By Representative Linsky of Natick, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2365) of David Paul Linsky and others for legislation to require that firearms safety courses provide live fire practice for firearms licenses. Public Safety and Homeland Security.
By Representative Linsky of Natick, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2361) of David Paul Linsky and others relative to banning semi-automatic firearms. Public Safety and Homeland Security.
By Representative Kearney of Scituate, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3512) of Patrick Joseph Kearney and others relative to the definition of veteran. Veterans and Federal Affairs.
By Representative Lipper-Garabedian of Melrose, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3520) of Kate Lipper-Garabedian and others relative to public employee benefits for military service members on active duty. Veterans and Federal Affairs.
Maddy summaryThis bill proposes raising the minimum age for purchasing and possessing firearms in Massachusetts from 18 to 21 years old. Under the new rules, individuals under 21 would only be allowed to buy manually operated rifles and shotguns, such as those with bolt, pump, lever, or slide actions, unless they are members of the National Guard, U.S. armed forces, or peace officers. The legislation also mandates that anyone selling firearms to a person under 21 faces severe penalties, including a 10-year ban on obtaining a firearms license and potential fines or imprisonment. Additionally, the bill requires that all firearm purchases by residents under 21 must be accompanied by a valid permit to purchase, removing the ability to buy guns solely with a standard identification card.
By Representative Schmid of Westport, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3536) of Paul A. Schmid, III and others relative to disability benefits for veterans. Veterans and Federal Affairs.
Maddy summaryThis law establishes a mandatory educational diversion program in Massachusetts for minors charged with specific offenses related to possessing or sharing sexual images, commonly known as sexting. The Attorney General will lead the creation of this program in collaboration with various state agencies and community groups, focusing on informing youth about legal penalties, social consequences, and the risks of online image sharing. If a child is charged with these offenses, the court will typically pause legal proceedings to require the completion of this program instead of immediate prosecution, unless the district attorney objects. Successful completion of the program allows the case to be dismissed, while failure to participate results in the case being restored for standard legal processing. Additionally, the bill expands the legal definition of abuse to include "coercive control" and requires schools to teach media literacy skills using materials from the new diversion program.
By Representative Xiarhos of Barnstable, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2423) of Steven George Xiarhos and others relative to providing advanced life support to police dogs injured in the line of duty. Public Safety and Homeland Security.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to remove the December 31, 2029 deadline for the state's Renewable Portfolio Standard. The change directly affects electric utilities and energy providers who must meet renewable energy requirements. By deleting the specific end date, the legislation allows the RPS program to continue beyond 2029 without an automatic expiration. This adjustment ensures that the state's renewable energy goals can be extended or modified through future legislative action rather than ending on a fixed date.
Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Massachusetts Clean Energy Technology Center to conduct a study on gaps in clean energy project financing, such as lack of capital and insurance. Based on the study's findings, the center may establish a Green Bank to provide investment capital for clean energy projects in sectors like buildings, transportation, and industry. The legislation also allows the center to use funds for innovative financial strategies, including creating a loan loss reserve and energy savings performance contracting, to help achieve the state's net zero emissions goal.
