Rep. Colleen Garry

Maddy summaryThis bill strengthens pesticide restrictions around Massachusetts schools and childcare facilities. It requires schools, childcare centers, and related properties (including sports fields for youth teams) to use only EPA-exempt pesticides or those listed on the National Organic Program's approved ingredients, with hardship waivers possible at the department's discretion. The law expands coverage to include all properties within 150 feet of these locations and applies to any entity hiring pesticide services, whether public or private. These changes directly affect schools, childcare providers, and pesticide applicators operating near these facilities.

Maddy summaryH 4749 establishes a 13-member commission to study financial abuse of Massachusetts elders aged 60+ and develop policy recommendations. The commission includes representatives from both legislative chambers, elder advocacy groups, Councils on Aging, real estate associations, and financial institutions like banks and credit unions. It will specifically examine abusive lending practices, exploitative property transfers, and scams targeting seniors through telemarketing or online channels. The commission must submit a final report with policy proposals to relevant legislative committees by December 31, 2026. This bill creates a study body but does not enact new laws or funding.

Maddy summaryHD 929 (An Act relative to emergency hazard health duty) ensures that public safety officials - including police, firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, nurses, and correction officers - who contract or are exposed to COVID-19 and require hospitalization, quarantine, or self-quarantine have that time counted as "on duty" rather than requiring them to use sick or vacation time. The bill presumes their medical incapacity related to the virus is work-related, covering the period of hospitalization, quarantine, or self-quarantine under "emergency hazard health duty." This policy change directly affects frontline public safety workers in Massachusetts who face COVID-19 exposure or infection while performing their duties. It modifies how time off is treated, aligning with existing provisions under G.L. c. 41, Section 111F.

Maddy summaryH 4944 allows pharmacists to dispense insulin in emergency situations without immediate prescription authorization. It defines an "emergency situation" as one where a patient cannot quickly obtain a doctor's approval, and requires pharmacists to use their professional judgment to determine if insulin is essential to prevent harm. The bill limits emergency insulin dispensing to a 30-day supply (or standard unit size if larger) and prohibits repeat dispensing to the same patient more than once every six months. This directly affects patients facing urgent insulin needs and pharmacists who may provide this emergency care under these specific guidelines. The law amends multiple sections of state law to include this emergency access provision.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public employers (like state fire departments, cities, towns, or fire districts) to provide full-time firefighters with cancer screenings starting three years after they begin working and every three years thereafter. It directly affects firefighters employed by Massachusetts fire departments, including those at military reservations, air bases, and specific regional zones. The screenings must cover 11 specific cancers (such as colon, lung, breast, and prostate), with all costs covered by the employer's health plan - no co-pays, deductibles, or out-of-pocket expenses for firefighters. This mandates a regular, employer-funded health benefit without requiring firefighter contributions.

Maddy summaryHD 3559 requires health insurance plans to cover technology-assisted tracking devices for insured individuals diagnosed with dementia, Alzheimer's disease, or autism spectrum disorder. The law mandates that these devices must meet specific safety standards, including being waterproof (IP66/IP68), working indoors without cellular service (using radio frequency), having tamper-resistant straps, and avoiding false alarms. Insurance coverage applies after standard co-pays, deductibles, and out-of-pocket limits. This directly affects insured individuals with these conditions and their caregivers by making essential safety devices more accessible.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows pharmacists in Massachusetts to provide emergency insulin without a current prescription during urgent situations where a patient cannot quickly obtain authorization from their doctor. It defines an "emergency situation" as one where immediate prescription authorization isn't possible and requires pharmacists to use their professional judgment to determine if insulin is essential for sustaining life or managing a chronic condition. The bill limits emergency insulin dispensing to a 30-day supply per instance and prohibits the same pharmacist from providing this emergency supply more than once every six months to the same patient. It amends multiple statutes to include this provision, ensuring pharmacists can act in emergencies while maintaining safety safeguards.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Massachusetts property tax exemptions for veterans with service-connected disabilities. It replaces a flat $2000 or $400 exemption with an incremental scale: veterans rated 10% or more disabled by the VA or military receive $400 for 10% disability up to $1,000 for 100% disability, in 10% increments. The exemption applies to primary residences occupied by qualifying veterans or their spouses (if also veterans) and continues annually unless the disability rating drops below 10%. The Department of Revenue must establish this scale by January 1, 2027, to implement the changes.

Maddy summaryHD 3701 requires comprehensive colorectal cancer screening coverage with no out-of-pocket costs for specific groups starting at age 30. It mandates coverage for state employees (via Chapter 32A), Medicaid recipients (Chapter 118E), and private insurance policyholders (Chapters 175, 176A, 176B) using multiple screening methods like colonoscopy, FIT stool tests, and CT colonography. The bill prohibits co-pays, deductibles, or additional charges for all related services, including lab work, physician visits, and polyp removal during screening. It directly affects insured individuals aged 30+ in these coverage categories by ensuring free, medically necessary screening under their existing plans.

Maddy summaryHD 244 creates a property tax break for seniors in towns that adopt it. It exempts seniors aged 65+ (or joint applicants where one is 65+) who own and live in their home as their primary residence, meet income limits (based on Chapter 62 tax rules), and have lived in the town 10+ years. The exemption reduces property taxes by covering the amount above 10% of the applicant's income plus a prior year tax credit, but never by more than 50% of the tax bill. Towns must cap total exemptions at 0.5-1% of residential property tax revenue, and the benefit expires after 3 years unless renewed by the town.