Rep. Patrick Kearney

Maddy summaryHD 4276 amends vehicle registration rules to create a special "VETERAN" plate designation. It adds a one-time $20 fee for these plates, in addition to standard registration costs, when first issued. This fee is not charged during subsequent renewals of the "VETERAN" plates. The bill directly affects veterans who choose this plate option for their private passenger vehicles or motorcycles.

By Representative Kearney of Scituate, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 619) of Patrick Joseph Kearney relative to the availability of sunscreen for students. Education.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HD 1854) requires health insurance plans covering Commonwealth employees, retirees, and private insurance policies in Massachusetts to provide coverage for specific dental and oral care related to head and neck cancer. It mandates coverage for pre-cancer dental care (to prevent infection or decay), dental procedures before cancer treatment (like chemotherapy), and post-cancer care (to address treatment side effects such as tooth loss or infection). The bill also covers dental implants, prostheses, rehabilitation services, and patient education necessary to restore function (eating, speaking, swallowing) and appearance affected by cancer or its treatment. These requirements apply to group insurance plans (Chapter 32A), health insurance (Chapter 118E), private medical insurance (Chapter 175), and hospital service plans (Chapter 176A).

Maddy summaryHD 3095 (Massachusetts) defines infertility and mandates comprehensive health insurance coverage for infertility treatment. The bill requires insurers to cover specific services including up to six oocyte retrievals, unlimited embryo transfers (with single embryo transfer when medically appropriate), artificial insemination, sperm extraction, and third-party reproduction like IVF with donor eggs/sperm or gestational carriers. Insurers cannot impose extra restrictions such as higher deductibles, age limits, limits on treatment attempts, or discrimination based on protected characteristics (e.g., gender identity, sexual orientation). This coverage must align with clinical guidelines from major medical societies and cannot override existing benefits or medical provider judgment. The law directly affects insured individuals seeking infertility treatment in Massachusetts.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all Massachusetts schools (public and private) serving minors to adopt and implement a formal abuse prevention policy defining inappropriate conduct between staff and students. It mandates biennial training for school staff on recognizing, preventing, and reporting sexual misconduct - including behaviors like romantic invitations or suggestive comments - and provides age-appropriate education for students on healthy boundaries, recognizing risks, and reporting concerns. The policy must be created by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in consultation with child advocacy agencies and reviewed every five years. Schools must maintain training records and make the policy publicly available online. The law directly affects all schools, staff members, and students in Massachusetts.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all Massachusetts schools (public, private, charter, and religious) to adopt formal abuse prevention policies and implement specific safety measures. It mandates biennial training for school staff on recognizing, preventing, and reporting abuse or sexual misconduct, and requires age-appropriate student education on boundaries, healthy relationships, and reporting concerns. Schools must also conduct thorough background checks on applicants for positions involving direct student contact, including verifying employment history and any past investigations into misconduct allegations. The bill directly affects educators, school staff, and students by establishing standardized safety protocols and reporting procedures across all school settings.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to require carbon monoxide alarms in all residential, governmental, and commercial buildings, removing a previous limitation that restricted the requirement to "occupied in whole or in part for residential purposes." It expands the existing safety mandate to cover all building types, including offices, stores, and public facilities, not just homes. The key change is eliminating the phrase "occupied in whole or in part for residential purposes" from three sections of the law, ensuring the alarm requirement applies universally. This creates a consistent safety standard for all structures where people live, work, or gather.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to pay community pharmacies fairly for services, prohibiting practices like "pharmacy steering" (steering patients to PBMs' own pharmacies) and ensuring non-affiliated pharmacies receive equal payment to affiliated ones. It mandates that maximum allowable drug costs for community pharmacies must be at least as high as those paid by Massachusetts Medicaid, with PBMs required to publicly disclose cost-setting methods and update these costs every three business days. Pharmacies can appeal if they believe drug costs are unfairly low or if a drug doesn't meet transparency requirements for inclusion on cost lists. The law directly affects community pharmacies, PBMs, and health benefit plans by standardizing payment fairness and increasing transparency in drug pricing.

By Representative Barber of Somerville, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1092) of Christine P. Barber and others relative to prescription medications. Financial Services.

By Representatives Finn of West Springfield and Garballey of Arlington, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 232) of Michael J. Finn, Norman J. Orrall and others relative to individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.