Rep. Mindy Domb

Senate, September 29, 2025 -- The committee on The Judiciary to whom was referred the petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1045) of Joanne M. Comerford, Mindy Domb, Brendan P. Crighton, Jason M. Lewis and other members of the General Court for legislation to protect personal security before a decree of a change of name, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2615).

Maddy summaryThis bill strengthens school anti-bullying policies by requiring schools to implement comprehensive plans that include parent education on bullying prevention, online safety, and reporting procedures. It prohibits retaliation against students or staff who report bullying, provide investigation information, or share incident data, and mandates quarterly reporting of all bullying incidents (not just verified ones) to the state department. School principals must oversee implementation, file these reports, and ensure counseling for both perpetrators and victims. The state will also launch a pilot program assigning anti-bullying officers to the five schools with the most reported incidents, based on the new quarterly data. The bill directly affects public schools, students, parents, and school staff across the state.

Maddy summaryHD 1791 requires all public schools in the Commonwealth to stop using athletic team names, logos, or mascots that reference, represent, or are associated with Native Americans, including specific tribes or cultural elements. Within three months, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education must create a list of affected schools, which the Commission on Indian Affairs will review and publish. Schools on this list must develop a plan to phase out these mascots within three years through a formal agreement with the Department, consulting with tribal representatives. The bill also prohibits schools from adopting new mascots that reference Native American cultures and denies state education grants to schools that fail to comply.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates election law to use gender-neutral language throughout Chapter 53 of the General Laws. It replaces gendered terms like "him," "his," "he," "chairman," and "alderman" with neutral alternatives such as "them," "their," "they," "chairperson," and "alderperson." The changes apply specifically to election statutes, including voter registration forms, candidate information, and election official titles. The bill makes no substantive policy changes but ensures the language used in election law is inclusive and non-gendered.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HD 2074) prohibits Massachusetts public school districts and charter schools from suspending students solely for violating dress or grooming rules. It requires all such rules to be non-discriminatory (based on gender identity, race, religion, disability, etc.), clear and objective, and bans physical enforcement or requiring students to undress in front of others. The law also explicitly states that schools may still require specific clothing colors and address bullying or harassment. The changes take effect 60 days after passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates "blue envelopes" to improve police interactions with people who have autism spectrum disorder. The envelopes, available from the Registry of Motor Vehicles upon request, contain written communication tips for officers and instructions for placing them on a car's sun visor. They also hold a person's driver's license, registration, and insurance cards. The program will begin on July 1, 2026, and directly affects autistic individuals and their families during traffic stops or vehicle encounters with police.

Maddy summaryHD 448 creates a new full-time position for a food system coordinator within the state government. This coordinator will work across all relevant state agencies to map existing food-related programs, eliminate duplicate efforts, identify service gaps, and recommend improvements - particularly for underserved communities. The role requires the coordinator to track progress toward food system goals and submit reports to the legislature, agency secretaries, and department commissioners before each council meeting. The bill directly affects state agencies managing food programs and aims to improve coordination of food system initiatives statewide.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Agriculture and Fishery Vulnerability Preparedness Grant Fund to provide financial support to Massachusetts farms and fisheries for climate adaptation. The fund, administered by the energy and environmental affairs secretary, will award grants for climate-resilient practices like renewable energy upgrades, infrastructure improvements, and data monitoring to help these sectors prepare for climate impacts. Grants must be used for specific climate adaptation activities, including controlled climate growing, energy efficiency, and nature-based solutions. The bill also requires quarterly reporting on grant recipients, funding amounts, and technical assistance provided to ensure transparency.

Maddy summaryH 4418 amends Massachusetts law to strengthen the Massachusetts Food Policy Council. It increases the council's membership from 18 to 20 members, adds specific positions (like the marine fisheries director and UMass food policy director), and creates a new full-time Food System Coordinator role. The coordinator will inventory state food programs, facilitate interagency collaboration, track progress on food system goals, and report to legislative committees and agencies. The bill also establishes rules for compensating council members while requiring compliance with ethics laws. This directly affects the council, state agencies involved in food policy, and the coordination of food system programs across Massachusetts.

Maddy summaryH 4420 creates the Agriculture and Fishery Vulnerability Preparedness Grant Fund to help Massachusetts farms and fisheries prepare for climate change impacts. The fund, managed by state agricultural and fishery departments, provides grants for climate resilience projects like energy-efficient farming, climate-resilient infrastructure, and data collection. It also supports technical assistance to help applicants plan and secure funding for these initiatives. Grants are awarded based on sector and regional needs, with quarterly reports tracking applicants, recipients, funding amounts, and administrative costs to state legislative committees. The fund permanently retains unspent money, ensuring ongoing support without annual re-appropriation.