Rep. Andy Vargas

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Massachusetts public schools to include hands-only CPR and AED (automated external defibrillator) training as a graduation requirement. It mandates that this training follow current national guidelines and include hands-on practice ("psychomotor skills") to develop practical abilities. Schools must provide this training through licensed teachers (who don’t need CPR certification) or certified instructors for courses leading to certification. Additionally, the state offers financial incentives via grants or subsidies to school districts - prioritizing high-need schools (e.g., those with 50%+ students eligible for free meals or Title I status) - to support equipment and staff training for this program.

Maddy summaryH 4635 increases fines for violations of municipal ordinances and by-laws by raising the penalty from $300 to $500 under Section 21D of Chapter 40. It directly affects individuals who break local rules, such as parking or noise violations enforced by cities or towns. The bill amends a specific section of existing law to adjust the maximum fine amount, with no other policy changes described. The measure is pending further review by the House Ways and Means committee after passing the Judiciary committee.

Maddy summaryHD 2139 increases the maximum civil penalty for violating municipal ordinances or by-laws from $300 to $1,000. It also authorizes courts to impose additional fines (beyond court orders) and award attorney fees when cities or towns sue to enforce local rules. These penalties go directly to the enforcing municipality and must consider factors like whether the violation was willful, the harm caused, and the violator's history. The bill directly affects municipalities seeking to enforce local laws and individuals or businesses violating those rules. It strengthens local enforcement by providing clearer penalty guidelines and financial remedies for communities.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HD 3242) changes Massachusetts parole board requirements to address racial disparities identified in the parole process. It mandates that at least 3 board members have specific professional experience (like mental health or substance use treatment), one must be a licensed mental health professional, and at least one member must have personal experience with incarceration and successfully completing parole. The bill requires the parole board to collect detailed demographic data on parole violations, revocations, and processing times by race, ethnicity, and gender, and to publish this annually. It also requires individualized parole conditions based on current research, detailed written decisions for all cases, and public hearings 90 days before parole eligibility dates. These changes directly affect the parole board, incarcerated individuals, and the Department of Correction.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Massachusetts school districts to use research-backed reading methods (like structured phonics instruction) for students in kindergarten through third grade, replacing less effective approaches such as guessing from pictures. It mandates early literacy screenings for K-3 students, requiring districts to implement intervention if over half of students fall below reading benchmarks. Districts must align all literacy curricula with evidence-based practices covering the five key reading components (phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, comprehension), and provide teacher training on these methods. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will create guidelines for identifying reading deficiencies, approve professional development programs, and collect annual data on implementation starting in 2025.

By Representative Vargas of Haverhill, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 876) of Andres X. Vargas and Bruce E. Tarr relative to the post-election audit process. Election Laws.

By Representative Vargas of Haverhill, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 312) of Andres X. Vargas relative to microbusiness and small business assistance transparency. Community Development and Small Businesses.

Maddy summaryH 4595 extends the deadline for the House Committee on Community Development and Small Businesses to report on three specific House documents (307, 309, and 313) from its original timeframe to Sunday, November 23, 2025. This procedural bill overrides House Rule 27 to grant the committee additional time, directly affecting the committee's schedule for reviewing those documents. The bill was adopted on October 9, 2025, after committee approval and Rules suspension. It does not change policy but adjusts a procedural timeline.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a "Fresh Start Program" to help Massachusetts residents under age 25 remove or anonymize online records of past criminal offenses or other events that hinder employment and social mobility. The program allows individuals to request changes to online stories through specified media outlets, with the program providing written recommendations to those outlets. A 25-member Fresh Start Coordinating Council - including media representatives, civil liberties advocates, law enforcement, and formerly incarcerated individuals - will develop guidelines, review applications, and oversee the program. The council must report annually on application volumes, media acceptance rates, and program goals to the governor and legislature.

By Representatives Donaghue of Westborough and Vargas of Haverhill, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 4123) of Kate Donaghue and Andres X. Vargas relative to the distribution of opioid antagonists at correctional facilities. Public Safety and Homeland Security.