Rep. David LeBoeuf

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Massachusetts prisons and county facilities to maximize time outside of cells and expand access to education, work, and rehabilitation programs for incarcerated individuals. It mandates that all incarcerated people receive at least one hour of daily group programming, eight hours of out-of-cell time without physical restraints, and one hour of outdoor recreation, while also ensuring access to culturally appropriate commissary and visitation rights. The legislation aims to promote human rights by prohibiting discrimination based on race, gender identity, or other characteristics and by allowing inmates to form peer support groups. Additionally, it requires that good conduct deductions be earned through a combination of in-person and virtual activities to facilitate successful re-entry into society.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to require the state's Division of Developmental Services to cover medically necessary habilitative and rehabilitative treatments for adults aged 21 and older with developmental disabilities, intellectual disabilities, or autism spectrum disorder. The legislation specifically mandates coverage for applied behavior analysis and various augmentative and alternative communication devices, such as tablets, when deemed medically necessary by a licensed physician or psychologist. By expanding these insurance benefits, the bill aims to ensure that individuals with these conditions have access to essential care that helps develop, maintain, or restore their functioning.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes establishing a livable wage specifically for human services workers in Massachusetts. It directly affects employees of community-based organizations that receive funding from state agencies such as the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, the Executive Office of Elder Affairs, or the Department of Housing and Community Development. The legislation defines these workers as staff who provide treatment, support, or services to clients and their families, while defining the organizations as those with funded human services programs. By amending Chapter 6A of the General Laws, the bill creates a formal framework to ensure these essential workers are paid a wage deemed sufficient to meet basic living needs.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Massachusetts cities and towns to choose whether to implement a tax on vacant residential units in apartment buildings with six or more units. Under the proposed law, property owners would need to register empty units with local tax assessors within 30 days of them becoming vacant, and the tax would be calculated based on the unit's previous rental rate or a rate set by the municipality. The legislation includes specific exemptions for units undergoing active redevelopment, owners facing significant medical issues, military personnel deployed overseas, new inheritors, and those dealing with legal title disputes. Ultimately, the measure gives local communities the option to generate revenue by discouraging long-term vacancy in multi-unit residential properties.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Massachusetts Census Equity Commission to improve the accuracy of future federal census counts in the state. The commission will consist of 29 members, including state officials, elected representatives, and advocates for specific groups such as immigrants, people experiencing homelessness, and communities of color. Its primary role is to oversee outreach efforts and ensure that traditionally undercounted populations are included in the census. By establishing this commission within the Office of the Secretary of State, the legislation aims to provide a dedicated body focused on achieving a complete and equitable count.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires non-political committees in Massachusetts to file detailed reports within seven days if they spend more than $250 on online political advertisements during a calendar year. The reports must include the advertiser's identity, the specific ad content, the target audience demographics, and the names of the top five contributors to the funding entity. Additionally, the legislation mandates that if an online political ad is removed from a website, the advertiser must explain the reason for its removal in their filing. To improve transparency, the bill also directs the state director to create a public online archive where these advertisements and related data are accessible to the public.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow noncitizen residents of Massachusetts who are at least 18 years old to vote in local municipal elections, such as those for mayors, school committees, and town councils. To participate, eligible individuals would need to submit a special registration form declaring their residency, which election officials would then process and add to a separate list of noncitizen voters. The law explicitly clarifies that these voters cannot run for state or federal offices, vote in statewide initiatives, or participate in federal elections, and election officials must inform registrants that voting federally could jeopardize their path to U.S. citizenship.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Massachusetts cities and towns to choose whether to adopt ranked choice voting for their local elections. Under the new rules, municipalities can implement this system through a ballot measure, local ordinance, or charter amendment, provided they first educate voters on how the process works. The law specifies that voters can rank candidates in order of preference, with votes transferred to subsequent choices if a candidate is eliminated, and it permits 16 and 17-year-old residents to vote in these local elections. Additionally, the legislation ensures that communities can return to their previous voting method after four years if they choose to do so via the same approval processes.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the state election laws to require the Secretary of the Commonwealth to consult with both the Attorney General and the Secretary of State when administering certain election-related matters. The change directly affects the state's election administration process by mandating collaboration between these three officials. It does not create new programs or change funding but simply adds a procedural requirement for coordination during specific administrative tasks.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Massachusetts cities and towns to choose whether to use ranked choice voting for their local elections. Under the new rules, voters would rank candidates in order of preference instead of selecting just one, and votes would be counted in rounds where ballots for eliminated candidates are transferred to the voter's next choice. Municipalities that wish to adopt this system must pass a local ordinance detailing specific rules for counting votes and resolving ties, while the state law removes the requirement to mark ballots with a cross. The legislation also ensures that a voter's lower-ranked choices do not affect the election outcome of their higher-ranked candidates.