Rep. Natalie Higgins

Maddy summaryHD 873 changes how courts handle probation for individuals with substance use disorders. It requires courts to assess whether someone on probation needs treatment instead of solely mandating drug testing. If treatment is ordered, courts must use licensed providers or evidence-based programs and cannot impose extra testing beyond the treatment plan. Crucially, a positive test or relapse during treatment is not considered a probation violation, shifting focus from punishment to supporting recovery.

By Representative Meschino of Hull, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 9) of Joan Meschino and others for legislation to create a climate bank to facilitate innovative financing solutions for climate and clean energy innovations in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Financial Services.

Maddy summaryHD 2764 amends a property tax provision to allow cities and towns to increase the senior property tax exemption amount. Currently, municipalities could adjust exemptions for seniors aged 65+ by up to 100% of existing amounts. This bill specifically permits raising the base exemption from $500 to a maximum of $2,000. The change directly affects senior homeowners in participating municipalities who qualify for the tax exemption. It provides local governments with greater flexibility to expand financial relief for eligible seniors.

Maddy summaryThis bill declares free public higher education a right for Massachusetts residents. It creates a state grant program covering tuition and mandatory fees at public colleges, universities, and vocational programs for eligible students. Eligibility requires graduating from a Massachusetts high school (or equivalent) after three years of attendance, or qualifying for in-state tuition under federal rules. The grants supplement, but do not replace, existing federal aid like Pell Grants and state scholarships, with no restrictions on academic programs.

Maddy summaryHD 1480 requires Massachusetts colleges and universities to create clear policies about adding notations to student academic transcripts related to sexual misconduct cases. During disciplinary proceedings, a temporary notation must appear on a student's transcript stating the alleged violation and that resolution is pending. After a final decision, a permanent notation must be added showing the violation and outcome (e.g., suspension, expulsion), but must be removed if the student is found not guilty. Institutions must also annually report the number of such notations to the state, which will publish aggregated data.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HD 1237) prohibits cities, towns, and landlords from imposing unreasonable restrictions on family child care homes operating in residential properties. It bans zoning rules that block such homes, prevents landlords from refusing to rent to providers based on their use, and invalidates lease clauses restricting home-based child care. The law requires cities to document costs related to these homes and treats family child care as a residential use for zoning purposes. It directly affects family child care providers, landlords, and local governments, aiming to make it easier to operate these homes in residential areas.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the sale in Massachusetts of cosmetics (including products like shampoo and deodorant) if the manufacturer knew or should have known that animal testing was conducted on the product or its ingredients after the law takes effect. It directly affects manufacturers and suppliers selling cosmetics within Massachusetts, requiring them to ensure their products were not tested on animals after the effective date. Key exceptions include cosmetics required by federal/state agencies for safety (with strict justification), products tested before the law, and ingredients already sold in the state prior to the effective date. The Attorney General can enforce the law by seeking injunctions or fines up to $5,000 for first violations, while protecting trade secrets during investigations. The law takes effect six months after passage.

Maddy summaryHD 2660 bans the use of painful procedures and the denial of basic human needs in facilities serving people with disabilities. The bill prohibits any Commonwealth-funded program, agency, or facility from administering procedures causing physical pain (like hitting, pinching, or electric shock) to change behavior, or denying reasonable access to sleep, food, shelter, or bathroom facilities. It directly affects all facilities receiving state funding that serve individuals with physical, intellectual, or developmental disabilities. The law mandates humane treatment by explicitly prohibiting practices that would be illegal if used on non-disabled individuals.

Maddy summaryHD 847 establishes a bill of rights for people experiencing homelessness, defining this group to include those in shelters, vehicles, parks, or transitional housing. It guarantees specific rights such as free use of public spaces without discrimination based on housing status, access to medical care (including pandemic-related services), and the ability to vote without requiring a fixed address. The law also prohibits discrimination in employment and housing based on housing status and protects privacy of information shared with shelters. It amends existing anti-discrimination laws (chapters 151B and 51) to explicitly include "housing status" as a protected category.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a Children's Vision and Eye Health Advisory Council within the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to advise on vision programs and recommend improvements. It also establishes a statewide confidential registry where healthcare providers must report children's vision screening results and follow-up care, with strict privacy protections limiting data sharing to authorized healthcare providers, school nurses, and specific state agencies. The registry will track screening data to address vision disparities affecting students, particularly in underserved communities, and allow parents to correct errors or view access records. The law amends school health screening requirements to include this registry system.