Rep. Marjorie Decker

Maddy summaryHD 847 establishes a bill of rights for people experiencing homelessness, defining this group to include those in shelters, vehicles, parks, or transitional housing. It guarantees specific rights such as free use of public spaces without discrimination based on housing status, access to medical care (including pandemic-related services), and the ability to vote without requiring a fixed address. The law also prohibits discrimination in employment and housing based on housing status and protects privacy of information shared with shelters. It amends existing anti-discrimination laws (chapters 151B and 51) to explicitly include "housing status" as a protected category.

By Representative Decker of Cambridge, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 546) of Marjorie C. Decker for legislation to ensure equitable access to education. Education.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires automatic referrals for early intervention assessments for children aged zero to three when families enter specific shelters (emergency assistance, domestic violence, substance abuse recovery, or non-emergency shelters) upon shelter entry. It mandates these referrals be completed within 30 days, following Department of Public Health standards, to determine if early intervention services are needed. The Department of Public Health must remove procedural barriers and adopt necessary regulations within 120 days of the bill's effective date. The bill directly affects young children experiencing homelessness who access these shelter types, ensuring timely access to developmental support services.

Maddy summaryHD 507 extends Massachusetts' prevailing wage requirements to offsite fabrication work for public construction projects. It requires contractors to pay prevailing wages for prefabricated items like pipes, electrical systems, or modular units made offsite, and to include specific payroll details in weekly reports (e.g., facility location, worker names, hours, and wages). This applies to all public projects covered by existing wage laws, ensuring offsite manufacturing work meets the same labor standards as on-site construction. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage.

By Representative Decker of Cambridge, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 215) of Marjorie C. Decker for legislation to provide services to certain children experiencing homelessness. Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.

Maddy summaryH 5057 mandates the relocation of the Cambridge District Court (also known as the third district court of eastern Middlesex) from Medford to Cambridge by December 31, 2026. The bill requires the Executive Office of the Trial Court to submit a relocation timeline report to legislative committees within 90 days of the law's effective date. This procedural bill directly affects court operations and administrative planning for the Cambridge District Court.

Maddy summaryHD 3232 requires firearm owners to report lost or stolen firearms, rifles, shotguns, or machine guns to the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services and their local licensing authority within 24 hours. If they fail to report and the firearm is later used in a crime, the owner becomes civilly liable for any resulting damages. Owners avoid liability by meeting the 24-hour reporting deadline. This bill directly affects individuals who own these firearms and changes civil responsibility for unreported losses.

Maddy summaryHD 1286 requires the Cambridge District Court (also known as the third district court of eastern Middlesex) to move from Medford to Cambridge by December 31, 2025. This mandates the Executive Office of the Trial Court to relocate the court, ending its current location in Medford since 2009. The bill also requires the Executive Office to issue a relocation timeline report within 90 days of the law's effective date. The law directly affects the court's physical location and the state agency responsible for its administration.

Maddy summaryHD 2818 establishes safety rules for drone operations in Massachusetts. It requires recreational drone operators (for drones over 10 pounds) to be at least 16 years old, stay within visual line of sight, and comply with FAA registration and regulations. Commercial drone operators must also register with the FAA, obtain a remote pilot certificate, and adhere to strict no-fly zones - including 100-150 feet around schools, hospitals, airports, military bases, parks, and sensitive infrastructure like power plants. The bill prohibits commercial drone takeoffs/landings near crowds, playgrounds, daycare facilities, and critical environmental areas, with exceptions for emergency medical deliveries at night. These provisions directly affect both recreational users and commercial businesses operating drones within the Commonwealth.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands telehealth coverage and digital access for Massachusetts residents. It requires health insurers to cover virtual visits, digital consultations, remote patient monitoring, and related devices at the same rate as in-person care. The bill also creates a shared application portal for affordable broadband programs and mandates insurers to provide interpreter services and digital literacy support for patients with limited English proficiency or low tech skills. These provisions directly affect patients, healthcare providers, and insurers across Massachusetts.