By Representative Madaro of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 433) of Adrian C. Madaro and others relative to diagnostic, service or repair information and services for digital electronic products. Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure.
Maddy summaryHD 3015, "An Act relative to health insurance coverage for hearing aids," requires Massachusetts health insurance plans to cover hearing aids for insured residents with hearing loss. The bill mandates coverage for one hearing aid per hearing-impaired ear every 36 months, based on a physician's written statement, with earlier coverage allowed if hearing changes. It includes the hearing aid deemed best by the patient and audiologist (regardless of brand), all related services (evaluation, fitting, adjustments), supplies (ear molds, batteries), and repairs/replacements if the device fails. Insurance plans must limit copayments to $200 max, apply the same terms as other durable medical equipment, and cover both group and non-group policies. This directly affects Massachusetts residents with hearing loss who have health insurance.
Maddy summaryThis bill (H 4991) is a procedural measure that extends the deadline for the House Committee on Revenue to report on specific pending House documents. It grants the committee until Friday, March 6, 2026, to finalize reports on documents numbered 3055, 3084, 3085, 3090, 3091, 3108, 3126, 3217, 3232, 3249, and 3259, overriding the standard House Rule 27 deadline. The bill directly affects the Revenue Committee's timeline for handling these documents. It does not change policy or impact constituents, as it only modifies a procedural deadline.
Maddy summaryHD 3241 requires Massachusetts state and county correctional facilities to maximize in-person visitation for incarcerated individuals by mandating specific schedules: at least two daily visiting periods (one at least four hours long), an eight-hour weekend visit, and a four-hour holiday visit. It prohibits facilities from limiting visitor numbers, excluding visitors based on criminal history, community involvement, or religious practices, or restricting physical contact like hugging during visits. The bill also mandates accommodations for children (with designated areas and activities), reasonable dress code policies respecting cultural/religious needs, and written justifications with appeal options for any visitation restrictions. Facilities must ensure visitation does not decrease below 2025 baseline levels and must exhaust all means to meet the schedule.
Maddy summaryThis bill enforces the federal Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) for organizations receiving state or local government funding in Massachusetts. It requires any agency, nonprofit, or entity funded by the Commonwealth or local governments to follow NAGPRA’s rules when handling Native American funerary objects, human remains, sacred objects, or cultural patrimony. The key mechanism is making compliance with these federal standards mandatory for all recipients of public funds, rather than voluntary. This directly affects museums, universities, and cultural institutions receiving state or municipal grants. The bill does not create new federal standards but ensures existing federal protections apply to Massachusetts-funded organizations.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates new legal standards requiring firearm industry members (manufacturers, distributors, and sellers) to implement "reasonable controls" to prevent sales to prohibited individuals or traffickers, and to avoid promoting illegal conversions or sales to minors. It directly affects these industry members by imposing new duties and provides gun violence victims harmed by industry violations a new civil legal pathway to seek compensation in court. Key provisions mandate companies to prevent sales to straw purchasers, prohibited persons, or those at high risk of harm, and to comply with existing consumer protection and safety laws. The law does not override federal restrictions but ensures victims and the Attorney General can pursue civil actions for industry misconduct under Massachusetts law.
Maddy summaryHD 1085 requires Massachusetts to provide free state identification cards to homeless adults and unaccompanied homeless youth (under age 24 without stable housing or parental care). The bill mandates that state ID regulations include a fee waiver process and allow alternative proof of residency, such as documentation from homeless shelters, youth services, or state housing/human services agencies. It also requires the state registrar and secretary to create a formal agreement to implement these provisions. This directly affects individuals experiencing homelessness by removing financial and residency barriers to obtaining official identification. The policy change creates a concrete pathway for this population to access essential services requiring ID.
Maddy summaryHD 1114 creates new parole pathways for incarcerated individuals aged 55+ and those with qualifying medical conditions. It requires parole boards to schedule hearings within 60 days of a person turning 55 or meeting a 15-year service threshold, with special consideration for age, medical conditions, and diminished capacity. For medical parole, it revises definitions of "permanent incapacitation" and "terminal illness," requiring medical documentation, a risk assessment, and 24-hour video evidence of incapacity before release. The bill mandates annual reporting on parole decisions and prohibits denial based on race, disability, or prior conviction alone.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires public employers (like state fire departments, cities, towns, or fire districts) to provide full-time firefighters with cancer screenings starting three years after they begin working and every three years thereafter. It directly affects firefighters employed by Massachusetts fire departments, including those at military reservations, air bases, and specific regional zones. The screenings must cover 11 specific cancers (such as colon, lung, breast, and prostate), with all costs covered by the employer's health plan - no co-pays, deductibles, or out-of-pocket expenses for firefighters. This mandates a regular, employer-funded health benefit without requiring firefighter contributions.
Maddy summaryH 4968 is a procedural bill that extends the deadline for the House Committee on Revenue to complete its review of specific pending House documents. It grants the committee until Friday, February 27, 2026, to finalize reports on 14 listed documents (numbers 3007, 3013, 3033, 3098, 3117, 3119, 3133, 3142, 3143, 3171, 3184, 4080, 4082, and 4083). This extension modifies the standard timeline under House Rule 27, directly affecting the committee’s schedule for these documents.
