Maddy summaryThis bill encourages food donations by offering a tax credit of up to $25,000 annually to businesses that donate food to nonprofit organizations serving people in need. It also provides legal protections for donors and nonprofits by shielding them from civil liability if donated food causes injury, even if the food is past its expiration date, provided it was not handled with gross negligence. To claim the tax credit, businesses must submit a certification from the receiving nonprofit confirming the food was distributed without charge or only to cover handling costs. The legislation applies to farms, restaurants, and grocery stores within the state and requires that all donations comply with existing health and safety regulations.
Rep. Tram Nguyen
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill aims to stop wage theft and hold employers accountable by strengthening how the state enforces labor laws. It creates a new public enforcement unit within the Attorney General's office to investigate unpaid wages and other violations. The legislation also expands the types of penalties available to punish companies that fail to pay workers correctly. These changes directly affect employees who may have been underpaid and the businesses that employ them.
Maddy summaryThis bill proposes banning the sale of cell phone location information to protect reproductive health access, LGBTQ individuals, religious liberty, and freedom of movement. It directly affects telecommunications companies and data brokers by restricting their ability to sell precise location data to third parties. The legislation aims to prevent the misuse of location tracking that could expose individuals to discrimination or surveillance in sensitive situations.
Maddy summaryThis bill updates Massachusetts laws to ensure that all children have equal legal rights and protections regarding parentage, regardless of their parents' marital status, gender, or the method of conception. It achieves this by replacing gender-specific terms like "paternity" and "mother" with the gender-neutral term "parentage" and removing distinctions based on whether parents are married. The legislation also expands legal definitions to explicitly include children born through assisted reproduction and surrogacy, ensuring that intended parents and surrogates are clearly recognized under the law. By amending existing statutes, the bill aims to create a consistent legal framework that treats all parent-child relationships equally without regard to how the child was born.
Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes adults with disabilities in Massachusetts to create supported decision-making agreements, allowing them to choose trusted individuals to help them make life decisions while retaining full control over their own choices. The law defines supporters as people who assist with understanding information, communicating decisions, and accessing records regarding medical, financial, and personal matters, all with the explicit consent of the person making the decisions. Key provisions ensure that the decision-maker can enter into or end these agreements at any time without coercion and that supporters cannot override the decision-maker's self-determination. By adding this new section to the state's probate code, the legislation provides a formal legal framework for individuals to receive support without needing to appoint a guardian.
The committee of conference on the disagreeing votes of the two branches with reference to the Senate amendment of the House Bill relative to salary range transparency (House, No. 4109), reports, in part, recommending passage of the accompanying bill (House, No. 4890).
By Representatives Higgins of Leominster and Lipper-Garabedian of Melrose, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3045) of Natalie M. Higgins, Kate Lipper-Garabedian and others relative to the renewal of certain licenses after default on student loans. State Administration and Regulatory Oversight.
By Mr. Finegold, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2784) of Barry R. Finegold (by vote of the town) for legislation to authorize the town of Andover to convey a non-exclusive access easement over a certain parcel of land. Municipalities and Regional Government. [Local Approval Received.]
Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families to review veterinary records and behavior assessments of pets when investigating families seeking to adopt or foster children. It mandates that applicants provide proof that their animals are vaccinated, licensed, and free from disease, while explicitly prohibiting the denial of a child's placement based solely on the breed of a dog in the home. The legislation also allows the department to consider specific factors such as the dog's age, size, and any history of dangerous behavior, with the cost of required assessments falling on the family. Additionally, the bill grants the department authority to create further regulations to ensure the safety and well-being of children in relation to household animals.
By Representatives Fiola of Fall River and Jones of North Reading, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3245) of Carole A. Fiola, Bradley H. Jones, Jr., and others relative to the use of elephants, big cats, primates, giraffes, and bears in traveling exhibits and shows. Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development.