By Representative Gómez of Easthampton, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Homar Gómez for legislation to prevent certain denials by insurers for medically necessary services. Financial Services.
By Representative Gómez of Easthampton, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Homar Gómez that the Registry of Motor Vehicles be authorized to issue special motor vehicle license plates to individuals who are autistic or neurodivergent or to parents or legal guardians of children who are autistic or neurodivergent. Transportation.
By Representative Gómez of Easthampton, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Homar Gómez for legislation to establish a civil duty to report emergencies and homicides. The Judiciary.
Maddy summaryHD 335 creates a legal framework for "direct dental care agreements" between dentists and patients. These agreements replace traditional fee-for-service billing with a fixed periodic fee for specified dental services (like screenings and diagnoses) over a set period, rather than relying on dental insurance. The bill explicitly states such agreements are not insurance products, so dentists aren't subject to insurance regulations or oversight, and they cannot bill insurance for services covered under the agreement. This directly affects dentists who choose to offer this payment model and patients who opt for it instead of insurance-based care.
Maddy summaryHD 1883 prohibits state-regulated gas and electric utilities from charging customers for specific expenses through their utility rates. It bans companies from recovering costs related to political advertising, lobbying, trade association memberships, charitable donations, executive travel, or promotional campaigns that encourage service use. Utilities must submit annual reports detailing these prohibited expenses and face penalties - including customer refunds with interest - if they improperly charge rates. This directly affects utility customers by preventing them from paying for these non-essential corporate activities.
Maddy summaryHD 3369 establishes a Climate Change Adaptation Superfund to finance projects that help communities prepare for and recover from climate impacts. It requires fossil fuel companies and entities that extracted coal, oil, or natural gas in Massachusetts between 1995 and 2024 to pay into the fund based on their historical greenhouse gas emissions. Payments will support concrete adaptation projects like upgrading stormwater systems, retrofitting public buildings for energy efficiency, and protecting communities from extreme weather. The fund prioritizes environmental justice communities - neighborhoods with high poverty rates, minority populations, or limited English proficiency - to ensure equitable access to climate resilience efforts.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires Massachusetts transportation planning to align with climate goals by mandating that regional transportation plans and projects meet greenhouse gas emissions and vehicle miles traveled (VMT) reduction targets. It establishes a process for assessing emissions and VMT impacts of transportation projects, including requiring mitigation measures like transit expansions, active transportation infrastructure, or land-use changes to offset emissions. The Department of Transportation must publish these assessments online and ensure mitigation efforts are localized to affected communities or underserved areas. The bill directly affects metropolitan planning organizations, state agencies, and project developers by making compliance with emissions and VMT targets a condition for approving transportation plans and projects.
Maddy summaryHD 333 creates new penalties for drivers who recklessly evade police during high-speed pursuits. It makes it a crime to refuse to stop for an officer in uniform (displaying a badge) and then operate a vehicle negligently or recklessly in public areas to endanger others, with the intent to avoid arrest. Offenders face up to 5 years in state prison, 2.5 years in jail, or a $2,500 fine. Additionally, a mandatory $250 assessment is added for convicted individuals, with all funds going directly to the Head Injury Treatment Services Trust Fund, and this fee cannot be reduced or waived.
Maddy summaryH 1954 would provide legal representation to eligible immigrants and refugees facing deportation who cannot afford an attorney. The bill directs state funding to establish a program connecting these individuals with qualified legal aid providers. It specifically targets people in removal proceedings who lack access to counsel due to financial barriers. This creates a concrete system for fairer immigration court outcomes without altering federal immigration law.
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits Massachusetts state and local government agencies (including police departments, sheriff's offices, and correctional facilities) from entering new agreements with federal immigration authorities for immigration enforcement or detention. It also requires all existing agreements of this type to end within 30 days (for enforcement agreements) or 90 days (for detention agreements) after the law takes effect. The Attorney General can enforce the law by seeking court orders to stop violations. The bill directly affects how Massachusetts law enforcement interacts with federal immigration authorities regarding detention and enforcement.
