Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Crumbling Concrete Assistance Fund to help Massachusetts homeowners repair or replace residential foundations damaged by minerals like pyrite or pyrrhotite. The fund, managed by the Secretary of Housing, provides direct financial assistance to affected homeowners, reimburses those who already paid for repairs (up to the fund's coverage limit), and minimizes financial strain on municipalities. Key provisions include tax exemptions on repaired foundations, annual reporting requirements, and a requirement for the Secretary to seek federal funding to support the program. A stakeholder working group must also develop long-term recommendations by 2026 on funding models and consumer protections. The bill directly affects homeowners with deteriorated foundations and local governments facing related costs.
Rep. Colleen Garry
Sponsored bills
By Mr. Moore, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 642) of Michael O. Moore, Paul K. Frost, Colleen M. Garry, Edward J. Kennedy and others for legislation relative to crumbling concrete prevention and protection. Environment and Natural Resources.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new legal protections for animals in Massachusetts by defining "neglected" as depriving animals of food, water, shelter, or causing unnecessary suffering. It grants animal control officers and law enforcement the authority to immediately remove animals in emergency situations and require court hearings within 10 days to determine neglect. The law outlines specific court procedures for returning animals to owners (after payment for care), forfeiting animals to authorities, or ordering humane euthanasia, while requiring evidence of neglect to be proven by the owner or keeper. It directly affects animal owners, caretakers, and enforcement agencies in Massachusetts when animal neglect is alleged.
By Ms. Dooner, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1439) of Kelly A. Dooner, David F. DeCoste, David F. DeCoste, Colleen M. Garry and others for legislation to exempt certain adjacent communities without direct access to MBTA services from zoning laws. Municipalities and Regional Government.
By Ms. Dooner, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1437) of Kelly A. Dooner, David F. DeCoste, Colleen M. Garry and Steven S. Howitt for legislation to provide exemptions under the MBTA communities law. Municipalities and Regional Government.
By Mr. O'Connor, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1467) of Patrick M. O'Connor, David F. DeCoste, Colleen M. Garry and Steven S. Howitt for legislation to allow MBTA Communities to seek relief based on certain adverse impacts to the municipality. Municipalities and Regional Government.
By Mr. O'Connor, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1465) of Patrick M. O'Connor, David F. DeCoste, Colleen M. Garry and Steven S. Howitt for legislation to exempt communities without a rail, subway, or ferry station as an MBTA community designation. Municipalities and Regional Government.
Maddy summaryH 4656, the "Family Protection and Transparency Act," requires Massachusetts' child welfare agency to prioritize keeping siblings together in foster care. It mandates immediate searches for relatives when placing children, seeks to place all siblings together unless safety concerns exist (with strict court documentation), and requires regular visitation between separated siblings. The law also sets minimum weekly visitation standards for parents and requires annual reporting on sibling placement progress. These changes directly affect children in foster care, the Department of Children and Families, and courts handling foster care cases.
Maddy summaryHD 187 establishes a 11-member task force to review state requirements placed on Massachusetts public schools and districts. The task force will identify and evaluate existing laws, regulations, and reporting rules that schools must follow, focusing on outdated, duplicate, or conflicting mandates - especially those requiring repeated data submissions to the education department. It must develop recommendations to streamline or eliminate these requirements, including exploring a single master reporting form, and propose changes to prevent future duplication. The task force must hold a public hearing and submit its final report with recommendations to both legislative chambers within 12 months of its first meeting.
Maddy summaryHD 386 requires child welfare agencies to prioritize keeping siblings together in foster care. It mandates that when a child enters foster care, the agency must immediately search for relatives (including parents of siblings) to consider for placement and must place siblings together unless the agency provides clear evidence to a court that separation is necessary for safety or due to impracticality (e.g., more than four siblings). If siblings are separated, the agency must arrange frequent visitation unless the court rules it would harm a child, with the court required to document its decision. The bill also requires agencies to develop a plan to increase sibling placements and report annually on their progress to a legislative committee.