By Mr. Kennedy, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1558) of Edward J. Kennedy and Colleen M. Garry for legislation to ban the selling of a herbal substance that can produce opioid- and stimulant-like effects. Public Health.
Maddy summaryThis bill mandates that health care plans for firefighters in Massachusetts cover specific cancer screenings without charging co-payments or deductibles. It requires these screenings to begin three years after a firefighter starts their job and to be repeated every three years while they are employed. The law specifies that the exams must check for various types of cancer, including lung, colon, and prostate cancer, and applies to firefighters working for the state, cities, towns, and certain military bases. While the bill generally prohibits out-of-pocket costs, it allows for cost-sharing only if federal tax laws require it to maintain the plan's tax-exempt status.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires public employers (such as state, city, or fire district departments) to provide full-time firefighters with free cancer screenings every three years, starting three years after they begin working as firefighters. It covers screenings for 11 specific cancers including colon, lung, bladder, and prostate, with all costs paid by the employer's health plan - no co-pays or deductibles required. The mandate applies to firefighters in municipal departments, the Massachusetts Military Reservation, the 104th Fighter Wing, and Devens fire departments. The only exception is if the employer's health plan is federally tax-exempt and would lose that status without cost-sharing, though this is uncommon.
Senate, November 19, 2025 -- Substituted as a new draft (Senator Dooner) for the Senate Bill dissolving the North Carver water district (Senate, No. 2517).
Maddy summaryThis bill requires Massachusetts utilities to create a public online dashboard showing real-time breakdowns of residential utility bills, including clean energy program benefits and costs. It mandates that at least 70% of certain clean energy compliance payments must be returned to ratepayers as annual bill credits within 90 days. The dashboard will display historical rate components, program benefits (like reduced emissions and system reliability), and utility cost recovery mechanisms. These changes directly affect residential electricity and gas customers by increasing bill transparency and providing direct financial returns for clean energy investments.
Maddy summaryHD 687 would change Massachusetts nursing home regulations to allow residents covered by MassHealth to stay overnight with family for up to 14 days instead of the current 10-day limit. This policy change directly affects nursing home residents using MassHealth for nonmedical leave, increasing their temporary absence allowance. The bill requires the Division of Medical Assistance to amend specific regulations (130 CMR 456.431) to implement this extension. The key provision is the increase in the maximum allowed stay duration for family visits without requiring medical justification.
Maddy summaryThis bill (HD 686) changes how the state calculates income for veterans applying for certain Commonwealth services. It specifically excludes veterans' disability benefit payments from being counted as income when determining eligibility for state programs like housing assistance, food aid, or other support services. The key provision, found in Section 1, amends existing law to ensure these benefits do not reduce a veteran's access to other state services they qualify for based on income. This directly affects veterans receiving disability payments who apply for additional state assistance programs.
Maddy summaryThis bill allows retired police officers in the town of Kingston to continue working as special police officers until they reach the age of 70. It removes the previous age limit of 65 for these roles and stops the automatic reduction in pay that typically occurs after an officer turns 65. To qualify, retired officers must pass a medical exam, maintain their professional certifications, and follow the same training and conduct rules as active-duty officers. The chief of police decides which specific duties these officers will perform, and their annual appointments can be ended at any time with 14 days' notice.
Maddy summaryMassachusetts' HD 727 is a legislative resolution applying to Congress under Article V of the U.S. Constitution to call a convention of states. The resolution specifically requests a convention focused on proposing constitutional amendments to impose fiscal restraints on federal spending, limit federal government power and jurisdiction, and restrict terms for federal officials and members of Congress. This application is transmitted to federal officials and other state legislatures to seek broader support for the convention, as required by Article V. The bill does not create new law but initiates a procedural step toward potentially amending the Constitution.
Maddy summaryHD 4321 raises the maximum retirement age for special police officers in Kingston to 70 years old. The bill directly affects certified special police officers appointed by the Town of Kingston's Board of Selectmen for traffic details, allowing them to serve until age 70 or until retirement/resignation/non-reappointment. Key provisions include setting 70 as the new maximum age limit (replacing previous restrictions) and granting the Board of Selectmen discretion to non-reappoint officers for any lawful reason. This change modifies the town's existing rules for special police officer appointments without altering other employment conditions.
