Rep. Mike Connolly

Maddy summaryThis bill (HD 1551) updates rights for people in correctional or care facilities by modernizing existing provisions. It directly affects residents by adding access to video calls with transcription, personal devices (like phones/computers), email, and gender-affirming care items (e.g., binders, period products). Key mechanisms include requiring facilities to allow reasonable daily use of personal devices, enabling email communication, expanding visitor rights to include peer supporters/recovery coaches, and creating a fund from fines for facility improvements. Enforcement includes $100+ fines for repeated violations and new staff positions to handle complaints. The changes aim to align facility policies with current communication technology and inclusive care standards.

Maddy summaryHD 1423 creates a statewide drought management task force within the Massachusetts Office of Environmental Affairs. The task force, co-chaired by the Secretary and the Emergency Management Director, includes agency heads and water sector representatives, and must develop and update a statewide drought management plan every 5-10 years. It authorizes the Secretary to implement water conservation measures (like limiting nonessential outdoor use) during droughts, applying to all water users in designated drought regions. Cities and towns must enforce these Secretary-ordered restrictions, overriding local rules that conflict with drought management. The bill directly affects all Massachusetts water users during drought conditions.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits new for-profit hospitals, clinics, and health insurance companies from obtaining licenses in Massachusetts. Specifically, it bans new for-profit acute care hospitals (Section 2), for-profit ambulatory surgery clinics (Section 1), and for-profit health insurance companies (Section 3) from operating within the state. The law applies only to new licenses - not existing for-profit facilities - and takes effect 18 months after enactment. It directly affects healthcare providers and insurers seeking to establish new for-profit operations in Massachusetts.

Maddy summaryThis bill restricts the use of certain rodent poisons (like Warfarin and Brodifacoum) to only short-term public health emergencies. It requires licensed pest control professionals to first use non-chemical methods, limits emergency use to 14 days, and mandates detailed reporting on locations, amounts used, and follow-up rodent control plans. The law directly affects pest control applicators and public health agencies managing rodent-related health risks. It also requires annual public reporting of all emergency rodenticide use by the state department. The restrictions take effect January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHD 2226 prohibits real estate landlords and their agents from using third-party services that algorithmically set rents or coordinate rent increases among landlords. It bans service providers from collecting rental data, analyzing it with algorithms, or recommending pricing terms to landlords, and prevents them from facilitating non-competition agreements between landlords. Violations are treated as unfair competition under existing antitrust laws, allowing tenants to pursue class-action lawsuits in court instead of being forced into arbitration. Successful plaintiffs can recover damages, interest, and legal costs, with the law explicitly invalidating pre-dispute arbitration agreements for these cases.

By Ms. Friedman, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 994) of Cindy F. Friedman and Julian Cyr for legislation to prohibit algorithmic rent setting. Housing.

Maddy summaryHD 3001 requires the state's pension fund (managing retirement savings for public employees) to identify and sell all investments in companies that manufacture, sell, or support weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) within 12 months of the law's effective date. The bill defines WMDs broadly to include nuclear, chemical, biological weapons, and related technologies under federal law. State agencies must also stop contracting with WMD-related companies and publicly report such contracts. The law exempts the pension fund from conflicting investment rules and provides legal protection for officials implementing the divestment.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes establishing a Massachusetts public bank owned by the state to manage public funds and provide affordable financing. It would directly affect state/local governments, small/middle-sized businesses (especially in underserved communities), minority/women-owned enterprises, and organizations addressing housing, climate, and racial equity. Key mechanisms include depositing state funds in the bank, using those funds for self-sustaining lending, and requiring the bank to prioritize economic development, disaster recovery, affordable housing, sustainable agriculture, climate initiatives, and support for minority-owned businesses and rural areas. The bank would be supervised by the commissioner of banks and must operate under a public business plan.

Maddy summaryHD 4207 imposes a 15% fee on nonresident purchasers (individuals not U.S. citizens/nationals) buying real estate in Massachusetts cities or towns that adopt the law. The fee, paid by the buyer at closing, must be accompanied by an affidavit and certificate to clear title registration. Exemptions apply if the property is used as the buyer’s principal residence, and collected fees fund local affordable housing trust funds. Failure to pay incurs 14% annual interest and a 5% monthly penalty (capped at 25% of the fee).

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the "Housing First and Housing for All Fund" using revenues from a new gross receipts tax on businesses. The fund will directly support unhoused individuals, low-income households, veterans, seniors, and people with disabilities by funding rental subsidies, emergency housing, permanent housing programs, and services like mental health care and legal aid for eviction cases. Key provisions include requiring annual reports on fund usage and mandating audits to ensure money is spent on housing prevention and support, not other state expenses. The bill focuses on concrete policy changes to expand affordable housing access through dedicated funding, rather than speculative outcomes.