Rep. Lenny Mirra

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Massachusetts cities and towns to purchase foreclosed residential properties before they are sold to the public. Under the new rules, lenders must offer these properties to local municipalities first, provided the town has accepted the program, but homeowners are not forced to sell to the city. If a town wants to buy a property, it has 90 days to submit an offer; if no agreement is reached within that time, the lender can proceed with the original foreclosure sale. The legislation also permits towns to hire a third-party designee to handle the purchase on their behalf, with the requirement that the property be used for affordable housing.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a special commission to investigate financial ties between Massachusetts businesses and companies owned by the Chinese government. The commission will examine what assets Chinese firms hold in the state, how their operations impact local industries, and what risks these relationships pose to the state's economy and sovereignty. Its members will include state legislative leaders, executive department heads, university officials, and representatives from various business groups. The commission must submit a final report with its findings and recommendations to the state legislature by December 31, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts workers' compensation law to allow for the suspension and potential forfeiture of benefits if an injured employee refuses to return to work after a doctor certifies they are fit. Directly affecting injured workers and their employers, the legislation requires that a registered physician must first determine an employee is ready to work before these penalties can be applied. The key mechanism is the addition of a specific sentence to existing statutes that clarifies the consequences of refusing a doctor's clearance, shifting the focus from automatic benefit continuation to conditional return-to-work requirements. By introducing the possibility of forfeiting compensation, the bill aims to encourage injured employees to participate in their recovery and return to the workforce rather than remaining on long-term disability.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a commission to study how Massachusetts can better connect unemployed workers with available job openings without increasing state spending. The commission will include representatives from both legislative chambers, labor and industry leaders, and the governor to examine current methods used by the Department of Transitional Assistance and the Department of Unemployment Assistance. Within 12 months, the group must submit a report containing findings, recommendations, and potential new laws or regulations to improve job matching while maintaining fiscal neutrality.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts laws to improve transparency and affordability for prescription drugs by updating how different types of medications are defined. It specifically clarifies the legal definitions of biosimilars, brand name drugs, and generic drugs to ensure consistency across the state's healthcare system. Additionally, the legislation expands coverage to include self-insured health plans, which were previously excluded from certain reporting requirements. By refining these categories and broadening the scope of included plans, the bill aims to provide clearer data on drug costs for consumers and insurers.

Maddy summaryThis bill aims to reform civil asset forfeiture laws in Massachusetts by raising the legal standard required for the state to seize property from individuals. It mandates that law enforcement must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that property is connected to crime, rather than the lower standard of probable cause, and requires that civil forfeiture cases be paused until any related criminal charges are fully resolved. Additionally, the legislation creates a special trust fund to provide free legal representation for those who cannot afford it and to finance drug rehabilitation and mental health programs using proceeds from forfeited assets. To ensure transparency, the bill also requires government agencies to submit annual public reports detailing how much money was seized, how the funds were spent, and the outcomes of these cases.

May 2, 2024 -- The committee on The Judiciary, to whom was referred the petitions (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1052) of Liz Miranda for legislation relative to criminal forfeiture; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1111) of Rebecca L. Rausch for legislation relative to civil asset forfeiture transparency and data reporting; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2450) (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Cynthia Stone Creem for legislation relative to forfeiture reform; (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1577) of Bradley H. Jones, Jr., and others relative to civil asset forfeiture improvements under the controlled substances law; (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1615) of David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf relative to establishing a right to counsel in civil asset forfeiture cases; (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1642) of Jay D. Livingstone relative to forfeiture reform; (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1732) of David M. Rogers and Carlos González relative to civil asset forfeiture; and (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1762) of Danillo A. Sena, Nicholas A. Boldyga and Rebecca L. Rausch relative to civil asset forfeiture transparency and data reporting, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2758).

By Representative Mirra of Georgetown, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2608) of Lenny Mirra relative to retirement benefits for certain elected officials. Public Service.

By Representative Mirra of Georgetown, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2606) of Lenny Mirra relative to student loan payments for those working in law enforcement. Public Service.

By Representative Mirra of Georgetown, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2607) of Lenny Mirra for legislation to authorize tuition reimbursements for students seeking a degree in criminal justice. Public Service.