By Representative Rogers of Cambridge and Senator Brownsberger, a joint petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of David M. Rogers, William N. Brownsberger and others relative to consumer connected devices. Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure.
Maddy summaryThis bill allows the Fall River City Council to change election polling locations up to 20 days before an election if doing so improves public convenience or health. The law permits placing voters from different precincts in the same location and requires the council to assess whether such changes negatively affect access based on race, disability, income, or age. Before finalizing any changes, the council must publish an evaluation report online and at the City Clerk's office three days in advance. Additionally, the bill mandates that no alcohol be served or consumed in the parts of buildings used as polling places during voting or ballot counting hours. Finally, the Board of Registrars must notify voters of these new locations using electronic methods like email or reverse 911 calls where possible.
By Representative Meschino of Hull and Senator O'Connor, a joint petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Joan Meschino and Patrick M. O'Connor for legislation to designate the American lobster as the official crustacean of the Commonwealth. State Administration and Regulatory Oversight.
Maddy summaryHD 3390 modifies Massachusetts tax law to address income from foreign entities. It specifies that amounts included in federal income under Section 951A of the IRS Code (related to global intangible low-taxed income) will no longer be treated as dividends for state tax purposes, and taxpayers can only deduct 50% of this income instead of the full amount. This primarily affects businesses and individuals with foreign income subject to Section 951A provisions. The changes apply to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2025.
Maddy summaryH 4346 requires pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) and insurers to follow specific rules for setting maximum allowable costs (MACs) for prescription drugs. Drugs must have available therapeutic equivalents to be listed on MACs, and PBMs must remove them if they no longer meet criteria within 3 business days. The bill mandates transparency by requiring PBMs to share MAC sources, costs, and lists with pharmacies, and creates an appeal process for pharmacies to challenge low MACs, with retroactive payment adjustments if appeals succeed. It also prohibits retroactive discounts and requires MassHealth to reimburse pharmacies at the rate specified in the state’s pharmacy provider manual.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) to obtain a license from the Massachusetts insurance commissioner before providing drug pricing services. It establishes rules for how PBMs set reimbursement rates for prescription drugs ("Maximum Allowable Cost" or MAC), requiring them to update these rates every 7 days and base them on FDA-approved drug lists. PBMs must also provide transparent pricing information to hospitals and insurers about the difference between what they pay pharmacies and what they bill covered entities. Pharmacies can appeal low reimbursement rates under a standardized process, and PBMs must respond to appeals within 10 business days. The law directly affects PBMs, hospitals, insurers, and employers offering health coverage in Massachusetts.
Maddy summaryThis bill changes when veterans' disability benefits begin. It sets the effective date to the day after a veteran's discharge if they apply within one year of leaving service. This directly affects veterans who file for disability compensation soon after their military separation, ensuring they receive benefits starting immediately after discharge rather than from the application date. The key mechanism is modifying the timing rule in existing law to provide faster access to benefits.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires businesses in Massachusetts to round transaction amounts to the nearest five cents when customers pay with cash and cannot provide exact change. The rounding rule generally rounds down amounts ending in one, two, six, or seven cents, while rounding up amounts ending in three, four, eight, or nine cents, with a specific exception allowing small transactions of one or two cents to round up to five cents. Sellers must calculate and remit taxes based on the original price before rounding occurs, and they must clearly disclose this rounding policy to customers. The legislation also mandates that the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation issue guidance to help businesses implement these new cash payment rules.
By Representative Chan of Quincy and Senator Feeney, a joint petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Tackey Chan, Kate Donaghue and others relative to consumer protections for low valued legal tender scarcity. Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends Section 94B of Chapter 32 in the General Laws to add "explosive device canine handlers and bomb technicians" to the list of eligible individuals for disability and death benefits. It directly affects these specific public safety professionals who work with explosive devices. The key mechanism is a simple statutory update expanding the current eligibility criteria within an existing benefits program. The change does not create new benefits but extends existing ones to cover these roles.
