Rep. Todd Smola

Maddy summaryThis bill creates an Industrial Mill Building Revitalization Task Force to help redevelop old factories and surrounding areas in Massachusetts. The group will review current laws, list existing mill buildings, and suggest new ways to make them energy efficient and easier to permit for new uses. Members include state officials, elected representatives, utility and planning experts, and private owners of both active and inactive mills. The task force must submit its findings and draft legislation by August 1, 2023, to the state legislature.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to increase the maximum amount of annuity benefits that the Massachusetts Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association must pay out if an insurance company fails. Specifically, it raises the liability limits from one hundred thousand dollars to five hundred thousand dollars for certain benefit categories. The change directly affects policyholders who rely on annuity contracts and the guaranty association that protects them in the event of insurer insolvency. By updating these statutory limits, the legislation aims to provide greater financial security to individuals holding annuity products within the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the town of Palmer to issue three new alcohol licenses to specific local businesses: two for on-premise sales and one for off-premise sales. The licenses are designated for Tables at the Farm, a new restaurant establishment, and Lukes', with the on-premise licenses exempting these businesses from a specific state restriction. To prevent license hopping, the law prohibits transferring these licenses to a different location for one year, though they can be transferred to a new owner at the same address if tax and fee obligations are met. If a license is cancelled or the business closes, the town may reissue it to a new applicant at the original or a different location after that one-year waiting period.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to increase the minimum required auto insurance limits for drivers in Massachusetts. It would raise the minimum bodily injury coverage from $20,000 per person to $50,000 and from $40,000 per accident to $100,000. Additionally, the minimum property damage coverage would increase from $5,000 to $30,000. These changes would directly affect all drivers in the state who currently purchase the standard minimum liability insurance.

Maddy summaryThis bill raises the state's minimum required auto insurance coverage for bodily injury from $5,000 to $25,000, directly affecting all Massachusetts drivers who must carry liability insurance. The change takes effect on January 1, 2025, and also mandates that the insurance commissioner conduct a study every ten years to review whether these limits remain adequate while considering their impact on insurance premiums. The study will compare Massachusetts' limits with other states and include input from insurance industry representatives before the commissioner submits findings and potential future legislation to the legislature by July 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new fund to support retired police dogs in Massachusetts. The fund will be managed by the secretary of the executive office of public safety and security and will be financed through state appropriations, grants, gifts, and investment earnings. Money from the fund will be given directly to non-profit organizations within the state to cover the care and medical needs of these retired animals, and the secretary must ensure the funds are used by reputable groups. Each year, the fund administrator must submit a report detailing how much money was received, spent, and remaining to the state legislature and relevant committees.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Massachusetts law enforcement to use specialized software to search state DNA databases for partial matches that indicate a biological relationship, such as a parent or sibling, to help solve cold cases. It also permits the use of partial DNA matches where a suspect is not the exact source of evidence but is related to the actual contributor. To prevent abuse, the law strictly prohibits creating unregulated secondary DNA databases and requires agencies to sign agreements limiting how these genetic records can be used and shared. The changes apply specifically to investigations of unsolved crimes and do not allow for the collection of DNA for medical or disease-related purposes.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a grant program within the Massachusetts Department of Education to help elementary and secondary schools develop STEM and robotics programs. The funding is intended to assist students in succeeding academically and preparing for careers in science, technology, engineering, and math. Priority for grants will be given to schools that currently lack robotics clubs, specifically those located in rural and underserved counties such as Berkshire, Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin, Bristol, Barnstable, and Dukes. To receive funding, schools must commit to running teams registered with recognized organizations like FIRST Robotics or VEX, and the state will provide technical assistance to help districts expand these programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new legal framework to require large streaming entertainment companies to pay fees to the state for using public roads and infrastructure to deliver their services. It defines "streaming entertainment operators" as companies earning more than $250,000 annually in Massachusetts and establishes a new advisory board to calculate fair payment rates that help fund public access television channels. The legislation gives the state authority to collect these assessments and enforce penalties for non-compliance while explicitly stating that the state cannot regulate the prices streaming companies charge their customers.

Maddy summaryThis bill aims to update how the state of Massachusetts provides financial support to local community media organizations. It seeks to modernize the existing funding framework to ensure these groups can continue producing programming that serves their specific neighborhoods. The legislation would allow for a more flexible allocation of public funds to help these media outlets operate effectively.