Rep. Leigh Davis

Maddy summaryH 4649 establishes a special commission to study micro-transit services in Massachusetts. The commission will examine different operating models (including those run by regional transit authorities and other entities), assess funding needs and gaps, define micro-transit for state funding eligibility, and estimate annual state funding required to support these services. It will specifically focus on closing mobility gaps, improving connectivity, and addressing transportation inequities in underserved areas and populations. The commission, composed of transit officials, community representatives, and rural stakeholders, must submit a final report to state leaders within three months of the bill's effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the fourth Thursday in March as Tuskegee Airmen Commemoration Day. It requires the governor to issue an annual proclamation recognizing the service of Tuskegee Airmen during World War II, including pilots, support personnel, and others who "changed the course of history." The public is recommended to observe the day appropriately. This is a ceremonial designation with no new regulations or funding.

By Representative Davis of Great Barrington and Senator Mark, a joint petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Leigh Davis relative to the board of water commissioners of the Dalton fire district. Municipalities and Regional Government.

By Representative Davis of Great Barrington and Senator Mark, a joint petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Leigh Davis relative to the purchase or lease of a certain property known as Fenn Farm. State Administration and Regulatory Oversight.

By Representative Livingstone of Boston, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Jay D. Livingstone and others relative to ivory and rhinoceros horn trafficking. Environment and Natural Resources.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a year-round healthy incentives program in Massachusetts for SNAP (food assistance) recipients. It provides matching benefits on EBT cards when recipients buy fresh, canned, dried, or frozen fruits and vegetables at participating vendors. The program prioritizes expanding access in underserved areas with limited produce availability and requires collaboration with local food coalitions for outreach. A dedicated "Massachusetts Healthy Incentives Fund" will manage program funding from state and federal sources, and the department must submit annual reports tracking participant demographics, vendor locations, and efforts to improve access in underserved communities.

Maddy summaryHD 1043 establishes Massachusetts' Farm to School Program to connect schools with local food producers. It directly affects K-12 schools and licensed childcare programs participating in federal meal programs (National School Lunch Program or Child and Adult Care Feeding Program) across Massachusetts. The bill creates two key mechanisms: (1) a grant program funding kitchen equipment, staff training, and food literacy curriculum, and (2) a reimbursement incentive that pays schools $1 for every $2 spent on Massachusetts-grown food or $1 for every $3 on New England/New York regional food. The program also sets up an advisory committee and a dedicated fund to manage grants and ensure equitable access for schools and socially disadvantaged producers.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the state to cover health insurance premiums for qualifying adjunct faculty at public higher education institutions. It defines eligible faculty as those teaching at least two 3-credit courses per semester (or four annually), regardless of funding source or employment term. The state will gradually increase its share of premium costs over five years, starting at 25% in the first year and reaching 75% by the sixth year. A working group must study adjunct faculty retirement benefits, compensation, and career pathways, reporting findings by December 2026. The bill directly affects adjunct faculty at state universities, community colleges, and UMass campuses.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Faculty Restoration and Equity Fund to require public colleges in the state to: (1) ensure at least 75% of undergraduate courses are taught by full-time faculty, (2) maintain at least 75% full-time support staff in departments, and (3) provide part-time and non-tenure track faculty with pay and benefits equal to full-time faculty. It also amends retirement laws to grant part-time faculty teaching four or more courses yearly full retirement credit, equal pay on a pro-rata basis, and formal processes for assignment priority and tenure-track consideration. The fund prioritizes institutions with high reliance on part-time faculty, and all provisions are subject to collective bargaining. The bill directly affects public higher education institutions and their part-time/non-tenure track faculty.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Massachusetts to develop an emergency plan supporting agricultural, seafood, and processed food production during crises, coordinated across state agencies. It mandates an annual report tracking local food distribution through state-funded food assistance programs (like school meals and Meals on Wheels), including quantities, types, sourcing farms, and program-specific data. The report must include recommendations for increasing local food use while maintaining affordability and will be published online and submitted to legislative committees. This directly affects state agencies, food assistance programs, and farms supplying locally grown or produced food. The plan must be reviewed every five years and updated as needed.