Rep. Mike Kushmerek

Maddy summaryThis bill (HD 942) requires Massachusetts podiatrists to complete 22 hours of approved continuing education annually to renew their license. It directly affects licensed podiatrists seeking to maintain their practice credentials in the state. The key provision mandates this education requirement for license renewal, with exceptions allowed for valid reasons like illness or other good cause. The change modifies existing law to add this annual continuing education obligation, replacing the previous renewal process.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes the examination requirement for Licensed Certified Social Workers (LCSWs) and narrows exam focus to Licensed Independent Clinical Social Workers (LICSWs). It creates a paid practicum grant program for Master of Social Work (MSW) students in Massachusetts, prioritizing recruitment and retention from historically marginalized and low-income communities. The bill also allows supervisors providing one-on-one mentoring to earn up to 8 continuing education credits per licensing period. An evaluation of the exam removal's impact on workforce diversity, access to behavioral health services, and patient care for vulnerable populations is required, to be submitted to relevant legislative committees.

Maddy summaryHD 520 requires state and municipal agencies to use U.S.-made iron, steel, fabricated steel, and manufactured goods in public construction projects exceeding $500,000, unless a waiver is granted. Waivers are allowed if domestic materials are unavailable in sufficient quantity or quality, would increase project costs by over 25%, or conflict with the public interest. Agencies must provide 30 days of public notice and comment before granting waivers and publish detailed justifications for any approved waiver. Contractors who intentionally mislabel foreign goods as "Made in America" for these projects face disqualification from future state contracts.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a tax credit for Massachusetts businesses that donate food to nonprofits serving the needy, and provides liability protection for donors and recipients. Businesses can claim a non-refundable tax credit equal to the fair market value of donated food (capped at $25,000 annually), provided the food is distributed without charge or at minimal cost to cover handling. It also shields donors and nonprofit food distributors from civil liability for injuries related to donated food (including expired "open-dated" food), unless the food was adulterated or donated under gross negligence. To claim the credit, businesses must attach a certification from the nonprofit confirming the food was distributed per the bill’s requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a task force to develop standards for identifying and fixing indoor air pollution and mold in schools, nursing homes, public housing, childcare centers, and other residential buildings. The task force, including health and environmental officials plus community representatives, must submit recommendations within one year, including public comment periods. It also requires the Department of Public Health to create new regulations by December 2026 for monitoring ultrafine particles and black carbon in indoor air, based on current health science. These rules will apply to both existing and new buildings, directly affecting residents and staff in the specified facilities.

Maddy summaryH 4590 creates a task force to address indoor air pollution in schools, care facilities, housing, and other community buildings. The task force, including health, environmental, and community experts, must develop recommendations for monitoring and fixing air quality issues within one year, with public input required before finalizing. It also mandates the Department of Public Health to create regulations by July 2027 for testing ultrafine particles and black carbon in indoor air, based on current health science. These regulations will require standard testing procedures and public reporting for existing and new buildings. The bill directly affects residents and staff in the specified facilities by establishing new air quality standards and oversight.

Maddy summaryHD 932 prohibits employment discrimination against workers who use cannabis legally outside of work. It prevents employers from refusing to hire, firing, or discriminating in pay or conditions based solely on positive drug tests for THC or cannabis metabolites, unless there's reasonable suspicion the employee was impaired during work hours. The law does not apply to "safety sensitive positions" (like pilots or heavy machinery operators) or if the employee cannot maintain required licenses due to cannabis use. It also excludes situations where compliance would violate federal law or funding agreements. This directly affects employees in non-safety roles who use cannabis legally but face workplace drug testing.

Maddy summaryHD 2703 establishes a special commission to study and recommend policies promoting equity in Massachusetts agriculture for historically excluded groups, including African Americans, Cape Verdeans, Hispanics, Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, Caribbean Islanders, Native Americans, and Alaskan Natives. The commission, with members appointed from diverse agricultural organizations, caucuses, and commissions, will investigate data collection, grant access, program equity, and regulatory processes, holding at least three public hearings (including one rural and one urban). It must file a report with legislative leaders by December 31, 2027, including recommendations for policy changes, with the findings publicly available online. This bill creates a study body - not direct policy changes - to address systemic barriers in agricultural resources and opportunities.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires vocational-technical schools to use a blind lottery for admissions when applications exceed available spots, ensuring no student is selected based on factors like race, disability, or socioeconomic status. It mandates that schools place unselected applicants on a lottery-ordered waitlist and forward this data to the education department by June 1 each year. The department must collect and publicly report annual data on admissions, enrollment, and waitlists, including breakdowns by race, ethnicity, disability status, and economic background. These provisions directly affect students applying to vocational programs and aim to prevent discriminatory outcomes through transparent, randomized selection and data tracking.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires school transportation companies in Massachusetts to submit detailed bid information before vehicle inspections. Companies must provide all successful bids, non-successful bids from the previous year, and winning bids where their vehicles were rejected, along with a verification document. Vehicles will fail inspection if companies omit this information, if non-successful bids are more than 2% below winning bids, or if a company wins only one bus contract for five consecutive years. The bill directly affects school transportation providers operating in Massachusetts, aiming to increase transparency in the bidding process.