Rep. Russell Holmes

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new "accomplice murder" category (M.G.L. Ch. 274 § 2A) for people convicted of murder under a "joint venture" theory who aided in a killing but weren't the principal perpetrator. It directly affects incarcerated individuals convicted of first or second-degree murder under this theory, allowing them to petition courts for resentencing. Key mechanisms include requiring prosecutors to notify eligible individuals within 90 days, establishing a petition process with court hearings, and shifting the burden of proof to prosecutors to show ineligibility. The bill also mandates annual reporting to the judiciary on petition outcomes, including demographic data and sentencing results.

Maddy summaryHD 975 changes the fees charged for serving civil legal documents in Massachusetts. It sets a $30 fee for serving most initial court documents (like summonses or subpoenas) either by reading them aloud or leaving a copy, and a $45 fee for divorce-related documents or other hand-served papers. This directly affects defendants receiving legal notices, court staff processing filings, and process servers who deliver these documents. The bill modifies existing fee schedules in Chapter 262 of Massachusetts General Laws without altering substantive legal procedures.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HD 2996) regulates excessive fees in rental housing by limiting upfront costs landlords can charge tenants. It prohibits fees for "holding over" after lease expiration, lease renewals, or substitutions, and bans mandatory charges for amenities like internet or insurance. Landlords must disclose optional fees clearly (including cost and cancellation options) and cannot force electronic payments or charge for not using them. Violations require landlords to pay tenants 3x the excess fee plus legal costs. The bill directly affects tenants and landlords in Massachusetts rental agreements.

Maddy summaryHD 819 redefines "Transformational Youth" as individuals under 21 convicted of certain violent crimes (first/second-degree murder or specific manslaughter) who received life sentences. It ends mandatory lifetime parole for this group by requiring the Parole Board to issue a sentence termination certificate after three years of lawful parole. The law applies retroactively to those already serving life sentences under these conditions, counting prior parole time toward the three-year requirement. It mandates specific timelines for parole officers and the Parole Board to process terminations and notify victims, sentencing judges, and correctional authorities. This directly affects people currently incarcerated under these specific sentencing scenarios.

Maddy summaryThis bill raises the age limit for certain juvenile court proceedings from 18 to 19 years old. It specifically affects juveniles aged 16-19 convicted of first or second-degree murder under Chapter 265, requiring courts to consider their maturity and rehabilitation for parole eligibility after serving minimum sentences (15 years for second-degree murder). The bill mandates separate housing in youthful offender units for under-18 inmates, prohibits limiting access to rehabilitation programs (like education or vocational training), and establishes new procedures for evaluating a juvenile's legal competence to stand trial. These changes apply to all murder cases involving juveniles under 19.

Maddy summaryHD 1686 restores a furlough program for incarcerated individuals in Massachusetts, allowing temporary releases from state correctional facilities for specific, time-limited purposes. The program permits up to 14 days of absence per year (with no more than 7 days at one time) for reasons such as attending a relative's funeral, visiting a critically ill family member, accessing medical care, or preparing for release through housing or job searches. Most incarcerated people are eligible, but those serving life sentences or convicted of certain violent offenses require approval from facility leadership and the commissioner. The correctional facility covers all costs, and the time away counts toward the individual's sentence, maintaining custody during the furlough.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HD 1682, "An Act for second look") allows incarcerated individuals who were under 25 at the time of their offense to petition for sentence reductions after serving 10 years (15 years if the offense involved loss of life), or those aged 26+ after 12 years (18 years for loss of life). The Department of Corrections must notify eligible individuals at 9 and 14 years of incarceration, and petitions require specific documentation proving eligibility, including medical conditions like dementia or HIV that may expedite hearings. Courts must deny petitions with clear reasoning, restrict re-filing to 2-5 years after denial, and appoint counsel if requested. It directly affects incarcerated people meeting age and time criteria, with no waiver of eligibility allowed.

Maddy summaryThe bill text for HD 1751 ("An Act to reform the parole board") is incomplete, as it only states "DRAFT BEING WORKED ON BY HOUSE COUNSEL" with no substantive provisions described. Without access to the actual content of the proposed reforms, key details about who would be affected, specific mechanisms, or policy changes cannot be determined. The draft status indicates it is still under development and not yet finalized. Therefore, a factual summary of this bill's provisions cannot be provided at this time.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HD 3632) updates Massachusetts laws to replace all references to "18" with "the age of criminal majority" across multiple statutes. It directly affects youth involved in the juvenile justice system, particularly regarding probation periods, delinquency definitions, and youthful offender classifications. The key mechanism standardizes legal references to a defined "age of criminal majority" instead of a fixed age, allowing future adjustments to the actual age threshold through separate legislation. This change applies to sections covering probation terms (e.g., extending probation beyond age 18), definitions of "delinquent child," and youthful offender status. The bill does not set a specific new age but creates a flexible legal term for future policy changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Massachusetts agencies to collect and report standardized data on juveniles' interactions with law enforcement and the juvenile justice system. It directs the Child Advocate to annually gather statistics on key decision points (like arrests, referrals to diversion, or court outcomes) and demographic details - including age, gender identity, race, and ethnicity - from police, courts, and child welfare agencies. Agencies must provide this data quarterly if requested, with specific formatting to allow analysis by demographic groups. The report must be made public and shared with state leadership, courts, and committees. This directly affects law enforcement, courts, and child welfare agencies responsible for juvenile justice data.