Rep. Tackey Chan

Maddy summaryThis bill creates "blue envelopes" to improve police interactions with people who have autism spectrum disorder. The envelopes, available from the Registry of Motor Vehicles upon request, contain written communication tips for officers and instructions for placing them on a car's sun visor. They also hold a person's driver's license, registration, and insurance cards. The program will begin on July 1, 2026, and directly affects autistic individuals and their families during traffic stops or vehicle encounters with police.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the deadline for live and simulcast horse racing operations in Massachusetts from December 15, 2025, to December 15, 2027, across multiple existing statutes. It directly affects racetracks licensed to conduct live racing and simulcast wagering, particularly those in Suffolk County. The key mechanism is amending 14 separate sections of state law to update the expiration date for these licenses. This provides licensed racetracks with an additional two years of operational authorization under current regulations.

Maddy summaryHD 4025 amends a state law to extend disability benefits for POST-certified police officers disabled by cardiac disease to additional police forces. The bill adds the University of Massachusetts police, Massachusetts Port Authority police, state university and community college police, environmental law enforcement, and Department of Mental Health campus police to the list of covered entities. Previously, officers in these forces were excluded from the same benefit provision that applied to entities like the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. This change directly affects POST-certified officers in these newly included forces by making them eligible for the same cardiac disability benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a presumption that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in certain public safety employees was caused by their job duties, if diagnosed within five years of leaving service and not present at the time of hiring. It directly affects police officers, firefighters, correctional staff, airport crash crews, and military fire department members. Under the bill, these employees can receive benefits as if the PTSD occurred "in the line of duty" unless their employer proves it resulted from non-work factors like disciplinary actions. Benefits would be paid retroactively from the date the employee last received regular compensation.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a presumption that Parkinson's disease causing disability or death in certain firefighters was incurred "in the line of duty," simplifying eligibility for retirement benefits. It directly affects uniformed firefighters in paid departments, state police in fire investigation/K9 units, and airport crash crew personnel (e.g., at Logan Airport, 104th Fighter Wing, or Joint Base Cape Cod) who served at least five years and regularly responded to fire calls. The presumption applies unless non-service factors (like personal health risks) are proven to have caused the condition. The bill amends retirement laws to include this provision, ensuring affected personnel can access benefits under existing systems without needing to prove service connection.

Maddy summaryHD 4039 amends Chapter 32 Section 94B(2) of Massachusetts General Laws to change the minimum service requirement for firefighter retirement benefits from five to ten years. It also adds that firefighters retiring under these terms will have secondary cancer covered under Section 9 of the same chapter. This bill directly affects firefighters meeting the revised service requirement, modifying their eligibility for retirement benefits and expanding cancer coverage. The changes apply to current and future firefighters under the specified retirement provisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes the rules for public employees seeking disability benefits related to PTSD or psychological injuries. It removes the time limit for filing claims if the injury is emotional or psychological, allowing employees to use employer records showing they directly responded to a work incident. The employer records must confirm the employee's involvement in the incident, without requiring it to have occurred within two years of the claim. This specifically affects state workers and their beneficiaries filing for benefits under disability programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a legal presumption that certain contagious diseases contracted by full-time police, fire, or emergency medical service workers were incurred during their duties, if they passed required physical exams upon entry and had no pre-existing condition. It applies to diseases like COVID-19, hepatitis, tuberculosis, and HIV - those linked to exposure to blood or bodily fluids - excluding the common cold. Workers must apply within five years of leaving active service and demonstrate they regularly responded to emergency calls during their tenure. Benefits, if approved, would cover disability or death claims under existing workers' compensation laws (Chapters 32, 41, 152).

Maddy summaryH 4448 requires construction employers (with OSHA oversight) to provide 10 hours of OSHA training to employees and verify independent contractors have completed approved training. Employers without required training face escalating fines ($1,500 to $5,000 per violation) and $25,000 fines if a death results from non-compliance after an investigation. The law mandates public reporting of violations and requires the board to list approved training providers and establish renewal rules. It exempts routine homeowner home maintenance and small projects under $25,000.

Maddy summaryHD 160 requires construction employers contracting for residential, commercial, or public projects (subject to federal OSHA oversight) to provide employees with at least 10 hours of OSHA-approved safety training. Employers must also verify independent contractors have completed the required training. Violations incur fines starting at $2,500 for the first offense, increasing to $10,000 for repeat violations, with $25,000 fines for fatalities linked to non-compliance after investigation. The law mandates public posting of violations and establishes a system for reporting, while exempting small projects under $10,000 and homeowner DIY work.