Rep. Pat Duffy

Maddy summaryHD 451 waives the business formation fee and annual report filing fee for veteran-owned businesses in Massachusetts. To qualify, veterans must provide acceptable proof of their veteran status to the Secretary of State. The bill applies to businesses where at least one owner is a veteran as defined by state law. This policy change directly reduces two specific administrative costs for veterans starting or maintaining a business in the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to prohibit the manufacture, sale, and operation of robotic devices equipped with weapons, while allowing exceptions for law enforcement, the military, and specific testing or educational uses. It establishes strict penalties for violating these rules, including mandatory prison sentences without the possibility of probation or parole, and criminalizes using such robots to threaten, harass, or physically restrain individuals. Additionally, the legislation requires law enforcement agencies to obtain a warrant before deploying armed robots on private property or for surveillance, mandates quarterly public reporting on their use, and grants individuals the right to sue for damages if the law is violated.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the City of Holyoke Charter to clarify how vacancies in the Mayor's office are handled. It removes references to the city treasurer and establishes specific rules for filling these gaps, such as requiring a new election if the vacancy occurs more than six months before the municipal year ends. If the vacancy happens within the final six months, the city council has the discretion to either call a new election or fill the seat directly. The changes take effect immediately upon passing.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Holyoke City Charter to establish a two-year residency requirement for anyone seeking elected office in the city. Under the new rule, candidates must be U.S. citizens and have lived in Holyoke for at least two years before they are eligible to run for any elected position. The change takes effect immediately upon passage and applies to all future elections, ensuring that only long-term residents can hold public office.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Holyoke's city charter to clarify when an elected or appointed office becomes vacant. It specifies that a vacancy occurs if an official stops living in the city or is convicted of a crime that could lead to imprisonment. The changes apply to all positions established under the city's current laws and take effect immediately upon passing.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the manufacture, sale, or operation of robotic devices (like drones) equipped with weapons (e.g., guns, lasers, explosives), with penalties including mandatory minimum prison sentences. It also bans using robots to threaten, harass, or physically restrain people. Key exemptions include military/defense uses (Department of Defense, National Guard, defense contractors under specific waivers) and law enforcement actions for bomb disposal, property destruction in emergencies, or training. The bill requires law enforcement to obtain warrants for robot deployments on private property or for surveillance, document all uses quarterly, and report publicly. It also allows civil lawsuits for violations and mandates public reporting of law enforcement robot usage.

Maddy summaryHD 553 allows municipal light boards (local utility boards) to provide infrastructure services like pole installation and equipment maintenance to other public utilities - including state, tribal, or municipal utilities - both inside and outside Massachusetts. It permits these boards to sell, rent, or lease related equipment and ensures employees working on such projects have the same labor rights as if performing duties within their home municipality. The bill modifies existing laws to explicitly include tribal utilities (as defined under federal regulations) and expands the scope of services municipal light plants can offer beyond their own service areas. This directly affects municipal light boards, tribal utilities, and other public utility entities seeking infrastructure partnerships.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HD 3581) allows licensed physician assistants to authorize psychiatric holds in Massachusetts, expanding their existing authority under Chapter 123 of the General Laws. It directly affects physician assistants working in mental health settings by permitting them to initiate involuntary psychiatric holds for individuals in crisis. Key provisions require physician assistants to complete 3 hours of specialized mental health evaluation training developed by the Department of Mental Health before authorizing such holds. The bill amends specific sections of the law to explicitly include "physician assistant" alongside "physician" in relevant provisions. This is a policy change to clarify and expand the scope of practice for physician assistants in mental health emergencies.

By Representative Duffy of Holyoke, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1499) of Patricia A. Duffy relative to standards for group homes. Housing.

Maddy summaryHD 3816, the "Safe Communities Act," prohibits Massachusetts law enforcement from asking about immigration status during routine interactions (except when legally required) and restricts cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. It requires written consent with clear explanations in multiple languages before DHS interviews of people in custody, and bans automatic notifications to DHS about individuals' release from custody (except for end-of-sentence releases). The law also prohibits police from acting as immigration officers under federal agreements and mandates training for law enforcement on these provisions. These changes directly affect all Massachusetts residents, especially immigrant communities, and apply to state/local police, sheriffs, and correctional facilities.