Rep. Kim Ferguson

Maddy summaryThis bill bans the retail sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in pet shops regulated under 330 CMR 12.00, directly affecting most pet shop operators in Massachusetts. It allows exceptions for pet shops partnering with animal rescues (without owning the animals) and permits existing shops meeting specific conditions - like unchanged ownership and prior sales history - to continue selling these animals. Violations carry civil penalties up to $5,000 per offense and possible license suspension. The law takes effect January 1, 2027, and does not override local town/city regulations on animal sales.

Maddy summaryHD 3685 establishes a commission to study shifting residential real estate broker fee responsibility from tenants to landlords in Massachusetts. The commission, including housing officials, legislative members, real estate and tenant advocates, and a housing economist, will examine economic impacts on landlords and tenants, rental market effects (affordability, availability), brokerage practices, and lessons from other jurisdictions. It must hold public hearings statewide and submit a report with findings and recommendations to the legislature within one year. This bill directly affects tenants, landlords, and real estate brokers by analyzing the potential consequences of changing who pays broker fees in rental transactions. The commission's work will inform future legislative decisions but does not change current fee structures.

By Representative Pease of Westfield, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Kelly W. Pease and Lindsay N. Sabadosa relative to battery storage facility permitting and penalties for noncompliance. Municipalities and Regional Government.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a Lithium-Ion Car Battery Advisory Group within Massachusetts' Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. The group, composed of state officials, industry representatives, and legislative appointees, will review and advise the legislature on policies for recovering and recycling lithium-ion vehicle batteries sold in the state. It must consult with universities, battery manufacturers, and recyclers, and submit a final report to state agencies and committees within one year of the bill's passage. The bill directly affects state policymakers and the battery recycling industry by creating a structured process for developing future recycling policies.

By Mr. Velis, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1920) of John C. Velis, Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr., Michael O. Moore, Hannah Kane and other members of the General Court for legislation to correct inequities regarding the retirement of state-employed and special authority-employed police officers. Public Service.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the MBTA to improve transparency and performance by expanding public dashboards with specific metrics like cost-per-passenger-trip and revenue recovery ratios, benchmarked against regional transit authorities. It mandates an 80% on-time performance goal for all transit modes (buses, trains, ferries, subways), with monthly route audits and public reporting of results. The MBTA must also implement a fleet replacement program prioritizing low-emission, accessible vehicles and equip all vehicles with real-time tracking for service delays and passenger data. Annual reports to state lawmakers will detail progress on these initiatives, including dashboard updates, on-time performance, fleet modernization, and service reliability improvements.

Maddy summaryHD 3679 prohibits the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) from entering, renewing, or renegotiating contracts for public transit train equipment (rolling stock) with manufacturers owned or controlled by corporations based in specific countries. The bill targets manufacturers incorporated in or operating facilities in the U.S. but linked to countries designated as "nonmarket economies" under U.S. trade law, listed as priority trade concerns by the U.S. Trade Representative, or under active trade monitoring. This directly affects MBTA procurement decisions and rolling stock manufacturers with ties to those designated countries. The law aims to restrict transit infrastructure contracts with foreign entities under specific U.S. trade designations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Massachusetts to annually review vehicle manufacturers' compliance with zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) sales targets starting January 1, 2025. It allows the Department of Environmental Protection to delay ZEV requirements for a model year if manufacturers (collectively representing 70% of the market) miss annual goals or if sufficient public charging infrastructure is unavailable. The bill also mandates that all new medium- and heavy-duty trucks purchased or leased by the Commonwealth must be zero-emission vehicles starting July 1, 2025, with full fleet transition required by June 30, 2035. Exceptions are permitted if suitable zero-emission trucks aren't available or charging infrastructure can't support them, and annual progress reports must be submitted to state legislators.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HD 1330) requires Massachusetts internet service providers (ISPs) to obtain explicit written customer consent before collecting, using, disclosing, or selling their personal information. It prohibits ISPs from charging extra fees or denying service to customers who do not provide this consent. The law also mandates that ISPs cannot sell personally identifiable customer data without express written authorization, which customers can revoke at any time in writing. This directly affects all ISPs operating in Massachusetts with state agreements or using state facilities, ensuring greater control over customer data privacy.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HD 552) amends Massachusetts law to support municipal light plants during emergencies. It allows these plants to sell, rent, or lease equipment (like generators or tools) used for emergency mutual aid with other communities. It also ensures employees providing such emergency aid are covered under workers' compensation (Chapter 32), including the same rights as if performing regular duties. The changes directly affect municipal light plants and their workers during coordinated emergency responses.