Rep. Mindy Domb

By Representatives Domb of Amherst and Vargas of Haverhill, a petition (accompanied by resolve, House, No. 118) of Mindy Domb and Andres X. Vargas for an investigation by a special commission (including members of the General Court) relative to the sustainability of eligible emergency food providers, known as food pantries. Agriculture.

Maddy summaryHD 3991 requires utility contractors performing street excavations (like for gas, electricity, or cable work) to pay prevailing wages as defined by Massachusetts labor standards. It mandates that contractors submit wage agreements before permits are issued and maintain detailed payroll records showing hours worked, occupations, and wage rates for all workers. This applies to projects requiring permits from state, municipal, or utility authorities, directly affecting utility companies and their contractors. The bill enforces these requirements through existing labor laws (Chapter 149, Sections 26-27F) and connects to permit issuance procedures under Chapter 30.

Maddy summaryHD 2100 establishes a Food Literacy Trust Fund to support school-based food literacy programs. The fund, financed by state appropriations, grants, and interest, allows the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to provide resources and curricula on topics like nutrition, food systems, environmental connections, food justice, and culinary skills. Schools must incorporate these standards into existing subjects (e.g., science, math) and may use the fund for professional development. The bill requires annual reporting on fund use and program implementation to state education committees.

Maddy summaryHD 346 requires all 4-year, degree-granting colleges in the state to annually report detailed admissions data, including whether they use legacy preferences, donor relationships, or early decision/admission policies, and to disaggregate student enrollment by race, financial aid status, and admission pathway. The bill prohibits colleges from considering legacy status, donor relationships, or early decision policies without paying a public service fee calculated as a percentage of their endowment per student. Fees range from 0.01% to 0.2% of endowment, with minimum payments of $1 million for institutions with over $1.5 billion in endowment. All collected fees fund the Higher Education Opportunity Trust Fund, which supports public community colleges and state universities.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a state grant program to address student food insecurity at public colleges and universities in Massachusetts. It provides funding for institutions to implement campus food support programs, including partnerships with meal vendors that accept federal nutrition benefits and student meal credit sharing systems. The program requires participating colleges to meet specific criteria, such as designating staff to assist students with food assistance programs and establishing campus awareness initiatives. A dedicated "Hunger-Free Campus Trust Fund" will manage the grants, with annual reports tracking participating schools, student engagement, and program outcomes.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts health insurance laws to expand coverage for midwifery services. It updates definitions in multiple statutes to include "licensed certified professional midwives" alongside existing providers and removes the phrase "for abortion or abortion-related care" from coverage exclusions. These changes apply to health insurance policies under Chapters 32A, 118E, 175, 176A, 176B, and 176G, requiring insurers to cover a broader range of midwifery services without prior restrictions. The commissioner of health insurance must ensure compliance with these updated requirements.

Maddy summaryHD 1877 requires Massachusetts health insurance companies to count all payments toward deductibles, copays, and coinsurance (including payments made by others on behalf of the insured) toward the insured's annual out-of-pocket maximum. It also mandates that insurers include all covered health services within essential health benefits when calculating this annual limit. The bill applies to health plans entered into, amended, extended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2026. The Massachusetts Insurance Commission may create rules to implement these changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Massachusetts public high schools to ensure all students submit the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) before graduation, with clear exemptions for students or parents who decline. Schools must provide support for FAFSA completion and use accessible, multilingual forms for opt-outs - no citizenship questions required. It creates a dedicated FAFSA Trust Fund (effective 2026) to support schools in implementation, including training and workshops for underserved communities, funded by state appropriations and private donations. The law mandates annual reporting on FAFSA submission rates and exemptions, broken down by demographics, with the school requirement taking effect in 2027.

By Representative Lipper-Garabedian of Melrose, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 780) of Kate Lipper-Garabedian and others that the Executive Office of Health and Human Services be authorized to establish a hospital to home partnership program. Elder Affairs.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a student loan repayment program for human services workers in Massachusetts. It directly affects employees of community-based human services organizations (funded by state health, elder affairs, housing, or early education offices) who provide client support. Key provisions include: offering up to $30,000 in repayment assistance based on education level (associate, bachelor's, or master's degree), requiring a 1-3 year service commitment in an eligible setting, and prioritizing applicants working in designated health disparity communities (AHEM areas), earning under $60,000 annually, or possessing language skills matching community needs. The program aims to recruit and retain workers in high-need areas by reducing their student debt burden.