Rep. Patrick Kearney

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts plumbing codes to establish guidelines for greywater recycling systems in multi-family buildings that use less than 3,000 gallons of water per day. It defines greywater as wastewater from sinks, showers, and washing machines, explicitly excluding toilet waste and hazardous substances, and allows its reuse for toilet flushing and subsurface irrigation. Local boards of health are authorized to implement and enforce these regulations, including the ability to charge fees for permits, while ensuring that greywater systems do not replace required sewer connections. The legislation aims to encourage water conservation and cost savings without altering existing requirements for blackwater disposal or public sewer connections.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to prohibit the purchase and consumption of any products manufactured in Russia by individuals and businesses throughout Massachusetts. The measure would take effect immediately upon becoming law, overriding any existing state laws that might conflict with this restriction. It directly impacts all consumers and entities within the Commonwealth by banning the acquisition and use of Russian-made goods.

Maddy summaryThis Massachusetts bill expands health insurance coverage for breast cancer screening and diagnostic services for women. It mandates that insurance plans cover baseline mammograms for women aged 35 to 40 and annual mammograms for those 40 and older, while also providing earlier screenings for younger women with specific risk factors like family history or dense breast tissue. The legislation requires coverage for advanced imaging options, such as ultrasound and MRI, when medically necessary due to abnormalities or high-risk conditions, and ensures these services are free of co-pays, deductibles, or dollar limits.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows candidates running for public office in Massachusetts to use campaign funds to pay for child care services during campaign activities. It defines child care to include babysitting from various providers and permits payments to family members only if they operate a professional daycare or charge market rates. The legislation also requires the director of campaign finance to create specific regulations governing these expenses by December 31, 2023.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts election laws to allow candidates to use campaign funds for child-care services required because of their political activities. It defines these services broadly to include care from individuals, non-profits, and for-profit organizations, while restricting payments to family members unless they operate a professional daycare or babysitting service. The legislation also permits candidates to claim expenses for child-care that would not otherwise exist but for their campaign. Finally, it requires the director of campaign and political finance to create specific regulations outlining these rules by December 31, 2023.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a special commission to study the financial stability and effectiveness of special education programs across Massachusetts. The commission will include state legislators, education officials, and representatives from school districts, parents, and professional associations. Its main tasks involve analyzing student enrollment costs, reviewing transportation and placement systems, and exploring ways to improve service delivery while reducing expenses. The group must submit its findings and recommendations to state lawmakers by January 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to allow individuals who use a wheelchair as their primary mode of mobility to receive free sporting, hunting, and fishing licenses. By adding this group to the list of eligible recipients alongside those with paraplegia, the legislation expands access to outdoor recreation for people with specific mobility challenges. The change requires no new funding and simply removes the fee barrier for these license types, ensuring they are treated equivalently to other residents with similar physical conditions.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the definition of "preservation" in Massachusetts law to explicitly include protecting open space, historical resources, and community housing from coastal threats like flooding and sea-level rise. The key provision allows for the construction, alteration, or rehabilitation of beaches, dunes, and seawalls as valid methods of preservation. By updating the legal definition, the bill clarifies that building coastal infrastructure to safeguard these specific areas is considered an act of preservation rather than a separate development project.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Massachusetts laws governing the Alternative Portfolio Standard, which sets renewable energy requirements for electricity providers. The legislation removes specific conditions and definitions related to biomass and waste-to-energy plants from the statute. By deleting these terms, the bill simplifies the rules for how utilities can count toward their renewable energy targets without mandating sustainable forestry practices for biomass fuel. This change directly affects energy companies and regulators who administer the state's renewable energy standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows deer hunting with bows and arrows in Wompatuck State Park, overriding existing restrictions that typically prohibit such methods. It authorizes the state's Department of Conservation and Recreation to create specific rules and regulations to manage this new hunting activity. The legislation directly affects hunters who wish to use traditional bow equipment in this specific park and the state agency responsible for overseeing park operations.