThis law establishes a mandatory educational diversion program in Massachusetts for minors charged with specific offenses related to possessing or sharing sexual images, commonly known as sexting. The Attorney General will lead the creation of this program in collaboration with various state agencies and community groups, focusing on informing youth about legal penalties, social consequences, and the risks of online image sharing. If a child is charged with these offenses, the court will typically pause legal proceedings to require the completion of this program instead of immediate prosecution, unless the district attorney objects. Successful completion of the program allows the case to be dismissed, while failure to participate results in the case being restored for standard legal processing. Additionally, the bill expands the legal definition of abuse to include "coercive control" and requires schools to teach media literacy skills using materials from the new diversion program.
By Representative Worrell of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2420) of Christopher J. Worrell and Michelle M. DuBois for legislation to provide for an audit and an investigation by a special commission concerning gun violence prevention and intervention funding. Public Safety and Homeland Security.
By Representative Khan of Newton, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2861) of Kay Khan and others for legislation to increase the excise tax on alcoholic beverages. Revenue.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new executive office dedicated to addressing the disproportionate harm faced by missing and murdered Black women and girls in Massachusetts. The office would be led by a director appointed with input from the Black community and tasked with collecting specific data on cases, Amber Alerts, and connections to trafficking or domestic violence. Additionally, the legislation establishes a permanent advisory committee and an Ebony Alert notification system to coordinate responses to missing persons cases involving Black women and girls. These measures aim to improve case management, track outcomes, and develop recommendations for legislative and community actions to prevent future harm.
By Representative O'Day of West Boylston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2908) of James J. O'Day and others relative to excluding certain income from the calculation of the tax on incomes in excess of one million dollars. Revenue.
By Representative O'Day of West Boylston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2909) of James J. O'Day and others for legislation to require certain married couples to submit joint income tax returns. Revenue.
By Representative Sabadosa of Northampton and Senator Miranda, a joint petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2397) of Lindsay N. Sabadosa, Liz Miranda and others relative to parole review for aging incarcerated persons. Public Safety and Homeland Security.