Rep. Mary Keefe

Maddy summaryHD 2707 creates the "Nature for All Fund" to finance nature-based climate and conservation projects across Massachusetts. The fund, financed by specific sales tax revenues (codes 459110, 441210, and 713910), will support parks, trails, water protection, farm/forest conservation, and indigenous land access - prioritizing underserved communities and environmental justice areas. It establishes a 15-member board to oversee spending, requiring annual reports on funds directed to environmental justice populations. The fund will supplement, not replace, existing conservation programs and may issue bonds secured solely by its revenues.

Maddy summaryThis bill addresses two main areas: regulating unfair fees in rental housing and encouraging housing production. It limits what landlords and brokers can charge tenants, allowing only first and last month's rent, a security deposit, and key costs, while prohibiting extra fees for lease renewals or adding optional charges like internet or insurance unless clearly described and opt-out options are provided. The bill also caps late payment penalties at five percent of monthly rent and restricts when landlords can charge attorney fees to tenants. Additionally, it promotes housing development by reducing parking requirements near transit stations, defining underutilized land for redevelopment, and ensuring publicly owned property is prioritized for low and moderate income housing.

Maddy summaryHD 241 eliminates a legal defense that allowed charities to avoid liability in personal injury or property damage lawsuits. The bill amends state law to remove the "charitable immunity cap," meaning charities can no longer use this specific defense when sued for torts (like negligence). This change directly affects charities facing such lawsuits, as they would now be held to the same legal standards as other organizations. The key mechanism is a straightforward legal amendment removing the immunity provision from the General Laws. (3 sentences)

Maddy summaryHD 1709 modifies parole violation procedures to increase fairness. It specifies that parole officers can issue temporary custody warrants only for certain serious violations (like tampering with GPS, contacting victims, or violating protection orders), and requires parole board review for other alleged breaches. The bill mandates a preliminary hearing within 15 days of detention to determine if a violation occurred, with a decision issued within 48 hours. Parolees placed in temporary custody are affected, as are parole officers and the parole board, which must now follow these structured steps before revoking parole. The key change is creating clearer, more limited conditions for temporary detention and requiring timely judicial review.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits courts from granting visitation or custody rights to a parent convicted of certain sexual offenses (including rape under Chapters 265 and 272) against the child’s mother, or who is alleged to have committed such a crime. It specifically applies when the child was conceived during the rape, the victim was pregnant at the time, or the child is a victim/witness. Courts may only grant these rights if the arrangement is deemed in the child’s best interest *and* the mother affirmatively consents. The bill clarifies that lack of conviction does not disprove the crime, but does not affect child support payments or the child’s right to inherit from the perpetrator.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HD 242) replaces outdated definitions in Massachusetts law related to public liability claims. It updates key terms like "public employer," "public employee," "serious personal injury" (defined as medical costs/lost wages over $2,500 or permanent disfigurement), and "serious property damage" (over $2,500 value, excluding vehicles/residences). These revised definitions clarify which public entities (cities, towns, state agencies, transit authorities) and employees are covered under liability claims. The changes directly affect how Massachusetts public entities handle civil lawsuits involving injuries or property damage caused by their operations or employees.

Maddy summaryThis bill automates the sealing of certain criminal records in Massachusetts, eliminating the need for individuals to file petitions. It requires correctional facilities to report release dates monthly to the probation commissioner, who then automatically seals eligible records after waiting periods (3 years for misdemeanors, 7 for felonies), excluding sex offenses, certain drug violations, and other specified crimes. The commissioner must seal records within 30 days of eligibility, provide clear notices to affected individuals at sentencing, and allow access to sealed records without court orders upon request. It directly affects people with past convictions who meet the waiting periods and criminal justice agencies responsible for record management.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new "accomplice murder" category (M.G.L. Ch. 274 § 2A) for people convicted of murder under a "joint venture" theory who aided in a killing but weren't the principal perpetrator. It directly affects incarcerated individuals convicted of first or second-degree murder under this theory, allowing them to petition courts for resentencing. Key mechanisms include requiring prosecutors to notify eligible individuals within 90 days, establishing a petition process with court hearings, and shifting the burden of proof to prosecutors to show ineligibility. The bill also mandates annual reporting to the judiciary on petition outcomes, including demographic data and sentencing results.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HD 1442) changes how parole hearings are conducted for inmates in Massachusetts. It requires the parole board to hold public hearings for inmates with life sentences 60 days before their minimum term expires, using 5 of 7 designated members. The bill mandates specific professional qualifications for board members: at least 1 forensic psychologist and 2 with social services/reentry experience must serve on life sentence hearing panels, with similar requirements for regular parole hearings. These changes directly affect inmates serving life sentences and those under standard parole terms, aiming to standardize panel composition and ensure timely hearings.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires hospitals with emergency departments to provide abortion services as part of necessary stabilizing treatment for life-threatening conditions like ectopic pregnancy, preeclampsia, or complications of pregnancy loss. It mandates hospitals to submit annual compliance reports and imposes fines up to $50,000 for violations, with license revocation for repeated offenses. The bill also prohibits healthcare staff from refusing care when an abortion is needed to preserve a patient’s life and requires written informed consent in multilingual forms without unnecessary waiting periods. It updates healthcare laws to replace "physician" with "provider" and ensures confidentiality for patient records related to abortion care.