Maddy summaryH 5046 ("Freddy’s Law") requires all Massachusetts high school athletes participating in MIAA sports to undergo one electrocardiogram (EKG) screening before competing, starting in the 2026-2027 school year. The bill mandates that all health insurance plans sold in Massachusetts - including state employee coverage, employer group plans, and individual policies - must cover this screening at no cost to families. It also directs the state to work with the MIAA to create policies covering athlete compliance, handling abnormal results, religious exemptions, and sharing screening results across schools. The law directly affects all high school athletes in MIAA sports and their insurance providers, ensuring EKG screenings are accessible without out-of-pocket costs.
Sponsored bills
By Mrs. Dooner and Mr. Orrall of Lakeville, a joint petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 3182) of Kelly A. Dooner and Norman J. Orrall (with approval of the mayor and city council) for legislation to authorize the city of Taunton to utilize certain areas of conservation land for road improvements. Municipalities and Regional Government. [Local Approval Received.]
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a PFAS Remediation Trust Fund to address contamination in Massachusetts drinking water, groundwater, soil, and other environmental media. It directly affects communities with PFAS pollution, including vulnerable environmental justice areas, private well owners, and public water systems. The fund provides grants for PFAS treatment, remediation, and outreach programs, prioritizing communities with limited resources. Money comes from settlements with PFAS manufacturers, other grants, and interest, with strict rules requiring repayment if responsible parties are later identified.
By Representative Gómez of Easthampton, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Homar Gómez and others for legislation to designate asparagus as the official vegetable of the Commonwealth. State Administration and Regulatory Oversight.
By Representatives Sabadosa of Northampton and Scarsdale of Pepperell, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1405) of Lindsay N. Sabadosa, Margaret R. Scarsdale and others for legislation to provide equitable access to quality, affordable healthcare services by establishing Medicare for all persons in the Commonwealth. Health Care Financing.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires Massachusetts utilities to create a public online dashboard showing real-time breakdowns of residential utility bills, including clean energy program benefits and costs. It mandates that at least 70% of certain clean energy compliance payments must be returned to ratepayers as annual bill credits within 90 days. The dashboard will display historical rate components, program benefits (like reduced emissions and system reliability), and utility cost recovery mechanisms. These changes directly affect residential electricity and gas customers by increasing bill transparency and providing direct financial returns for clean energy investments.
Maddy summaryH 4897 requires most health insurance plans in Massachusetts to cover "behavioral health bundled services" from licensed community behavioral health centers on equal terms. This applies to group insurance for Commonwealth employees (active and retired), individual accident/sickness policies, hospital service plans, and health maintenance contracts. The bill mandates that these plans provide nondiscriminatory coverage for medically necessary mental health, developmental, or substance use disorder care delivered through defined community centers. It directly affects insured individuals and insurers by standardizing coverage requirements across multiple insurance types. The law applies to policies issued or renewed within or outside Massachusetts.
By Representative Haggerty of Woburn, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1370) of Richard M. Haggerty and Mike Connolly relative to primary care and for the creation of a primary care council (including members of the General Court). Health Care Financing.
By Representative Kassner of Hamilton, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Kristin E. Kassner and others relative to senior property tax credits. Revenue.
By Representatives Connolly of Cambridge and Gentile of Sudbury, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3056) of Mike Connolly, Carmine Lawrence Gentile and others for legislation to support affordable housing with a local option for a fee to be applied to certain real estate transactions. Revenue.