Rep. Matt Muratore

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to remove the residency requirement that currently applies to fortune tellers seeking professional licensure. By striking out the relevant sentence in Section 185I of Chapter 140, the legislation allows individuals who do not live in the state to obtain a fortune teller's license. The change directly affects fortune tellers who wish to practice in Massachusetts while residing elsewhere. No other provisions or mechanisms are included in the text of the bill.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes three new grant programs to support Massachusetts businesses, research institutions, and schools in developing a sustainable blue economy. The Department of Environmental Protection will offer funding to small businesses that keep materials in circulation for longer, while the Department of Energy and Environmental Affairs will fund research and technology development aimed at improving ocean health. Additionally, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will create a fund to help high schools expand training and job placement programs in ocean-related science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics fields. The legislation requires all grant recipients to demonstrate measurable economic benefits to the state and prioritizes applications from minority-owned, women-owned, and environmental justice-focused organizations.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new advisory council to help manage the impact of offshore wind projects on wildlife and habitats in Massachusetts. The council will include experts, representatives from federally recognized tribes, and state and federal agencies to develop standards for monitoring and mitigating harm to species like the North Atlantic right whale. It requires offshore wind developers to create comprehensive plans that meet these new standards and ensures that funds dedicated to wildlife protection are properly tracked and reviewed. Additionally, the bill updates existing state laws to formally include wildlife monitoring and mitigation as a key goal for the state's coastal zone management office.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes three new grant programs to support Massachusetts businesses, educational institutions, and non-profits in developing a sustainable blue economy. The Department of Environmental Protection will offer funding to small businesses transitioning to a circular economy, while the Department of Energy and Environmental Affairs will provide grants for research and technology aimed at improving ocean health. Additionally, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will create a fund to help high schools expand training and job placement programs in ocean-related science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics fields. All programs prioritize applicants from environmental justice communities and minority-owned businesses to ensure equitable access to funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to establish stricter standards for safety glass used in motor vehicles, directly affecting vehicle owners, mechanics, and auto glass replacement businesses. It requires the state registrar to create and publish a list of approved glass types and mandates that all aftermarket replacements meet or exceed original manufacturer specifications and specific federal safety standards. Additionally, the bill prohibits the registration of any vehicle not equipped with approved safety glass and allows the registrar to suspend registration for vehicles found to have non-compliant glass until they are corrected.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new legal framework for setting payment rates for workers who provide support services to individuals with disabilities in Massachusetts. It creates two distinct categories of staff: entry-level workers with minimal experience and more experienced staff who have supervisory duties or advanced training. The legislation requires the state's Department of Developmental Services to use these specific definitions when calculating how much to pay these direct care professionals. By clarifying these roles, the bill aims to ensure that rate-setting processes accurately reflect the different levels of responsibility and skill required in disability support jobs.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Massachusetts laws regarding how healthcare providers handle newborns who were exposed to substances in the womb. It clarifies that simply finding drugs in a baby does not automatically mean the parents are neglectful, but it does require doctors to report cases where there is a risk the parents cannot care for the child after leaving the hospital. The legislation also introduces a "Plan of Safe Care," which is a strategy to ensure the baby and family have access to necessary health and treatment services once the infant goes home. Additionally, the bill mandates that hospitals screen pregnant patients for substance use, notify state health officials about these births, and connect families with support services to address addiction and parenting needs.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the James Ward Act, increases penalties for drivers who leave the scene of an accident involving a recreational vehicle or snowmobile without stopping. Under the new rules, anyone who hits another person with such a vehicle and flees without providing their name, address, or registration number could face up to one year in jail or a fine of up to $1,000 if no one dies. If the hit-and-run results in a death, the maximum prison sentence rises to two and a half years, or a fine of up to $5,000, or both. The law specifically targets incidents where the driver operates a recreational vehicle or snow vehicle and knowingly causes bodily injury before fleeing. These changes apply to all drivers in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts using these types of vehicles.

By Representative Khan of Newton, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2211) of Kay Khan and others for legislation to update postural screenings in schools. Public Health.

Maddy summaryThis bill restructures the staffing and management of Massachusetts probate registries to improve their efficiency. It authorizes the chief justice of the probate and family court department to appoint first and assistant registers for specific terms and grants the power to remove these officials. The legislation also creates new positions for assistant registers in several counties while eliminating the role of administrative deputy assistant registers. These changes directly affect the personnel structure of the probate courts and the individuals employed within them.