Rep. Kate Donaghue

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the town charter of Northborough, Massachusetts, to remove a specific sentence from its governing document. The change directly affects the town's local administration by altering its official rules. The mechanism is straightforward: it deletes the fourth sentence of Section 4-1 in Article IV of the charter. This is a procedural update that modifies existing local laws without adding new powers or restrictions.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts the Westborough Affordable Housing Trust and its related entities from standard town procurement laws when planning or building projects at 6 Beach Street and 45 High Street Extension. The exemption allows these groups to handle contracts for design, construction, and maintenance without following the usual bidding processes required of public agencies, though they must still pay prevailing wages to workers. Additionally, if these properties are later sold or leased to a redevelopment corporation or a nonprofit, the transaction must follow specific state laws regarding urban redevelopment. The changes apply only to these two specific locations in Westborough and take effect immediately upon passing.

Maddy summaryThis bill reorganizes the town of Southborough's public services by creating a new Department of Public Works under the Select Board's jurisdiction. It consolidates the functions of the existing highway, cemetery, and water departments into this single new entity, while abolishing the separate boards that previously managed water and cemetery affairs. The legislation establishes a three-year term for a Superintendent of Public Works who will oversee department operations and hire staff, and it also creates a position for a tree warden. All existing contracts and liabilities from the abolished departments will transfer to the new department, which will assume full responsibility for their duties.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows the town of Southborough to issue bonds or notes to pay its share of the unfunded pension liability for the Worcester Regional Retirement System. The funds raised would directly reduce Southborough's pension debt, with bonds requiring state approval and limited to covering the town's allocable liability plus issuance costs. Other towns sharing the retirement system's liability must reimburse Southborough for their proportional share of the debt service. The bill also ensures pension-related bond payments count toward school spending calculations under state law.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes amending the Massachusetts Constitution to change the required oath for all state officials. It would replace the current oath with a specific wording requiring new appointees or elected officials to swear "to bear true faith and allegiance to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and will support the constitution thereof" before taking office. The change applies directly to every person holding a civil or military office under the Commonwealth government. This is a procedural update to the constitutional oath requirement, not a new policy. The bill does not alter existing duties or create new government programs.

Maddy summaryHD 2059 requires Massachusetts health insurance plans to cover medications for opioid use disorder (like naloxone and buprenorphine) without prior authorization, prescriptions, or cost-sharing (deductibles, copays). It directly affects Commonwealth employees (via group insurance), Medicaid patients, and private insurance holders in Massachusetts. The bill mandates coverage as both a medical benefit (when administered at treatment facilities) and pharmacy benefit, with facilities reimbursed at standard rates to prevent balance billing. It also specifies that cost-sharing may still apply if a plan would lose tax-exempt status under IRS rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals or amends several Massachusetts statutes related to religious references in legal contexts. It specifically removes archaic provisions requiring religious oaths (like "so help me God") and replaces them with a new standard: legal oaths must make no religious reference, requiring individuals to simply hold up their hand and affirm truthfulness under penalty of perjury. The bill directly affects anyone taking legal oaths (e.g., in court, for official documents) and the officials administering those oaths. Key provisions include repealing sections in Chapters 71, 233, and 272 that mandated religious elements in oaths or related legal procedures. The change modernizes legal practice by ensuring oaths are secular and accessible to all.

Maddy summaryHD 2113 regulates municipal lobbying in cities with over 150,000 residents (based on the latest census). It requires "municipal agents" (lobbyists for city officials) to register annually ($50 fee), submit detailed quarterly reports disclosing clients, specific bills influenced, compensation received, and expenditures, and prohibits contingent fees (payment based on outcome). The bill defines "municipal lobbying" as influencing city decisions on ordinances, regulations, or appointments, and mandates disclosure of all lobbying activities regardless of whether specific bills were referenced. This applies to agents working for mayors, councilors, or department heads in large cities, creating new transparency requirements for municipal lobbying.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new rule for Massachusetts state legislative races. If a candidate for state representative or senator dies after the primary election but before the general election, and they received the most votes in the general election, the election is considered void. A new election must then be held to fill the vacancy under Chapter 54 procedures. This directly affects candidates who die in this specific window and voters in their districts, ensuring a valid election outcome when a deceased candidate led in the general vote.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends a Massachusetts law to include adult children in support order requirements. It changes the legal definition to specify that parents must provide support for "minor or adult children" who are in need, expanding current obligations beyond just minor children. The key mechanism is a straightforward update to the statute, clarifying that adult children with qualifying needs (such as disabilities) can seek enforcement of support orders from parents. This directly affects parents legally responsible for supporting adult children and the adult children seeking financial assistance.