Rep. Russell Holmes

Maddy summaryThis bill renames a specific road in Boston from "American Legion Highway" to "American Legion Parkway." The road connects Hyde Park Avenue to Blue Hill Avenue, and the city of Boston must install new signage with the updated name. The change takes immediate effect upon the bill's passage, with no additional requirements or funding specified. This is a purely administrative renaming with no substantive policy impact.

By Ms. Kennedy, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 252) of Robyn K. Kennedy, Russell E. Holmes, Patricia D. Jehlen, Paul W. Mark and other members of the General Court for legislation to establish the social work licensure compact. Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires cities and towns with less than 10% multi-family housing to designate at least 1.5% of their "calculable developable land" (land suitable for housing, excluding protected areas like wetlands and public parks) for multi-family zoning. It mandates that these zones allow apartment or condo developments at a minimum density of 20 units per acre without special approval. The bill also streamlines approval for "open space residential" projects and creates a commission to study income limits for affordable housing, with a 2026 deadline for towns to identify developable land. It affects all Massachusetts municipalities and aims to expand housing options by clarifying land use rules.

Maddy summaryHD 808 requires cities and towns to allow multifamily housing (apartments or condos with more than three units) by right in specific zones covering at least 1.5% of developable land, with a minimum density of 20 units per acre. It removes barriers to open-space residential development by permitting it without special approval, streamlining planning board review for such projects. The bill also establishes standardized site plan review procedures for multifamily developments, requiring simple majority approval and setting clear timelines (90 days) for decisions. This directly affects local zoning laws and developers seeking to build multifamily housing without lengthy permitting processes.

Maddy summaryHD 3502 requires health care employers (including hospitals, teaching hospitals, certain correctional facilities, and other specific health care settings) to create and maintain workplace violence prevention programs. Each year, employers must conduct risk assessments with employee input, develop written prevention plans covering training and reporting systems, designate a senior manager for crisis response, and submit annual incident reports to the state. The law prohibits retaliation against employees who report safety concerns and imposes fines of up to $2,000 per violation for non-compliance. These programs aim to protect employees, emergency medical personnel, and others working in health care facilities from violence risks.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Massachusetts to address air pollution in communities disproportionately affected by outdoor air pollution. It creates a technical advisory committee to identify pollution "hotspots" near highways, industrial areas, and transportation hubs, and mandates new air monitoring for pollutants like black carbon and ultrafine particles. By 2030, the state must reduce pollution levels in these hotspots by 50% compared to 2026 baselines, with a 75% reduction target by 2035. The bill also requires high-efficiency air filtration systems in specific buildings within 200 meters of pollution sources - including public housing, schools, colleges, and large commercial buildings - to improve indoor air quality for residents and workers.

By Ms. Edwards, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 224) of Lydia Edwards, William N. Brownsberger, Cindy F. Friedman and Mike Connolly for legislation to eliminate forced real estate broker's fees. Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits auction dealers with special license plates (under sections 58 or 59A of the General Laws) from parking or storing vehicles displaying those plates on public streets where residential homes are located. It applies to any dealer, agent, or person possessing such plates, regardless of whether they live there or if no one resides there. Violations would result in fines under section 69 of the General Laws. The law directly affects auto auction businesses and their vehicle storage practices on residential streets.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a Massachusetts Foreclosure Prevention Program requiring creditors to offer supervised conferences before proceeding with foreclosure on primary residence mortgages. It directly affects homeowners facing foreclosure (including those at risk of default) and their creditors, such as banks or mortgage servicers. The key mechanism mandates that creditors engage in good faith efforts to find alternatives to foreclosure - like modified payments - through a conference process facilitated by trained monitors (e.g., retired judges or housing experts). The program requires creditors to notify a state administrator when sending foreclosure notices, provides borrowers 30 days to request a conference, and issues a "certificate of compliance" if creditors follow the process. This creates a structured, pre-foreclosure step to help homeowners retain their homes while reducing creditor losses.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes Massachusetts' Rental Assistance and Financial Stability Program to support low-income renters receiving government housing aid (like vouchers or HomeBASE). It requires housing centers to help participants manage finances, set budgets, and make direct rent/utility payments through dedicated accounts, while connecting them to healthcare, food programs, and financial counseling. The program includes an online platform for account management and mandates eviction court referrals for eligible tenants. Agencies must track outcomes and report annually to lawmakers, with full implementation required by September 2026. The program directly affects households at risk of eviction who receive state rental assistance.