Rep. Jeff Turco

Maddy summaryHD 356 requires grocery stores, supermarkets, and warehouse clubs to offer paper coupons of equal value when providing digital coupons for retail goods. It mandates that stores apply digital coupons to purchases for customers aged 65+ upon showing government-issued photo ID, and allows customers to request digital coupons when using store loyalty cards. Stores violating these rules face civil penalties of up to $2,500 for a first offense and $5,000 for repeat violations. The Attorney General’s office will establish rules to implement these requirements. This bill directly affects stores selling groceries or similar items and their customers, particularly seniors.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts Massachusetts municipalities with an area under two square miles from certain requirements of the MBTA Communities Act. It directly affects small towns, such as some rural or densely developed communities, by removing their obligation to comply with specific zoning and housing provisions. The key mechanism adds a new exemption clause (subsection d) to the existing law, creating a clear size-based exception. This change modifies the law's application without altering the core purpose of the MBTA Communities Act.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to exempt certain communities from specific requirements of the MBTA Communities Act. Communities that already qualify for "safe harbor" status under the state's affordable housing law (M.G.L. c. 40B) will no longer need to meet additional housing requirements under M.G.L. c. 40A, Section 3A. The key change is a direct exemption for these communities from Section 3A’s housing development mandates, streamlining compliance for municipalities already meeting 40B standards. This affects local governments in Massachusetts that have met the safe harbor criteria under the 40B housing law.

Maddy summaryHD 3253 repeals Section 3A of Chapter 40A of the General Laws, which was a provision of the MBTA communities act. This repeal removes a specific requirement that applied to communities designated under the MBTA communities program. The bill directly affects communities previously subject to this designation by eliminating that legal requirement. The change is a straightforward repeal of an existing provision without creating new obligations.

Maddy summaryHD 507 extends Massachusetts' prevailing wage requirements to offsite fabrication work for public construction projects. It requires contractors to pay prevailing wages for prefabricated items like pipes, electrical systems, or modular units made offsite, and to include specific payroll details in weekly reports (e.g., facility location, worker names, hours, and wages). This applies to all public projects covered by existing wage laws, ensuring offsite manufacturing work meets the same labor standards as on-site construction. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryHD 983 requires health insurance plans covering Commonwealth employees and retirees to provide full coverage for stuttering speech therapy, both in-person and via telehealth. The bill mandates coverage for both "habilitative" (helping develop skills for those with developmental stuttering) and "rehabilitative" (helping restore skills after impairment) therapy without annual visit limits, medical necessity reviews, or prior authorization. It also prohibits restrictions based on the cause of stuttering and ensures telehealth coverage meets standard benefit levels. This bill directly affects state employee health plans and licensed speech-language pathologists providing these services.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Midwifery Workforce Development Fund to support midwifery education, retention, and birth center sustainability. The fund, administered by the state health department, receives state/federal maternal health funds and private donations, with unspent balances rolling over annually. It finances student education costs, midwife loan forgiveness (potentially requiring work in underserved areas), midwifery training programs, and mental health support for practicing midwives. Additionally, the bill mandates that state health insurance programs pay certified midwives and freestanding birth centers at rates no lower than those for physicians or hospital services for equivalent care.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes clear procedures for managing bed bug infestations in rental housing. It requires tenants to immediately notify landlords about bed bugs and cooperate with inspections and treatments, while landlords must inspect within 5 business days, hire certified pest control within 10 days, and continue treatments until infestation is controlled (defined as no activity for 30 days after last treatment). The Department of Public Health must create and distribute an educational information sheet in English and Spanish covering bed bug facts, prevention, and tenant/landlord responsibilities. The law applies to multi-unit dwellings but excludes single-family homes.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes clear procedures for addressing bed bug infestations in rental properties. It requires tenants to immediately notify landlords of infestations and cooperate with inspections/treatments (e.g., sealing belongings, allowing 24-hour access). Landlords must inspect within 5 business days of notice, hire certified pest control within 10 days, and verify units are bug-free before new leases. The law applies to multi-unit dwellings but excludes single-family homes (Section 1(b)).

Maddy summaryH 5032 requires that for public construction projects in Massachusetts exceeding $10 million in cost, contractors and subcontractors must ensure at least 15% of labor hours for each trade are performed by registered apprentices. This applies to all public works projects (like schools or roads) and directly affects construction companies bidding on such projects. Contractors must use apprentice programs approved by the Division of Apprentice Standards and maintain required apprentice-to-journeyperson ratios. Public agencies can exempt specific trades only after proving no qualified bidders with apprenticeship programs are available, with strict documentation requirements. The bill does not apply to projects under $10 million or exempt entire projects unless documented per trade.