Rep. Carole Fiola

Maddy summaryHD 3120 requires medical screenings in specific healthcare settings (such as primary care and mental health services) to include questions about gambling habits and frequency, directly affecting patients and healthcare providers conducting these screenings. It establishes a 13-member special commission with state health officials, gambling treatment experts, and representatives from health insurance and gaming organizations to study problem gambling. The commission will assess current research, review screening practices, develop educational materials, and recommend policies to improve prevention, detection, and treatment of gambling addiction. The commission must file annual reports, with the first due by June 30, 2026, and may propose new legislation based on its findings.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Auto Damage Appraiser Licensing Board within Massachusetts' occupational licensure division. The board, consisting of seven members, will directly affect auto damage appraisers, insurance companies, auto body repair shops, and consumers by setting licensing standards. Key provisions include requiring the governor to appoint two industry representatives (auto repair and insurance), the attorney general to appoint a consumer advocate and a neutral office representative, and the licensing commissioner to appoint a chair who cannot represent either industry. The board will handle licensing requirements, with members limited to two consecutive 3-year terms.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the deadline for the House Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies to report on specific House documents (480, 481, 483, 488, 496, 4037, 4238, and 4431) from its original date to Monday, March 16, 2026. It overrides a standard committee deadline rule (House Rule 27) to grant the committee additional time to complete its work on these documents. The bill directly affects the committee by delaying its reporting obligation without altering the underlying documents or policy content.

Maddy summaryHD 245 creates a state-wide pancreatic cancer initiative administered by the Department of Public Health. It establishes a 13-member pancreatic cancer advisory council (including patient advocates and representatives from cancer networks) to develop hospital certification standards, identify underserved areas for improved care access, create a multi-provider consortium for best practices, and develop a standard tissue consent form for research. The bill also mandates a comprehensive study on pancreatic cancer prevalence and patient needs, plus a public education program about genetic risks and symptoms. Additionally, it requires the insurance commissioner to survey genetic testing coverage and the health center to update pancreatic cancer screening benefit reviews by 2026. This bill directly affects pancreatic cancer patients, healthcare providers, and the state's public health infrastructure.

Maddy summaryH 4329 establishes a new legal framework for medical decision-making when patients lack capacity to make their own choices. It creates Chapter 201G defining key terms and setting a priority order for surrogate decision makers (spouse, adult children, parents, siblings), requiring them to submit a written, sworn declaration. The bill specifies criteria for selecting among eligible candidates - such as relationship, familiarity with the patient’s values, and availability - and prohibits certain individuals (like treating physicians or facility staff) from serving as surrogates. Additionally, it amends existing law to allow healthcare agents’ authority to continue for up to six months after a patient’s death with prior written permission.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance plans covering commonwealth employees (under group insurance) and Medicaid enrollees to cover biomarker testing - tests analyzing tissue or blood to identify biological markers for guiding treatment - when supported by medical evidence like FDA approvals, clinical guidelines, or CMS determinations. Insurers must approve or deny prior authorization requests within 72 hours (24 hours in emergencies), with automatic approval if no response is given. The bill also mandates coverage without unnecessary disruptions, such as multiple biopsies, to ensure continuous patient care.

Maddy summaryH 4611 requires public facilities across Massachusetts to provide free disposable menstrual products (like tampons and sanitary napkins) to menstruating individuals. It mandates this in all government-owned buildings, public colleges, shelters, schools, and correctional facilities. Products must be available in accessible restroom locations without stigmatizing the user. The law applies to all entities listed in the bill, including schools, shelters, and jails, ensuring no-cost access in designated areas. It does not cover private businesses or general public spaces outside these specified settings.

Maddy summaryH 2621 creates "Critical Incident Leave" for law enforcement officers who discharge firearms during critical incidents. It directly affects municipal and state police officers who use weapons in active situations. The bill establishes a specific administrative leave process for these officers, ensuring they receive leave without penalty during the investigation period following firearm discharge. This policy change aims to clarify procedures for officers involved in incidents requiring the use of force.

Maddy summaryThis procedural bill extends the deadline for the House Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies to submit its report on House Document 4375. It changes the original reporting deadline to Monday, March 16, 2026, without altering the committee's responsibilities or the document's content. The bill directly affects only the committee's scheduling and process, with no direct impact on public policy or constituents. It passed unanimously on November 26, 2025, after being referred to and adopted by the House Rules Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires hospitals and doctors to obtain written informed consent from patients before performing "concurrent surgical procedures" - where a surgeon leaves the operating room during a procedure to assist with another surgery on a different patient during critical phases. It mandates that for elective surgeries (scheduled 14+ days in advance), patients receive written notice and consent at least 14 days prior, including specific details about which surgical steps the surgeon will perform. For urgent "secondary emergency" surgeries (scheduled 48+ hours in advance), similar written notice and consent must be provided 48 hours in advance. The bill also requires facilities to publish online that they perform such procedures and for the health department to create a standardized consent form in plain language.