By Representative Connolly of Cambridge, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2743) of Mike Connolly and others relative to establishing a tiered corporate minimum tax. Revenue.
By Representative Capano of Lynn, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2725) of Peter Capano and others relative to requiring public disclosures by publicly-traded corporate taxpayers. Revenue.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts state law to formally include embodied carbon - the greenhouse gas emissions from building materials and construction processes - in the state's climate policy. It requires the creation of an Embodied Carbon Advisory Board composed of engineers, architects, industry representatives, and public officials to guide efforts in this area. The Department of Energy Resources, working with the board, must assess current industry knowledge, recommend training and certifications, and develop best practice guidelines for measuring and reducing these emissions in buildings and infrastructure.
By Representative Connolly of Cambridge, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2744) of Mike Connolly and others for legislation to repeal the law providing for limitations on the growth of state tax revenues. Revenue.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a comprehensive educational diversion program to address the legal and social consequences of adolescents sharing sexual images, commonly known as sexting. It requires the Attorney General to create this curriculum in collaboration with state education and youth services departments, which will be used to divert minors from court proceedings if they are charged with related offenses. The program also mandates that schools integrate media literacy instruction using the same materials to help students understand the risks of online image sharing. Additionally, the legislation expands the legal definition of abuse to include coercive control and increases fines for certain offenses.
Maddy summaryThis bill updates Massachusetts laws to ensure that legal parentage rights apply equally to all families, regardless of the parents' gender, marital status, or sexual orientation. It replaces gender-specific terms like "father" and "mother" with neutral language such as "other parent" and "person who gave birth," while also changing "paternity" to "parentage" throughout the statutes. The legislation introduces new definitions for various family arrangements, including surrogacy and assisted reproduction, to clarify how different types of parents are recognized under the law. By amending existing chapters on birth certificates and family law, the bill aims to provide consistent legal protections for children born through diverse circumstances, including those resulting from surrogacy or non-marital births.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new state fund to support the Quabbin Reservoir Watershed Communities with money specifically for municipal services, public safety, and local development. It establishes a new fee on water usage from the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, directing at least 90% of the collected revenue into this dedicated trust. The law mandates that the majority of the fund's spending go directly to these communities for operations and capital projects, while limiting the portion available to non-profits and other specific initiatives. Additionally, the bill increases the minimum annual payment in lieu of taxes for towns holding Quabbin land and expands the number of board members representing Connecticut River Basin interests.
By Representative LeBoeuf of Worcester, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3366) of David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf and others for legislation to require that new electric vehicles purchased by regional transit authorities be electric vehicles. Transportation.
By Representative LeBoeuf of Worcester, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3078) of David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf, Deborah B. Goldberg and Lindsay N. Sabadosa for legislation to further regulate certain operations of the Department of the State Treasurer. State Administration and Regulatory Oversight.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new Local Roads Improvement Program within the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to provide grants to municipalities for public road projects. The funds are specifically designated for activities such as repairing and resurfacing roadways, maintaining traffic signs and guardrails, and updating road markings. Distribution of these grants will be calculated based on each municipality's proportion of total road mileage, ensuring a standardized allocation method. Additionally, the bill requires the department to submit an annual report to state committees detailing which towns received funding, the specific amounts awarded, and descriptions of the completed projects.
