Rep. Priscila Sousa

Maddy summaryThis bill requires pharmacies, health clinics, hospitals, and nursing homes to participate in sharps disposal programs for hypodermic needles and lancets. It expands the existing program by mandating that all facilities selling or distributing these items must be included, replacing previous language about "medical facilities, pharmacies, and municipal facilities" with "participating facilities." The bill removes outdated references to establishing sharps collection centers, streamlining the program's requirements. This directly affects healthcare providers and pharmacies that handle these medical waste items.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a state-funded program to provide pay incentives for police officers in Massachusetts cities and towns who speak languages commonly used by residents in their communities. It requires officers to meet a language proficiency standard (like the Massachusetts State Seal of Biliteracy) as verified by their department chief. Local governments can offer these incentives, and the state will reimburse them 50% of the costs for qualifying officers, based on annual documentation submitted to the Municipal Police Training Committee. The program directly affects bilingual police officers and their local departments, aiming to recognize language skills that support community engagement.

Maddy summaryHD 1912 creates an exception to certain consumer protection rules for online car sales. It applies when a licensed dealer sells a new or used vehicle and the buyer signs an electronic contract away from the dealership, but only if the seller provides written notice at the time of sale that the exception applies. This directly affects buyers and dealers conducting off-site electronic vehicle transactions. The bill does not change existing protections for in-person sales or other transaction types.

Maddy summaryHD 2192 establishes the Open Educational Resource (OER) Trust Fund to reduce college costs for students at Massachusetts public institutions of higher education. The bill creates a dedicated fund to develop, distribute, and promote free or low-cost course materials (like textbooks and digital resources) instead of expensive commercial textbooks. Public colleges must use these materials in eligible courses, and the fund supports faculty training, technical assistance, and competitive grants for institutions to implement OER. The law requires annual public reporting on fund usage, savings for students, and grant outcomes. This directly affects students facing textbook cost burdens and public colleges implementing OER programs.

Maddy summaryHD 2194 establishes a special commission to study how electronic textbooks impact students in Massachusetts colleges and universities, focusing on costs, access, and consumer choice. The commission will examine specific issues like restrictions on resale and sharing, single-user access models, and how institutional incentives affect student options. It will include 12 members representing students, libraries, faculty, the textbook industry, and financial aid offices. The commission must complete its study and submit recommendations to lawmakers within 18 months. This resolution aims to inform future policy on textbook affordability without changing current laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Massachusetts state agencies to conduct a comprehensive assessment of postsecondary education programs in correctional facilities. It mandates evaluating current program access (including Pell Grant use), unmet demand among incarcerated people, facility infrastructure needs, and policy barriers like classification rules or transfer practices. The assessment will gather input from incarcerated students, higher education providers, and relevant state agencies to identify improvements needed for expanding high-quality, workforce-aligned education. The findings must be reported to the legislature by January 1, 2026, to guide future program expansion and coordination.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all children under 18 to attend school until high school graduation (amending attendance laws), repeals an outdated 1965 law, and creates a 3-year pilot program for school districts with high dropout rates. The pilot provides competitive grants to fund targeted dropout prevention strategies, including alternative education programs, graduation coaches, outreach to students who have dropped out, and support for pregnant or parenting students. Participating districts must track student progress toward diplomas or GEDs and submit annual reports to the education committee. The program will begin September 1, 2025, with a final evaluation recommending whether to expand, maintain, or end the initiative. It directly affects high school students at risk of dropping out, especially in districts above the state average for dropouts.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new pathway for individuals to become school bus drivers without holding a full Commercial Driver's License (CDL) upfront. It allows people without a CDL to take the written exam solely for school bus operation, exempting them from questions about vehicle maintenance and inspections. The resulting license would only permit operating school buses, requiring a full CDL exam for other commercial vehicles. School districts, as the vehicle owners, would be responsible for ensuring all school bus maintenance and inspections are properly conducted.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes clear requirements for addressing pest infestations in rental housing. Tenants must provide written notice of infestations and allow landlords or licensed pest control professionals access (with 24-hour notice) to inspect and treat the unit. Landlords must inspect within 5 business days of notice, hire a certified pest control professional within 10 days, and complete treatments until the infestation is controlled, with a final inspection required 30 days after treatment. Landlords cannot be held liable for infestations if they comply with these steps, and they must verify units are pest-free before leasing new tenants.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires licensed hospitals to maintain all services listed in their license. If a hospital must pause or divert patient services on three or more occasions in a single year due to inability to provide required services, the state health department must hold a public hearing in that community. The department then has the sole discretion to consider corrective actions, including revoking the hospital's license. This directly affects hospitals that repeatedly fail to meet their licensed service requirements. The law creates a specific process for addressing recurring service disruptions at healthcare facilities.