Rep. Mike Finn

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a court-supervised outpatient treatment program for adults (18+) with severe mental illness who are at substantial risk of harm to self or others and unable to meet basic needs due to their condition, and who have a history of treatment non-adherence (including multiple hospitalizations or violent behavior). Authorized individuals - such as doctors, family members, or probation officers - can petition a court for a "critical community mental health service treatment plan," which must include supervision, medication, and assistance with housing, food, and other essentials. The court must determine this outpatient care is the least restrictive alternative before approving the plan, with initial orders limited to 180 days and renewals to 365 days. The program aims to prevent hospitalizations by providing structured community-based support.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HD 4981) proposes removing the reference to a "Board of Appeals" from Agawam's city charter. It requires a voter referendum at the 2025 regular election, asking residents to approve the charter change. If approved, the city must establish a zoning board of appeals under state law (Chapter 40A, Section 12), replacing the current charter reference. The bill directly affects Agawam's local governance structure and requires voter approval for the charter amendment.

Maddy summaryThis bill restructures the governance of the Springfield Water and Sewer Commission by requiring its board of directors to consist of seven members: four appointed by Springfield's mayor (including one required to be a minority appointee per state law) and three appointed by an advisory board. The advisory board, representing seven cities/towns and the Little River watershed area, holds voting power weighted by each municipality's water/sewer service costs. Board members serve six-year terms with staggered expirations, and the commission is formally designated as a state agency under specific Massachusetts laws. The bill directly affects the Commission's leadership structure and oversight but does not change its operational responsibilities.

Maddy summaryHD 4173 (An Act relative to impairment of health caused by infectious disease) creates a legal presumption that health impairments from infectious diseases suffered by correctional facility employees are work-related. It applies to employees who passed a physical exam upon hiring or later, with no pre-existing evidence of the condition. The bill presumes such impairments occurred "in the line of duty" unless the employer provides competent evidence to the contrary. This directly affects correctional facility workers by shifting the burden of proof for work-related injury claims involving infectious diseases.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits most automated sales calls (robocalls) to mobile phones in Massachusetts, directly affecting consumers receiving unsolicited calls and businesses making such calls. It defines "robocall" as automated calls with pre-recorded messages for soliciting products, services, or donations, while allowing exceptions for school communications, work schedule updates, correctional facility notices, government messages, and calls from businesses with a pre-existing customer relationship. Violations can result in $10,000 civil penalties per incident for businesses, and consumers who receive more than one unsolicited call in 12 months may sue for damages or seek injunctions. The law excludes healthcare messages under HIPAA and sets a 5-year limit for filing lawsuits.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance plans sold in Massachusetts to provide clear, standardized information about prescription drug coverage to consumers. It directly affects all health insurance plan members (enrollees) and potential enrollees by mandating that plans: 1) explain what a formulary is and how drugs are included/excluded, 2) post searchable formularies online with real-time updates within 72 hours of changes, and 3) disclose specific cost-sharing details (like co-pays or cost ranges) for each drug. Plans must also list prior authorization rules and show how drugs are covered under deductibles. These requirements apply to all individual and group health plans issued in Massachusetts on or after January 1, 2018.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Massachusetts Children's Alliance as a statewide organization to support children's advocacy centers (CACs) across Massachusetts. It requires CACs to meet specific national accreditation standards, including having multidisciplinary teams (law enforcement, medical, mental health, etc.) that provide coordinated, trauma-informed services to child abuse victims and their families. The Alliance will fund CACs, manage data collection, and ensure centers follow protocols for forensic interviews and victim support to reduce duplication and trauma. These changes directly affect all CACs in the state, ensuring consistent, high-quality responses to child maltreatment cases.

Maddy summaryH 4980 modernizes rules governing relationships between motor vehicle dealers, manufacturers, and distributors in Massachusetts to strengthen consumer protections. It directly affects dealers by limiting manufacturers’ ability to force facility relocations, remodels, or vendor choices without written agreements and fair notice. Key provisions include requiring 60 days’ advance notice for territory changes (with dealer appeal options), prohibiting misuse of dealer customer data (including mandatory indemnification for data breaches), and restricting manufacturers from unreasonably altering dealer facilities or vendor requirements. The law aims to prevent unfair business practices while ensuring dealers can operate without undue pressure from manufacturers.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HD 1904) creates an appeal process for existing Class 1 license holders who believe a new license was improperly granted. It allows a current Class 1 licensee to challenge a licensing board's approval of a new Class 1 license within 10 days, alleging the applicant didn't meet requirements under Section 58. The registrar must decide on the appeal within 30 days, and parties can further appeal to a superior court within 10 days of the registrar's decision. The bill directly affects Class 1 license holders and licensing boards by adding administrative and judicial review steps to license approvals.

By Representative Livingstone of Boston, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Jay D. Livingstone and others relative to ivory and rhinoceros horn trafficking. Environment and Natural Resources.