Rep. Margaret Scarsdale

Maddy summaryHD 2271 establishes a dedicated "Comprehensive and Inclusive Curriculum Trust Fund" managed by the education commissioner to support inclusive curriculum development in all public schools. The fund finances curriculum updates, teacher training, and grants for schools, prioritizing underserved communities and districts affected by bias incidents. It requires schools to teach accurate histories and contributions of underrepresented groups across subjects, including topics like slavery, immigration, and systemic discrimination. All funded initiatives must align with the curriculum standards, and the commissioner must report annually on fund usage to state legislators.

By Representative Puppolo of Springfield, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr., and Samantha Montaño relative to school library standards. Education.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires contractors to obtain all necessary permits for construction work and retain copies of permits for a reasonable time. It mandates new state rules imposing fines on contractors who perform work without required permits, including those under state building codes, local ordinances, or other laws. Contractors must provide permit documentation to authorities upon request. The law directly affects contractors who bypass permit requirements, making them financially liable for unpermitted work.

Maddy summaryHD 3845 bans single-use plastic carryout bags at retail establishments (including grocery stores, restaurants, pharmacies, and food trucks) starting 18 months after enactment, requiring them to offer only reusable grocery bags or recycled paper bags instead. Retailers must charge at least $0.10 for any bag during a 180-day transition period (after enactment), then $0.10 for reusable/recycled bags after 18 months. The bill defines "reusable" bags as machine-washable cloth/hemp with specific material standards and "recycled paper" bags as containing minimum postconsumer recycled content. Small businesses (under 4,000 sq ft, 15 employees, or low bag usage) may qualify for exemptions. Customers may bring their own bags, and nonprofits distributing items at reduced cost are exempt.

By Representative Domb of Amherst, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 933) of Mindy Domb relative to plastic bag reduction. Environment and Natural Resources.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HD 658) changes how unemployment benefits are calculated for workers with irregular schedules. It modifies the law to use wages from the two highest quarters (instead of just the single highest quarter) when determining benefit amounts. If using this two-quarter method makes a worker ineligible for benefits, the bill ensures they receive a minimum payment equal to 1/26th of their total wages reported in those two quarters. This directly affects hourly or part-time workers whose earnings vary significantly between pay periods.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HD 638) requires restaurants and food trucks to use compostable, recyclable, or reusable single-use food service containers starting January 1, 2027. It defines "compostable" to mean products meeting specific ASTM standards with third-party certification, "recyclable" to mean materials identifiable by resin codes in local recycling programs, and "reusable" to mean items used multiple times (like returnable glass or aluminum). The law directly affects all food establishments that prepare or package food for immediate consumption. Enforcement will be handled by the Department of Environmental Protection through regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all schools (including public, charter, and non-public) and child care centers serving pre-K through 12th grade to annually test every drinking water outlet for lead. If lead levels exceed one part per billion, schools must immediately shut off affected outlets, install certified point-of-use filters within 18 months, replace water fountains with filtered stations (one per 75 students), and maintain ongoing testing. Schools must also publicly report test results, remediation plans, and notify parents and staff of any elevated lead findings. The law directly affects all K-12 schools and child care centers in the state, mandating concrete actions to ensure safe drinking water.

Maddy summaryHD 2592 requires retailers to stop providing single-use plastic carryout bags, instead offering only recycled paper bags (charged at minimum 10 cents each) or reusable bags. It also restricts disposable food service ware (like plates and cups) unless customers specifically request it, and bans black plastic for these items. The law exempts small businesses (under 4,000 sq ft, 10 employees, 10,000 bags/year), pharmacies, food charities, and certain state agency uses. Retailers must send 5 cents per recycled paper bag sold to a dedicated environmental fund, while prohibiting small plastic containers for alcohol (≤100ml) and small plastic water bottles (≤1 liter) for non-emergency use.

Maddy summaryHD 3369 establishes a Climate Change Adaptation Superfund to finance projects that help communities prepare for and recover from climate impacts. It requires fossil fuel companies and entities that extracted coal, oil, or natural gas in Massachusetts between 1995 and 2024 to pay into the fund based on their historical greenhouse gas emissions. Payments will support concrete adaptation projects like upgrading stormwater systems, retrofitting public buildings for energy efficiency, and protecting communities from extreme weather. The fund prioritizes environmental justice communities - neighborhoods with high poverty rates, minority populations, or limited English proficiency - to ensure equitable access to climate resilience efforts.