Rep. Lisa Field

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health plans in Massachusetts to cover "behavioral health bundled services" provided by licensed community behavioral health centers (CBHCs) on a nondiscriminatory basis. It applies to Commonwealth employees (active/retired) and all insured individuals covered under group or individual health insurance policies, including hospital/surgical plans and health maintenance contracts. The law defines CBHCs as DPH-licensed clinics and specifies that covered services include mental health, developmental, and substance use disorder care delivered through a flat-rate billing model per encounter. The key mechanism ensures these services are treated equally with other medical benefits in insurance coverage.

Maddy summaryHD 2507 requires health insurance plans in Massachusetts to cover at least six sessions of preventive behavioral health services for children under 21 who screen positive for emotional concerns like anxiety or depression, or for infants whose caregivers screen positive for postpartum depression. These services - such as short-term group, individual, or family counseling to build coping skills - must be covered without prior authorization or patient cost-sharing, except for tax-exempt plans that would lose status. The bill applies to all state employee plans, individual/group health insurance policies, and medical service agreements, mandating insurers to accept Social Determinants of Health Z-codes for billing these preventive services. It directly affects children, adolescents, and their caregivers by ensuring accessible, low-barrier mental wellness support before conditions escalate.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HD 1468) allows school nurses employed in Department of Education-approved schools to count prior nursing work experience toward their retirement credit if they are already in a teacher's, municipal, or state retirement system. To qualify, nurses must pay 10% of their annual salary for each year of service plus interest (paid in a lump sum or installments), after completing 10 years in the retirement system, with a maximum of three years of creditable service allowed. Nurses must apply within 90 days of being notified of eligibility by the retirement board.

Maddy summaryHD 4087 creates a PFAS Remediation Trust Fund to address contamination from harmful chemicals (PFAS) in Massachusetts drinking water and environmental media. The fund, financed by settlements with PFAS manufacturers and other sources like grants and donations, will cover costs for public water systems, private well owners, municipalities, and regional water systems to test, treat, and remediate PFAS in water, soil, and groundwater. The Department of Environmental Protection will administer the fund, prioritizing vulnerable communities and requiring applicants to disclose any third-party payments to avoid duplicate funding. The fund operates without annual appropriation, with leftover balances carrying over to future years to ensure sustained support for PFAS cleanup efforts.

Senate, December 29, 2025 -- The committee on Education to whom was referred the petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 425) of Jacob R. Oliveira, Steven George Xiarhos and Antonio F. D. Cabral for legislation to promote the inclusion of American Sign Language in the Commonwealth’s public schools, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2866).

By Mr. Oliveira, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 425) of Jacob R. Oliveira, Steven George Xiarhos and Antonio F. D. Cabral for legislation to promote the inclusion of American Sign Language in the Commonwealth’s public schools. Education.

By Representative Chan of Quincy, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 74) of Tackey Chan and others relative to the contracting of digital replicas. Advanced Information Technology, the Internet and Cybersecurity.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts' Paid Family Medical Leave Law by updating key definitions. It redefines a "covered business entity" as any business where 50% or more of its workforce consists of non-employee contractors (not classified as employees under Chapter 151A). It also redefines a "covered contract worker" as an individual not classified as an employee who requires employers to contribute to the Family and Employment Security Trust Fund. These changes directly affect businesses using significant contractor labor and those contract workers now eligible for the leave program. The bill adjusts the legal definitions to expand eligibility under the existing leave law, without changing benefit amounts or core program rules.

By Mr. Feeney, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 237) of Paul R. Feeney for legislation to limit the amount of self-checkout stations located in grocery establishments and impose fines for multiple violations. Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new regulations for manufactured housing communities in Massachusetts cities and towns. It allows local governments to create boards that oversee rent payments, limiting annual rent increases to the Chained Consumer Price Index (C-CPI-U) unless a board approves a higher increase based on specific factors like property taxes, maintenance costs, or capital improvements. Owners cannot raise rents more than the CPI-U in any 12-month period - even with new leases - and must justify larger increases through board review. The boards can require community registration, issue binding orders, and impose fines up to $5,000 for violations. This directly affects manufactured home residents and community owners in municipalities adopting these rules.