Rep. Carole Fiola

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Massachusetts state-licensed driving schools to offer virtual instructor-led driver education programs under specific conditions. It directly affects driving schools seeking to provide virtual courses, requiring them to: (1) maintain physical offices/classrooms in Massachusetts, (2) have operated for at least three consecutive years in the state, and (3) be in good standing with the Registry of Motor Vehicles. The key mechanism is adding these requirements to the law governing when the state registrar may approve such virtual curricula. This change expands virtual learning options for driver education while maintaining in-person presence and school accountability standards.

By Representative Fiola of Fall River and Senator Rodrigues, a joint petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Carole A. Fiola relative to survivors and holders of abuse or harassment prevention orders. The Judiciary.

Maddy summaryHD 362 amends Chapter 6E of the General Laws to require a de novo review (a fresh, full review from the start) for appeals related to Commission decisions that suspend licenses for over two weeks or result in decertification. This change directly affects individuals or entities facing such penalties, as their appeals will now undergo a new evaluation instead of relying solely on the original decision. The key provision modifies the CH.30A appeal process to ensure these specific cases are reconsidered independently. The bill focuses on procedural due process for license-related disciplinary actions.

Maddy summaryHD 405 establishes a 11-member special commission to study the organizational structure and effectiveness of Massachusetts' Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS). The commission will evaluate current staffing, administrative processes, and whether dividing EOHHS into smaller agencies would improve service delivery. Members include the health and human services secretary, legislative appointees, and experts in public health, private healthcare, and social services administration. The commission must submit findings and recommendations to legislative committees by October 1, 2026. This bill does not make policy changes but directs a review of EOHHS' operational structure.

Maddy summaryThis bill defines "dry needling" as a specific technique for treating myofascial pain using sterile needles without other modalities or acupuncture theory. It requires licensed health care professionals who practice dry needling to complete two years of post-graduate experience, 500 didactic and 150 clinical training hours, pass a third-party exam, and obtain advanced orthopedic certification. Practitioners must also document treatments in medical records, secure patient consent, report adverse events, and maintain malpractice insurance covering acupuncture. The Department of Public Health will establish rules to implement these standards for safer practice.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates the "Honor and Remember" flag as a symbol representing Massachusetts' commitment to honoring U.S. military members who died in service or from service-related causes, and their families. It specifies the flag's symbolism (e.g., red for blood shed, blue star for active service) and requires it to be displayed below the American flag on shared poles, never larger than the American flag. The bill lists eight specific days for optional display, including Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and National POW/MIA Recognition Day. Crucially, it clarifies that the bill is not a mandate - individuals, organizations, or government entities are not required to purchase or display the flag.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Massachusetts municipal zoning rules for housing. It changes the threshold requiring towns to allow more housing units: municipalities where low/moderate income housing (per Chapter 40B) is below 10% of total units must now permit additional housing, removing a previous barrier. The bill also gives towns flexibility on accessory dwelling units (ADUs), allowing them to decide whether owner occupancy is required and how many extra parking spaces are needed for ADUs. These changes directly affect towns below the 10% housing threshold and their zoning regulations for new housing projects.

Maddy summaryHD 3295 requires insurance payers to respond to healthcare providers' prior authorization requests within 24 hours, instead of the previous 2 business days. It prohibits payers from using appeals processes or administrative delays to postpone responses once a request is complete. The state health division will conduct audits to verify that payers comply with these new response time requirements. This bill directly affects healthcare providers seeking timely approvals for patient care and the insurance companies handling those requests.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance carriers to reimburse healthcare providers 65% of unpaid patient co-pays, co-insurance, and deductibles after providers make documented reasonable collection efforts (e.g., 120+ days of contact attempts). It directly affects healthcare providers who struggle to collect these patient payments, particularly for claims over $250 per unique service. Providers must submit annual aggregated requests by May 1 with documentation of collection efforts, and carriers must pay within 120 days of receiving valid submissions. The law aims to reduce provider financial strain from uncollected patient costs while referencing CMS guidelines for collection standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires property owners and lessees to submit certain property valuation forms electronically through their local board of assessors, using the format and method prescribed by the board. It applies to filings related to forms under sections 5, 5C, 29, 38D, 38F, 59, and 61A of Chapter 59. Failure to use the board’s specified electronic method is treated as if the filing was never submitted. The bill also mandates that any information requests from assessors under these sections must follow the same electronic requirements.