By Representative Kassner of Hamilton, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 303) of Kristin E. Kassner and Carmine Lawrence Gentile for program to assist cities and towns for the purpose of creating community development plans. Community Development and Small Businesses.
By Mr. Eldridge, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2099) of James B. Eldridge, Patricia D. Jehlen, Mike Connolly, Erika Uyterhoeven and other members of the General Court for legislation to provide sunlight to state government. Rules of the two branches, acting concurrently.
By Mr. Oliveira, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 817) of Jacob R. Oliveira for legislation to ensure access to epinephrine for minors. Financial Services.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires property owners and lessees to submit certain property valuation forms electronically through their local board of assessors, using the format and method prescribed by the board. It applies to filings related to forms under sections 5, 5C, 29, 38D, 38F, 59, and 61A of Chapter 59. Failure to use the board’s specified electronic method is treated as if the filing was never submitted. The bill also mandates that any information requests from assessors under these sections must follow the same electronic requirements.
Maddy summaryThis bill changes how interest is calculated on late real estate and personal property tax payments in Massachusetts. It replaces a fixed 14% interest rate with a provision allowing local governments (like city councils or town meetings) to set interest rates "up to 14%" based on their own decisions. Local tax collectors can now also waive late fees or create payment plans for taxpayers with unpaid balances. The law directly affects property owners who miss tax deadlines by altering the financial penalties and offering flexibility. It focuses on giving municipalities control over interest rates and providing relief options for taxpayers.
Maddy summaryHD 935 requires virtual currency kiosk operators in Massachusetts to obtain a money transmitter license and register locations with the Commissioner of Banks before operating. Operators must submit quarterly location reports and provide clear, mandatory disclosures to customers, including prominent warnings about irreversible transactions, lack of government backing, scam risks (with specific examples like impersonation scams), and volatility. The bill also sets a $1,000 daily transaction limit per customer and mandates disclosure of fees, exchange rates, and policy changes. This directly affects businesses operating physical kiosks for buying/selling virtual currency in Massachusetts.
By Representative Gentile of Sudbury, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Carmine Lawrence Gentile, Liz Miranda and Samantha Montaño for legislation to establish LGBTQIA+ parent advisory councils in public schools. Education.
Maddy summaryHD 1578 allows veterans awarded the Purple Heart to obtain special license plates for their private passenger vehicles or motorcycles. Eligible veterans must provide proof of their Purple Heart award to the state motor vehicle office, which will issue the distinctive plates at no cost for the first set. Subsequent sets or replacements will require payment of the standard registration fee. This bill directly affects Purple Heart recipients by providing a visible recognition option through vehicle registration.
Maddy summaryHD 983 requires health insurance plans covering Commonwealth employees and retirees to provide full coverage for stuttering speech therapy, both in-person and via telehealth. The bill mandates coverage for both "habilitative" (helping develop skills for those with developmental stuttering) and "rehabilitative" (helping restore skills after impairment) therapy without annual visit limits, medical necessity reviews, or prior authorization. It also prohibits restrictions based on the cause of stuttering and ensures telehealth coverage meets standard benefit levels. This bill directly affects state employee health plans and licensed speech-language pathologists providing these services.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Massachusetts Children's Alliance as a statewide organization to support children's advocacy centers (CACs) across Massachusetts. It requires CACs to meet specific national accreditation standards, including having multidisciplinary teams (law enforcement, medical, mental health, etc.) that provide coordinated, trauma-informed services to child abuse victims and their families. The Alliance will fund CACs, manage data collection, and ensure centers follow protocols for forensic interviews and victim support to reduce duplication and trauma. These changes directly affect all CACs in the state, ensuring consistent, high-quality responses to child maltreatment cases.
