Rep. Natalie Higgins

Maddy summaryThis bill requires hospitals in Massachusetts to provide at least one year of advance notice before closing any essential health services. It also mandates that hospitals inform specific groups, including staff, labor unions, and local lawmakers, at least 30 days before submitting their closure notice. The law aims to give communities and workers more time to prepare for significant changes in local healthcare availability.

Maddy summaryThis bill aims to improve safety and standards for home care services in Massachusetts by updating existing laws to better protect both workers and consumers. It directly affects home care agencies, the individuals providing care, and the families receiving those services at home. The legislation introduces new definitions for what constitutes a home care agency and establishes requirements for creating safe working environments. Additionally, it sets forth rules for how these agencies must operate to ensure quality care and accountability.

Maddy summaryThis bill aims to strengthen the legal protections for residents of assisted living facilities in Massachusetts. It requires the Attorney General to create new regulations that safeguard consumer rights against unfair or deceptive practices within these residences. Additionally, the bill mandates that any violations of these new rules will be treated as violations of Chapter 93A, which covers unfair business practices. The legislation also specifies that these regulations must be finalized and issued within one year of the bill becoming law.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the SAVE Students Act, creates a statewide anonymous reporting system for students, staff, and the public to report unsafe or violent activities in Massachusetts schools. The Department of Public Health will establish and manage this program, which must be accessible 24/7 through a mobile app, website, and toll-free phone line, and include a staffed crisis center offering multilingual support. The law requires that the system protect the identity of reporters while allowing them to voluntarily share their information if they choose, and mandates that regulations be developed to ensure the program does not lead to unfair disciplinary actions against students from protected groups.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services to create a mandatory infection control training program for all personal care attendants and home care employees who provide services in a consumer's residence. The law defines home care agencies as organizations that offer paid residential care services, while explicitly excluding government entities, house cleaning services, hospice programs, and adult foster care facilities. To ensure broad access, the state must contract with labor-management training funds, community colleges, and other qualified organizations to deliver the training within 180 days of the bill's passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services to create a no-interest, forgivable loan program specifically for nursing facilities. The funds are intended to support three main areas: developing specialized care units for conditions like dementia and infectious diseases, covering costs for essential infrastructure upgrades such as HVAC systems and elevators, and financing innovative projects that reduce bed capacity to better match resident needs. By offering these loans, the legislation aims to help facilities modernize their infrastructure and adapt their services to provide more personalized care for older adults.

By Representative Walsh of Peabody, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3251) of Thomas P. Walsh and others relative to investments in tourism and visitation marketing and promotion. Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires every public school district in Massachusetts to create and maintain a comprehensive school counseling program for all students from pre-kindergarten through grade twelve. Under the new rules, districts must hire licensed school counselors who dedicate at least eighty percent of their time to direct or indirect services for students. Additionally, the law mandates a specific staffing ratio of one counselor for every two hundred fifty students to ensure equitable access across all districts.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public schools in Massachusetts to teach mental health education as a mandatory subject for all students across every grade level. The law mandates that these programs address the connection between physical and mental health to improve student well-being and dignity. Additionally, the bill updates criteria for approving private schools, ensuring they include mental health education in their curriculum to receive official recognition. These changes aim to integrate mental health awareness into the standard educational experience for both public and private school students.

March , 2024 -- The committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure, to whom was referred the petitions (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 176) of Anne M. Gobi, Deborah B. Goldberg, Treasurer and Receiver General and Lindsay N. Sabadosa for legislation to modernize the Massachusetts alcohol laws; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 177) of Anne M. Gobi and Patrick M. O'Connor for legislation to extend pandemic-related relief for dining establishments; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 221) of John C. Velis for legislation to promote economic recovery for restaurants and bars; (accompanied by bill, House, No. 295) of Paul K. Frost relative to providing for permanent alcoholic beverage takeout​​; (accompanied by bill, House, No. 299) of William C. Galvin and Natalie M. Higgins for legislation to extend pandemic related relief for dining establishments to allow cocktails-to-go; (accompanied by bill, House, No. 302) of Denise C. Garlick relative to extending pandemic-related relief for dining establishments by allowing for the delivery of certain alcoholic beverages; (accompanied by bill, House, No. 365) of Joseph W. McGonagle, Jr., relative to extending pandemic-related relief for dining establishments by allowing for the delivery of certain alcoholic beverages; and (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3782) of Mike Connolly relative to the sale of food and alcoholic beverages by restaurants and bars and for the establishment of a special commission (including members of the General Court) of the promotion and discounted sale of alcoholic beverages, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2628).