Rep. Mike Finn

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to clarify definitions and restrictions regarding robocalls, specifically targeting automated calls used for sales, contests, or charitable donations. It explicitly prohibits all robocalls to mobile phones, including those used hands-free, while allowing exceptions for informational calls from businesses with a prior relationship and specific government or school messages. The legislation empowers the Attorney General to investigate violations and imposes civil penalties of at least $10,000 per knowing offense, with higher minimum fines for calls targeting seniors aged 65 and older. Additionally, it grants consumers the right to sue for damages or injunctive relief if they receive more than one unsolicited robocall from the same entity within a year.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits stores licensed to sell alcohol from using automated or self-checkout machines for such transactions. It requires that all in-store alcohol sales occur through direct, face-to-face interactions between the customer and either the store owner or an employee who is at least 18 years old. The law directly affects liquor and grocery store licensees in Massachusetts by mandating human verification at the point of sale. This change aims to prevent illegal alcohol sales by ensuring a person checks the customer's age before completing the transaction.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to increase the minimum required auto insurance limits for drivers in Massachusetts. It would raise the minimum bodily injury coverage from $20,000 per person to $50,000 and from $40,000 per accident to $100,000. Additionally, the minimum property damage coverage would increase from $5,000 to $30,000. These changes would directly affect all drivers in the state who currently purchase the standard minimum liability insurance.

Maddy summaryThis bill raises the state's minimum required auto insurance coverage for bodily injury from $5,000 to $25,000, directly affecting all Massachusetts drivers who must carry liability insurance. The change takes effect on January 1, 2025, and also mandates that the insurance commissioner conduct a study every ten years to review whether these limits remain adequate while considering their impact on insurance premiums. The study will compare Massachusetts' limits with other states and include input from insurance industry representatives before the commissioner submits findings and potential future legislation to the legislature by July 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Massachusetts education certification rules to benefit veterans seeking to become teachers. It directly affects current and former military members who wish to obtain provisional educator status or advanced standing certification. Under the new provision, these veterans would receive an automatic five-point bonus added to their standardized test scores. This adjustment aims to provide a scoring advantage to help veterans meet the requirements for teacher certification.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Massachusetts laws to provide financial compensation to employees injured by acts of violence while on duty. It specifically covers healthcare workers harmed by patients or prisoners, court officers injured in courtrooms, and correctional staff hurt during normal or off-site duties. The key provision ensures these workers receive the difference between their regular salary and standard workers' compensation benefits without using their sick leave credits, even for short absences. Additionally, the law establishes a presumption that correctional employees injured in these situations are eligible for workers' compensation benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill aims to increase access to dental care for MassHealth enrollees by offering financial incentives to participating dentists and public health dental hygienists. Under the new provisions, eligible providers located in specific municipalities with high numbers of MassHealth members and low dental service usage will receive an additional payment of $31 for each patient encounter. To qualify for these supplemental payments, providers must be licensed in Massachusetts, enrolled with MassHealth, and located in areas designated by the Secretary of Health and Human Services as having significant unmet dental needs. The legislation requires the department to create regulations defining which municipalities are eligible based on historical enrollment and utilization data.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Massachusetts executive office to provide an additional monthly payment of 5% to eligible hospitals based on their previous year's Medicaid revenue. These payments are designed to supplement existing funds without reducing current benefits and are not included in future calculations for hospital funding. To qualify, a hospital must be a non-profit or municipal acute care facility with a low relative price, a high percentage of public payers, and it cannot be owned by a large corporate provider organization. The legislation also allows the state to set conditions to ensure federal funding can be applied to these payments and authorizes the creation of necessary regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires insurance companies and Medicaid providers in Massachusetts to cover medical, behavioral, and health services delivered by approved mobile integrated health programs without discrimination. It mandates that these services be treated the same as those provided in traditional healthcare facilities, ensuring that payment rates are not lowered and that any deductibles, copayments, or coinsurance fees do not exceed those for facility-based care. Additionally, the legislation exempts mobile integrated health programs focused on behavioral health from application and registration fees. By updating several state laws, the bill aims to expand access to care by ensuring that patients receiving services through mobile teams face the same coverage conditions as those receiving care in standard settings.