Rep. Mike Connolly

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public schools and districts to adopt policies restricting personal electronic device use during school hours and school activities to reduce distractions and support learning. The state education department must provide a model policy including secure device storage options, methods for parents to contact students during the day (including emergencies), and enforcement rules that prevent unfair discipline. Schools must file their adopted policies annually by September 1, with exceptions for students with disabilities, health accommodations, or emergencies. The policy must not lead to student expulsion or suspension solely for device use violations.

Maddy summaryH 4746 establishes Massachusetts' first comprehensive consumer data privacy law, directly affecting businesses operating in the state that collect personal data ("controllers"). The law requires businesses to obtain clear "affirmative consent" from Massachusetts residents before collecting or selling their personal data, prohibiting manipulative "dark patterns" and ensuring consent requests are transparent, specific, and accessible. Key provisions include strict definitions for data types (like biometric data), rules for "contextual advertising" that doesn't track individuals, and requirements for businesses to honor consumer rights to access, delete, or opt out of data processing. The law applies to all businesses serving Massachusetts residents, with specific protections for children's data and health/wellness information.

Senate, November 17, 2025 -- The committee on Education, to whom was referred the petitions (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 322) of Brendan P. Crighton for legislation to promote racially and culturally inclusive K-12 curriculum; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 371) of Adam Gomez, Mike Connolly and Patricia D. Jehlen for legislation to promote racially inclusive curriculum in schools; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 412) of Liz Miranda and Joanne M. Comerford for legislation to establish a permanent commission on American Indian and Alaska Native education; and (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 444) of Rebecca L. Rausch and Joanne M. Comerford for legislation relative to celebrate and teach Native American culture and history, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2689).

Maddy summaryThis bill (HD 157) changes who pays brokerage fees in rental agreements. It requires that fees charged by licensed real estate brokers or salespeople must be paid only by the landlord or tenant who directly hired them to arrange the lease. The law prevents landlords from passing these fees onto tenants through the lease contract, or tenants from being charged by brokers they didn't personally engage. This directly affects landlords, tenants, and brokers involved in residential rental transactions.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits real estate brokers and landlords from charging tenants fees for services like showings, document preparation, or tenant screening when renting residential properties in Massachusetts. It bans landlords from requiring tenants to hire a broker or pay broker fees as a condition of renting. Violations are considered unfair business practices under Chapter 93A, with fines up to $1,000 per violation. The law directly affects tenants, landlords, and brokers in residential rental transactions across the Commonwealth.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all public schools to create and implement two specific policies. First, schools must establish a device policy prohibiting student access to personal electronic devices (like phones or tablets) during the school day, except for special education plans, emergencies, or administrator approval. Second, schools must develop a social media education policy teaching students about the risks of social media use, including emotional and physical impacts. Schools must notify parents about both policies and file them with the state education department, which will provide public guidance to help schools create effective policies. The bill directly affects public school students, parents, and school districts across the state.

Maddy summaryHD 1916 requires Massachusetts public schools to include specific content about Native American culture and history in their curriculum. The bill mandates that educational standards cover five key areas: the history and current issues of Massachusetts tribes (like Wampanoag and Nipmuc), historic tribal connections to the state (such as the Wabanaki Confederacy), national Native American history, tribal sovereignty and treaty rights, and contemporary issues facing Native Americans in Massachusetts. School boards must consult with the Commonwealth's established relationship with Native American tribes - defined by treaties, laws, and executive orders - when developing these standards. This policy change directly affects all public school students and educators in Massachusetts by setting new curriculum requirements for teaching Native American heritage.

By Representatives Lipper-Garabedian of Melrose and Vieira of Falmouth, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 86) of Kate Lipper-Garabedian, David T. Vieira and others relative to regulation of location information derived from electronic devices. Advanced Information Technology, the Internet and Cybersecurity.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Massachusetts municipalities with over 5,000 residents to implement an automated online permitting system for residential solar installations by July 2027. The system must instantly approve permits for solar systems (up to 200-amp capacity on single- or two-family homes) without manual review, replacing traditional paper-based processes. Homeowners and solar installers benefit from faster approvals and reduced delays, while municipalities must report compliance and usage to the state energy department. The bill aims to streamline solar adoption by standardizing and accelerating permitting for residential systems.

Maddy summarySD 141 protects access to library materials in Massachusetts public and school libraries by requiring that materials remain available during challenges and setting clear standards for their selection. It directly affects school librarians, school committees, and students by mandating that library materials must be age-appropriate, serve an educational purpose, and not be removed based on personal, political, or doctrinal views. Key provisions include requiring written library policies aligned with American Library Association standards, ensuring challenged materials stay on shelves until a school committee vote, and prohibiting disciplinary action against librarians who select materials in good faith. The bill also expands student expression rights to include "receiving information" through school libraries, reinforcing access to educational materials.