Rep. Natalie Higgins

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a formal "Bill of Rights" for survivors of sexual assault in Massachusetts, ensuring they receive specific protections during medical exams and legal interviews. The law guarantees that survivors have the right to consult with a sexual assault counselor and bring a support person of their choice to any medical or law enforcement interaction. It also clarifies that these rights remain in effect regardless of whether the survivor chooses to report the crime, seek medical attention, or participate in a criminal prosecution. By codifying these protections, the legislation aims to provide a consistent standard of care and support for victims throughout the process.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to protect foster care providers from being held financially responsible for injuries or property damage caused by the state, its employees, or third parties. It specifically applies to organizations contracted by the Department of Children and Families to care for children and youth. By clarifying that these providers cannot be sued for negligence resulting from the state's actions, the legislation aims to shield them from liability in situations where the state or others are at fault.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits Massachusetts state law enforcement agencies, municipalities, and other subdivisions from entering into, extending, or renewing any contracts with the federal government. The law specifically targets agreements related to civil immigration detention and restricts such partnerships to a maximum of ninety days after the bill takes effect. It empowers the state Attorney General to sue entities that violate these restrictions and allows private citizens to file lawsuits against violators. The legislation aims to limit state involvement in federal immigration enforcement while ensuring that local officers can still perform their standard public safety duties.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends state law to ensure foster children receive federal benefits such as Supplemental Security Income, Social Security retirement or disability payments, and veterans benefits. It requires the Department of Children and Families to actively screen for eligibility within 60 days of a child entering care and to apply for these benefits on the child's behalf if they qualify. The legislation also mandates that the department only act as the representative payee or fiduciary for these funds when no other suitable candidate is available and when doing so does not hinder family reunification efforts. Additionally, the bill establishes a requirement for annual reviews of cases to identify any new benefit eligibility that may have arisen since the initial assessment.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Massachusetts municipalities to invest their funds in credit unions and federal credit unions, expanding the types of financial institutions they can support alongside existing options like banks and cooperative banks. By amending several state laws, the legislation removes previous restrictions that limited municipal investments to specific bank types, thereby opening up credit unions as a potential investment vehicle for local governments. Additionally, the bill sets a safety limit requiring that public funds held by any single credit union cannot exceed 25% of that institution's total assets at any given time. These changes directly affect local governments and the credit unions operating within the state by creating new opportunities for public capital deployment while maintaining a cap to ensure financial stability.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Massachusetts Foreclosure Prevention Program designed to help homeowners facing foreclosure by requiring lenders and borrowers to attend supervised mediation conferences. The program applies to loans secured by primary residences, including small rental properties, condominiums, and cooperatives, but excludes government tax or judgment liens. During these conferences, a neutral mediator facilitates a good faith effort between the creditor and borrower to explore sustainable alternatives to foreclosure, such as loan modifications or repayment plans. A key provision mandates that the lender's representative at the conference cannot be the same person representing the lender in any subsequent court foreclosure proceedings. This legislative change aims to establish a structured, non-court process for resolving mortgage disputes before properties are lost.

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 summaryThis bill creates a new section in Massachusetts law to establish a formal mediation program aimed at helping homeowners facing foreclosure explore alternatives to losing their homes. It defines key terms such as "creditor," "mortgagor," and "commercially reasonable alternative" to set the framework for negotiations between lenders and borrowers. The legislation authorizes the Attorney General to select a neutral organization to manage a mediation program staffed by trained mediators who can facilitate discussions about loan modifications and other options. By incorporating specific financial calculations, the bill requires that any alternative to foreclosure be compared against the likely financial recovery from a foreclosure sale to ensure it is in the best interest of all parties. Ultimately, the act seeks to provide a structured process for resolving mortgage disputes before they result in the loss of residential property.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Department of Children and Families to actively identify and apply for federal benefits, such as Supplemental Security Income, on behalf of children in foster care. It mandates that the department manage these funds as a representative payee, ensuring money is used for the child's unmet needs and saved in special accounts to protect eligibility limits. The legislation also establishes strict rules prohibiting the use of these benefits to pay for the child's foster care placement and requires the department to provide regular financial updates to the child and their legal counsel. Additionally, the bill outlines procedures for transitioning these funds to the child or a new payee when the youth ages out of the system or reunifies with their family.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a dedicated PFAS Remediation Trust Fund to help Massachusetts communities address contamination in drinking water, groundwater, soil, and other environmental media. The fund will be financed through recovered amounts from lawsuits or settlements against manufacturers and sellers of PFAS-containing products, along with other designated transfers and donations. Expenditures from the fund will prioritize vulnerable environmental justice populations and can be used to provide grants to municipalities, counties, and health boards for remediation projects, treatment systems, and private well assistance. The law also establishes rules requiring grant recipients to repay the fund if they later recover costs from liable third parties and prohibits funding for projects caused by the applicant's own negligence.