Rep. Manny Cruz

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a legal framework for supported decision-making agreements (SDMAs), allowing adults (18+) with disabilities to voluntarily choose supporters (like family or friends) to help them make life decisions - such as housing, healthcare, or finances - without replacing guardianship. It requires the state to create a training program for supporters on rights, obligations, and dispute resolution, and updates education and legal processes to recognize SDMAs (e.g., informing students about SDMAs during IEP meetings). The bill directly affects adults needing decision support, their chosen supporters, and state agencies like the Department of Developmental Services. Key provisions define "supported decision-making," set rules for agreement execution/termination, and prohibit supporters who have abused the decision-maker or been removed as conservators.

By Mr. Eldridge, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1681) of James B. Eldridge, Liz Miranda, Joanne M. Comerford, Robyn K. Kennedy and other members of the Senate for legislation to protect the civil rights and safety of all Massachusetts residents. Public Safety and Homeland Security.

Maddy summaryHD 2501 allows cities and towns to adopt local rent stabilization and tenant protection measures. It enables municipalities to limit annual rent increases to the lower of the local Consumer Price Index or 5%, and requires landlords to have "just cause" (like nonpayment, lease violations, or property conversion) to evict tenants. The bill directly affects renters in participating municipalities, excluding owner-occupied buildings with four or fewer units, new construction (for five years), college dorms, senior facilities, and units subject to public housing regulation. Municipalities must adopt local ordinances within 180 days of acceptance and report annually to the state housing office. The law does not override existing state or federal tenant protections.

Maddy summaryThis bill raises Massachusetts' minimum wage to $20.00 per hour by 2029 through phased increases (starting at $16.25 in 2026). It establishes an automatic annual adjustment starting in 2030, where the minimum wage will increase each January based on the previous year's inflation rate (using the Consumer Price Index). The bill directly affects all public and private employers in Massachusetts who pay hourly wages. It also adjusts the tipped wage to 60% of the new minimum wage rate.

Maddy summaryThis bill, titled "An Act prioritizing patient access to care," amends Massachusetts state law to change how abortions are regulated. It removes the requirement that abortions must be performed only to preserve a patient's life or health or due to specific fetal diagnoses, replacing those criteria with a standard based solely on a physician's professional judgment. Additionally, the bill prevents any medical review process from overriding a doctor's decision to perform an abortion when a patient or their health care proxy requests it. These changes directly affect physicians, patients, and healthcare facilities by expanding the circumstances under which abortions can be legally provided.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows the City of Salem to raise the fee charged on short-term rental properties from 3 percent to a maximum of 6 percent of the rent for each stay. The additional money collected from this increase must be placed in a special fund dedicated exclusively to planning, building, and maintaining schools and other municipal facilities. The law specifically targets professionally managed and owner-adjacent short-term rental units, ensuring the new revenue supports local infrastructure without affecting the city's ability to seek outside grants.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the City of Salem to raise its local excise tax on hotel and bed and breakfast stays from the standard 6 percent to a maximum of 8.75 percent. The additional revenue generated by this increase must be placed into a special fund dedicated exclusively to planning, building, and maintaining school and municipal facilities. The law ensures that these funds cannot be used for other city expenses and does not prevent the city from seeking external grants for the same purposes.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new licensing system for private businesses that provide home care services, such as assistance with bathing, dressing, and housekeeping, to help ensure these providers are responsible and suitable. To obtain a license, agencies must meet specific requirements that include conducting thorough background checks on all workers, verifying driving records for those who transport clients, and maintaining clear contracts that detail service costs and plans. The law also mandates that agencies carry workers' compensation and liability insurance, follow labor laws regarding payroll, and provide ongoing training for their staff. The executive office of health and human services is tasked with issuing licenses, enforcing rules, and conducting investigations to monitor compliance, while also ensuring these new requirements do not duplicate existing oversight for other types of long-term care providers.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the governor to limit civil immigration enforcement activities within nonpublic areas of state-owned buildings and properties, unless required by federal law or specific state programs. It requires the creation of multilingual guidelines for state agencies, private organizations, and schools on how to verify the authority of immigration officers and handle related interactions. Additionally, the bill empowers the attorney general to file civil lawsuits against any law enforcement officer who violates specific federal statutes regarding immigration enforcement.

Maddy summaryHD 4299 allows the City of Salem to install up to two automated speed cameras in designated school zones (within 300 feet of schools, 5 a.m. to midnight) to enforce speed limits. Vehicle owners, not drivers, face a $25 fine per violation if caught speeding in these zones, with written notices sent via mail containing photo evidence and violation details. The bill specifies that these violations won’t appear on driving records or affect auto insurance rates, and it includes exemptions for emergencies, funerals, or stolen vehicles. It also permits the city to issue educational warnings instead of fines for first-time offenses.