Rep. Steve Owens

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a permanent commission in Massachusetts dedicated to improving educational opportunities for American Indian and Alaska Native residents. The commission will consist of 17 members appointed by various state departments, including education, health, and social services, as well as the Massachusetts Commission on Indian Affairs. Members will serve two-year terms without pay but can be reimbursed for work-related expenses, and the group will operate independently from other state agencies. The commission's primary role is to investigate how public and private resources can be used to enhance educational support and services for these communities. Appointments will be made through an open process involving consultation with tribal governments and intertribal organizations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires every school district in Massachusetts to create and update an annual professional development plan that includes specific training on racial and cultural bias. The training must address implicit bias, the effects of bias against Black, Indigenous, and People of Color in the classroom, and strategies for creating inclusive school environments. Additionally, districts with English learners must include second language acquisition techniques in their plans, and all proposals must be submitted to the state commissioner of education. The state commissioner is also tasked with developing a plan to provide statewide assistance and data on how these training programs are implemented across the commonwealth.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts education law to require schools to include specific Native American history and culture in their curriculum. It mandates that instruction cover the history and current issues of local tribes like the Wampanoag and Massachuset, as well as broader topics such as tribal sovereignty, treaty rights, and genocide. The law also requires the state education board to consult with Native American communities when developing these new teaching standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Secretary of Equity within the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services to oversee efforts aimed at reducing health disparities. It defines "health equity" and "priority populations" as groups disproportionately affected by these disparities and requires the state health commissioner to include a chief health equity officer in their leadership team. The legislation also mandates that the health commissioner appoint at least one board member with specific professional experience related to health equity who identifies as Black, Indigenous, or a person of color. Additionally, the bill requires the state health commissioner to integrate health equity principles into all their official duties and powers.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands health insurance coverage in Massachusetts to include specialized mental health treatments for individuals with serious mental illness or serious emotional disturbances. It requires student health plans and state employee insurance to cover Coordinated Specialty Care for first-time psychosis cases and Assertive Community Treatment for ongoing support, defining these services as team-based, evidence-based programs. The legislation also mandates that payment for these services use a bundled model rather than paying separately for each visit and removes functional impairment as a requirement for receiving care. Additionally, the bill establishes a credentialing process to ensure that all members of the multidisciplinary treatment teams are properly qualified to provide these services.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Massachusetts public schools to include the history of Asian Pacific Islander Desi Americans in their curriculum starting with the 2023-2024 school year. It mandates that the state update its history and social science frameworks to cover the political, economic, and cultural contributions of this diverse group while also addressing historical racism and prejudice. To support these changes, the legislation establishes a dedicated trust fund financed by donations and fines from hate crimes to assist schools and provide teacher training. The law also directs the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to help districts access quality educational materials and ensures that instruction promotes diverse perspectives and anti-racist practices.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new state fund called the Racially Inclusive Curriculum Trust Fund to support schools in developing and implementing racially inclusive educational materials. The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education would manage the fund, which can be financed through state appropriations, interest, and private donations, and the money would not be subject to annual budget cuts. The legislation authorizes the department to use these funds for creating curriculum frameworks, providing professional development training for teachers, and issuing grants to public schools and districts. Additionally, the bill establishes a specific grant program that requires applicants to demonstrate how their proposed curriculum can be replicated across other districts.

Maddy summaryThis bill aims to accelerate solar energy development in Massachusetts to meet the state's 2030 goal of 10,000 megawatts of solar capacity. It requires the Department of Energy Resources to create or modify incentive programs that specifically support solar canopies, environmental justice communities, pollinator habitats, municipal installations, and agrivoltaic projects. The legislation also mandates that state-protected lands cannot prohibit new solar facilities without holding public hearings and demonstrating that such a ban would hinder the state's renewable energy targets. Additionally, the bill directs the department to simplify administrative reporting for small residential and commercial solar systems and to establish a loan program funded by existing renewable energy compliance payments. Finally, it requires the department to work with municipal electric corporations to help local power plants meet greenhouse gas reduction goals and to report on program effectiveness by the end of 2023.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts state law to improve how greenhouse gas emissions are measured and reported. It requires that emissions be calculated using the best available science from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, specifically accounting for impacts over both 20 and 100-year timeframes. The legislation also mandates that the state department review and update these accounting methods every three years, retroactively adjusting data back to 1990 if necessary. Additionally, the bill directs the department to align state reporting with federal and international programs and to streamline requirements for various emission sources, including electricity and gas.