Rep. Kate Donaghue

Maddy summaryThis bill creates two special funds to support Massachusetts wildlife conservation: the MassWildlife Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Mitigation and Enhancement Fund and the Natural Heritage Mitigation Fund. Both funds, managed by the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, will receive money from permits, licenses, grants, settlements, and donations specifically designated for wildlife protection. Funds must be used exclusively for their intended purposes - such as habitat management, research, and mitigating harm to inland fish/wildlife or endangered species - without needing annual legislative approval. Unspent balances carry over year-to-year, and all interest earned stays in the funds.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Massachusetts' state bureau to list sober homes (alcohol and drug-free housing) by city or town only on public websites, not by full address, to protect residents' privacy. It amends sections 18 and 18A of Chapter 17 of the General Laws to mandate that the bureau's daily website listing of facilities with open beds must omit full addresses for sober homes. The change directly affects residents of sober homes by limiting public disclosure of their exact locations. The key mechanism is updating the state's website requirements to require city/town-level location details instead of precise addresses for these facilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law governing local councils on aging. It updates terminology from "problems of the aging" to "needs of older adults" and changes "such clerks" to "staff" to clarify that councils can hire personnel. The bill also adds a specific provision allowing advisory councils to appoint staff based on municipal needs. These changes directly affect local aging councils by modernizing their language and clarifying their staffing authority under existing law.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HD 2114) requires all state government agencies and boards to stock naloxone (opioid antagonist medication) and train employees annually on its use. It also directs the state department to issue nonbinding guidance encouraging private employers to do the same. The law directly affects state agencies by mandating naloxone availability and training, while private businesses receive voluntary recommendations. Key provisions focus on expanding access to life-saving medication through mandatory state action and advisory steps for private sector adoption. The bill aims to increase naloxone readiness across public and private settings without imposing new costs on businesses.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public schools to update their substance use prevention policies to include specific education about the dangers of addictive substances (with emphasis on opioids) and the legal immunities available for reporting overdoses. It mandates that schools develop and implement these educational plans, while also allowing them to assess effectiveness and collaborate with state health departments. The policy changes directly affect public school systems and their students by integrating standardized overdose prevention education into school curricula. The law takes effect immediately upon passage, focusing on concrete policy adjustments rather than broader program funding or outcomes.

Maddy summaryHD 2136 requires the state secretary to inspect all polling places and early voting sites at least once every four years to ensure compliance with accessibility laws for voters with disabilities. Local election officials must immediately fix any accessibility failures found during inspections and submit a written plan to the state secretary within five days. If they fail to act, the state secretary can order compliance, and the attorney general may sue to enforce the law. The state secretary must also report annually to the legislature on all inspections and enforcement actions under this bill.

Maddy summaryHD 3572 establishes a dedicated Naloxone Purchase Trust Fund in Massachusetts to cover the costs of purchasing and distributing naloxone (an opioid overdose reversal drug) statewide. The fund will be financed through state transfers, voluntary contributions from third-party payers (like insurers), and interest earnings, and must be used exclusively for naloxone distribution to hospitals, emergency departments, substance use disorder treatment facilities, and community health centers. Naloxone must be offered to patients with a history of opioid use, an opioid use disorder diagnosis, or a prior opioid overdose. The bill ensures funds are managed transparently, with annual reports to legislative committees, and limits non-purchase costs (like storage) to 10% of the fund's total allocation.

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 (HD 3581) allows licensed physician assistants to authorize psychiatric holds in Massachusetts, expanding their existing authority under Chapter 123 of the General Laws. It directly affects physician assistants working in mental health settings by permitting them to initiate involuntary psychiatric holds for individuals in crisis. Key provisions require physician assistants to complete 3 hours of specialized mental health evaluation training developed by the Department of Mental Health before authorizing such holds. The bill amends specific sections of the law to explicitly include "physician assistant" alongside "physician" in relevant provisions. This is a policy change to clarify and expand the scope of practice for physician assistants in mental health emergencies.

Maddy summaryHD 2139 increases the maximum civil penalty for violating municipal ordinances or by-laws from $300 to $1,000. It also authorizes courts to impose additional fines (beyond court orders) and award attorney fees when cities or towns sue to enforce local rules. These penalties go directly to the enforcing municipality and must consider factors like whether the violation was willful, the harm caused, and the violator's history. The bill directly affects municipalities seeking to enforce local laws and individuals or businesses violating those rules. It strengthens local enforcement by providing clearer penalty guidelines and financial remedies for communities.