Rep. Natalie Higgins

Maddy summaryHD 2738 repeals Section 121 of Chapter 5 of the 1995 laws (as amended in 2014), which governed school attendance requirements. This removes an existing provision that had been part of state law since 1995, with updates in 2014. The bill's stated purpose is to promote equity in school attendance policies by eliminating this specific rule. The change directly affects school districts and students by removing a longstanding attendance requirement from state law.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a confidential statewide registry for children's vision screenings and eye health care (Section 38A). It requires licensed healthcare providers to report screening results to the registry, which will track vision data to identify disparities. The bill also creates a 13-member advisory council (including health officials, medical professionals, and parent representatives) to advise the state on improving children's eye health programs and reporting annually to legislative committees (Section 38). The registry protects privacy by limiting data access to authorized healthcare providers, school nurses, and state agencies involved in children's health services, with strict confidentiality rules preventing public disclosure or use in legal proceedings.

Maddy summaryHD 627 requires Massachusetts' Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to update teacher training regulations. Specifically, it mandates that all approved teacher programs include instruction on using augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) tools and assistive technologies. The bill also requires school districts to address the needs of nonverbal students or those with limited speech in teacher professional development plans. This directly affects teachers through new training requirements and students with disabilities who rely on AAC for communication. The policy change focuses on integrating these essential communication supports into standard educator preparation and professional growth.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a standardized system for school interpreters to improve access for Limited English Proficient (LEP) parents and students. It creates three interpreter tiers: Tier 3 (required for specialized meetings like IEPs or discipline discussions), Tier 2 (for standard meetings), and Tier 1 (only for emergencies when higher tiers aren't available). The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education must develop training, assessment, and a public registry for Tier 3 interpreters, including required field experience and competency standards. The law mandates phased implementation, with full statewide use of Tier 3 interpreters for specialized meetings required after the commissioner certifies readiness. It directly affects schools, LEP families, and interpreters working in Massachusetts public schools.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HD 855) allows dental hygienists to administer Botox and dermal fillers under a dentist's direct supervision, after completing specific training approved by the state board. It directly affects dental hygienists seeking to expand their scope of practice and patients seeking these cosmetic treatments. The key provision requires hygienists to complete the same additional training as dentists for these procedures, and they cannot perform them independently without a supervising dentist present. The law modifies existing regulations to permit this expanded service within dental settings.

Maddy summaryHD 507 extends Massachusetts' prevailing wage requirements to offsite fabrication work for public construction projects. It requires contractors to pay prevailing wages for prefabricated items like pipes, electrical systems, or modular units made offsite, and to include specific payroll details in weekly reports (e.g., facility location, worker names, hours, and wages). This applies to all public projects covered by existing wage laws, ensuring offsite manufacturing work meets the same labor standards as on-site construction. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage.

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.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires most Massachusetts employers (those with more than 25 employees) to adopt written anti-harassment policies by January 1, 2027, and provide annual interactive training to all employees focused on preventing sexual harassment and unlawful retaliation. The training must cover specific examples, bystander intervention, internal/external remedies, and supervisory responsibilities, with online sessions requiring anonymous Q&A and participation tracking. Employers must maintain records of training completion for five years and provide written policy copies to all employees at hire or role change. Smaller employers (25 or fewer employees) are exempt from these requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance plans to cover diagnosis and treatment for Alfi's syndrome (a genetic condition also known as 9p deletion syndrome) on the same terms as coverage for physical conditions. It mandates no annual or lifetime dollar limits for this care, prohibits restrictions on the number of visits to Alfi's syndrome providers, and requires coverage for specified services including habilitative/rehabilitative care, pharmacy care, psychiatric care, psychological care, and therapeutic care. The law applies to all health plans offered through the state group insurance commission and ensures coverage isn't subject to lower limits than those for physical health conditions. It does not affect existing benefits or school-based services provided under individualized education plans.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HD 848) requires all Massachusetts employers, employment agencies, and labor organizations to adopt written anti-harassment policies and provide annual training to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace. Employers must create policies detailing prohibited conduct, complaint procedures, and consequences by January 1, 2027, and provide written copies to all employees by that date. The annual training, starting January 1, 2027, must cover harassment examples, bystander intervention, internal/external remedies, and supervisory responsibilities, with a minimum of one hour per year. Employers must maintain records of policy distribution and training completion for five years and comply with specific interactive and content standards for the training.