Rep. Pat Duffy

Maddy summaryThis bill gives tenants in multi-unit rental properties the first right to purchase their building if the owner sells due to foreclosure, short sale, or similar circumstances. It requires tenants to form a Tenant Association (representing at least 51% of occupied units) to exercise this right, with the property then becoming Long-Term Affordable Housing (requiring 30+ years of affordability restrictions for low-income households). Municipalities must adopt this local option for it to apply, and the purchase must be structured through a Tenant Association or its designated entity to ensure the property remains affordable. The bill specifically excludes single-family homes occupied by owners and certain housing types like shelters or temporary dwellings.

Maddy summaryHD 1043 establishes Massachusetts' Farm to School Program to connect schools with local food producers. It directly affects K-12 schools and licensed childcare programs participating in federal meal programs (National School Lunch Program or Child and Adult Care Feeding Program) across Massachusetts. The bill creates two key mechanisms: (1) a grant program funding kitchen equipment, staff training, and food literacy curriculum, and (2) a reimbursement incentive that pays schools $1 for every $2 spent on Massachusetts-grown food or $1 for every $3 on New England/New York regional food. The program also sets up an advisory committee and a dedicated fund to manage grants and ensure equitable access for schools and socially disadvantaged producers.

Maddy summaryHD 1353 increases monthly benefits for low-income households receiving state assistance programs. It mandates a 20% annual benefit increase starting July 1, 2025, until payments reach 50% of the federal poverty level for each household size. Once this target is met, benefits will automatically adjust each July to maintain at least 50% of the federal poverty level. The bill also includes adjustments for clothing allowances and rental costs for eligible households. This directly affects low-income families relying on these state assistance programs.

Maddy summaryHD 2507 requires health insurance plans in Massachusetts to cover at least six sessions of preventive behavioral health services for children under 21 who screen positive for emotional concerns like anxiety or depression, or for infants whose caregivers screen positive for postpartum depression. These services - such as short-term group, individual, or family counseling to build coping skills - must be covered without prior authorization or patient cost-sharing, except for tax-exempt plans that would lose status. The bill applies to all state employee plans, individual/group health insurance policies, and medical service agreements, mandating insurers to accept Social Determinants of Health Z-codes for billing these preventive services. It directly affects children, adolescents, and their caregivers by ensuring accessible, low-barrier mental wellness support before conditions escalate.

Maddy summaryHD 2988 requires health insurance plans in Massachusetts to cover post-pregnancy mental health care - encompassing both postpartum and post-miscarriage care - without any deductibles, copayments, or cost-sharing. It applies directly to insured individuals and their covered spouses or dependents, ensuring equal access to this care as part of existing postpartum coverage requirements. The bill mandates that insurers provide this coverage without unreasonable delays or restrictions, aligning with existing health care laws. These changes apply to multiple sections of Massachusetts General Laws governing health insurance plans and Medicaid.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the state to cover health insurance premiums for qualifying adjunct faculty at public higher education institutions. It defines eligible faculty as those teaching at least two 3-credit courses per semester (or four annually), regardless of funding source or employment term. The state will gradually increase its share of premium costs over five years, starting at 25% in the first year and reaching 75% by the sixth year. A working group must study adjunct faculty retirement benefits, compensation, and career pathways, reporting findings by December 2026. The bill directly affects adjunct faculty at state universities, community colleges, and UMass campuses.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Faculty Restoration and Equity Fund to require public colleges in the state to: (1) ensure at least 75% of undergraduate courses are taught by full-time faculty, (2) maintain at least 75% full-time support staff in departments, and (3) provide part-time and non-tenure track faculty with pay and benefits equal to full-time faculty. It also amends retirement laws to grant part-time faculty teaching four or more courses yearly full retirement credit, equal pay on a pro-rata basis, and formal processes for assignment priority and tenure-track consideration. The fund prioritizes institutions with high reliance on part-time faculty, and all provisions are subject to collective bargaining. The bill directly affects public higher education institutions and their part-time/non-tenure track faculty.

Maddy summaryHD 1090 creates a new dental therapist license to expand access to preventive dental care, particularly for underserved groups including children, elderly patients, and residents in areas with limited dental services. Dental therapists must complete accredited education, pass a clinical exam, and work under a collaborative agreement with a supervising dentist to provide services like preventive care and administer non-narcotic medications. Public schools are required to notify parents about oral health screenings and connect them with affordable care resources through standardized notices. The bill also updates reimbursement rules for dental therapists and directs the dental director to support recruitment of providers focusing on underserved populations.

Maddy summaryHD 4087 creates a PFAS Remediation Trust Fund to address contamination from harmful chemicals (PFAS) in Massachusetts drinking water and environmental media. The fund, financed by settlements with PFAS manufacturers and other sources like grants and donations, will cover costs for public water systems, private well owners, municipalities, and regional water systems to test, treat, and remediate PFAS in water, soil, and groundwater. The Department of Environmental Protection will administer the fund, prioritizing vulnerable communities and requiring applicants to disclose any third-party payments to avoid duplicate funding. The fund operates without annual appropriation, with leftover balances carrying over to future years to ensure sustained support for PFAS cleanup efforts.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a state-funded "Vacant Lots to Urban Agriculture Fund" managed by the Department of Agricultural Resources to convert vacant urban properties into farms and community gardens. The fund supports land acquisition, infrastructure development, and startup costs for projects prioritizing environmental justice communities - areas defined by Chapter 30 - to boost food security, economic development, and climate-resilient farming. Grants will cover collaborative planning, land purchases, renovations, and pilot programs in underserved neighborhoods. The department must report annually on grant recipients, funding amounts, and projects serving environmental justice areas.