Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Board of Registration in Midwifery within the Department of Public Health to oversee and regulate the practice of midwifery in the state. The board will consist of nine appointed members, including licensed midwives, obstetricians, and a public representative, with a specific requirement to consider racial disparities in maternal health during appointments. Additionally, the legislation expands the definition of who can prescribe medication to include licensed midwives and establishes a program for postpartum depression screenings for state employees. It also updates various state laws to formally recognize and define the roles of certified nurse-midwives and licensed midwives across different departments.
Rep. Kristin Kassner
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis law establishes a mandatory educational diversion program in Massachusetts for minors charged with specific offenses related to possessing or sharing sexual images, commonly known as sexting. The Attorney General will lead the creation of this program in collaboration with various state agencies and community groups, focusing on informing youth about legal penalties, social consequences, and the risks of online image sharing. If a child is charged with these offenses, the court will typically pause legal proceedings to require the completion of this program instead of immediate prosecution, unless the district attorney objects. Successful completion of the program allows the case to be dismissed, while failure to participate results in the case being restored for standard legal processing. Additionally, the bill expands the legal definition of abuse to include "coercive control" and requires schools to teach media literacy skills using materials from the new diversion program.
By Representative Higgins of Leominster, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2826) of Natalie M. Higgins and Kate Lipper-Garabedian relative to the repeal of the sales tax exemption for aircraft. Revenue.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts state law to formally include embodied carbon - the greenhouse gas emissions from building materials and construction processes - in the state's climate policy. It requires the creation of an Embodied Carbon Advisory Board composed of engineers, architects, industry representatives, and public officials to guide efforts in this area. The Department of Energy Resources, working with the board, must assess current industry knowledge, recommend training and certifications, and develop best practice guidelines for measuring and reducing these emissions in buildings and infrastructure.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a comprehensive educational diversion program to address the legal and social consequences of adolescents sharing sexual images, commonly known as sexting. It requires the Attorney General to create this curriculum in collaboration with state education and youth services departments, which will be used to divert minors from court proceedings if they are charged with related offenses. The program also mandates that schools integrate media literacy instruction using the same materials to help students understand the risks of online image sharing. Additionally, the legislation expands the legal definition of abuse to include coercive control and increases fines for certain offenses.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a special legislative commission to investigate how durable powers of attorney are currently written, used, and enforced in Massachusetts. The commission will examine issues such as document uniformity, the risk of financial abuse, and existing legal protections for individuals under these arrangements. Its membership includes high-ranking state officials, legal experts, advocates for the elderly and disabled, and representatives from various community organizations. After holding public meetings and gathering feedback, the group must submit a detailed report with recommendations for potential law changes by March 1, 2025.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Massachusetts Secure Choice Savings Program, a state-run retirement savings initiative designed for private-sector employees who currently lack access to employer-sponsored retirement plans. The program primarily affects employers with at least 25 employees and at least two years of operation that have not offered a qualified retirement plan in the past two years, as well as smaller employers who may opt in. Key provisions include creating a new board to administer the program and setting up a trust fund to hold individual retirement accounts funded through automatic payroll deductions. The legislation defines specific terms related to employees, wages, and eligible employers to ensure clarity in participation requirements and operational procedures.
By Representative Kassner of Hamilton, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Kristin E. Kassner for legislation to expand the designation of priority development sites. Community Development and Small Businesses.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a dedicated PFAS Remediation Trust Fund to help Massachusetts communities address contamination in drinking water, groundwater, soil, and other environmental media. The fund will be financed through recovered amounts from lawsuits or settlements against manufacturers and sellers of PFAS-containing products, along with other designated transfers and donations. Expenditures from the fund will prioritize vulnerable environmental justice populations and can be used to provide grants to municipalities, counties, and health boards for remediation projects, treatment systems, and private well assistance. The law also establishes rules requiring grant recipients to repay the fund if they later recover costs from liable third parties and prohibits funding for projects caused by the applicant's own negligence.
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits licensed health insurers in Massachusetts from requiring annual re-authorization for specific prescription drugs used to treat chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. It directly affects patients with these long-term illnesses by preventing insurance companies from forcing them to repeatedly renew their coverage for essential medications every year. The law applies to insurers operating under state chapters 32A, 118E, 175, 176A, 176B, and 176G, ensuring that once a doctor prescribes these drugs, the patient can continue taking them without interruption. By removing the administrative hurdle of yearly re-approval, the legislation aims to streamline access to necessary treatments for individuals managing chronic diseases.