By Representatives Khan of Newton and Fluker Oakley of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2209) of Kay Khan, Brandy Fluker Oakley and others for legislation to establish a board of registration in midwifery and further regulating out-of-hospital birth access and safety. Public Health.
By Representative Fiola of Fall River, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2163) of Carole A. Fiola and others that the Division of Medical Assistance be directed to provide coverage for screenings for postpartum depression. Public Health.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to allow pub breweries to sell their own malt beverages to a wider range of customers beyond just their on-site taproom. Specifically, it permits these breweries to sell their products at wholesale to licensed wholesalers and retailers, as well as to institutions like churches and schools, and to sell bottled drinks directly to consumers for off-premises consumption. The legislation also authorizes pub breweries to export their products to other states and foreign countries where such sales are legal. Additionally, the bill includes a provision limiting the total annual sales to retail licensees to 50,000 gallons to prevent pub breweries from operating primarily as large-scale distributors.
Maddy summaryOllie’s Law amends Massachusetts state regulations to improve safety standards for private dog kennels. The bill raises the maximum number of dogs allowed in a single-person private kennel from four to five, provided the dogs are six months of age or older. Additionally, it updates the legal classification code for these facilities from 174F to 174G. These changes directly affect individuals who operate small, private dog kennels on their property.
By Representative Jones of North Reading, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3180) of Bradley H. Jones, Jr., and others relative to automatic re-enrollment in the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy.
Maddy summaryThis bill updates Massachusetts laws to support anaerobic digestion facilities that generate energy from agricultural waste. It directly affects farms and energy projects that use by-products from crops, food, or animals to create electricity. The legislation allows these specific facilities to count their renewable energy generation twice toward state minimums and exempts them from limits on how much energy they can sell back to the grid. By removing these restrictions, the bill aims to encourage more investment in on-farm renewable energy systems.
By Representative Jones of North Reading, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2564) of Bradley H. Jones, Jr., and others relative to establishing a universal public employee sick leave bank policy. Public Service.
By Representative Jones of North Reading, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2563) of Bradley H. Jones, Jr., and others relative to the Group Insurance Commission and Medicare health benefit supplement plans. Public Service.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires health clubs in Massachusetts to offer specific fee relief to members who become physically or medically disabled for more than three months. Under the new rules, affected members can either stop paying for the rest of their contract during the disability period or extend their membership at no extra cost. Additionally, clubs are prohibited from charging any fees during the first three months of a verified disability. The law mandates that a licensed physician must confirm the disability for these protections to apply.
