Rep. Manny Cruz

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a Massachusetts Office of College in High School to oversee programs allowing high school students to earn college credit or industry credentials while in high school. It requires public colleges to create clear policies for granting credit for college-in-high school courses, AP exams, and IB programs, and mandates that these policies be publicly posted. A dedicated trust fund is created to support these programs, with priority given to underserved communities and school districts serving economically disadvantaged students. The bill also mandates annual reporting on fund usage and college credit policies to state education committees.

By Mr. DiDomenico, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 218) of Sal N. DiDomenico, Joanne M. Comerford, Manny Cruz, Paul R. Feeney and other members of the General Court for legislation relative to Social Work Uplifting Practices and Exam Removal (“The SUPER Act”). Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates "blue envelopes" to improve police interactions with people who have autism spectrum disorder. The envelopes, available from the Registry of Motor Vehicles upon request, contain written communication tips for officers and instructions for placing them on a car's sun visor. They also hold a person's driver's license, registration, and insurance cards. The program will begin on July 1, 2026, and directly affects autistic individuals and their families during traffic stops or vehicle encounters with police.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends a state law to expand disability coverage for POST-certified police officers who become disabled by cardiac disease. It directly affects officers working for specific public safety units, including university police departments, Massachusetts Port Authority police, state university and community college police forces, environmental law enforcement, and Department of Mental Health campus police. The key change adds these entities to the list of covered employers under the existing disability benefit provision. This adjustment ensures these officers, previously excluded, now qualify for the same disability benefits as officers in other covered agencies. The bill does not alter benefit amounts or eligibility criteria - only expands which police forces are included.

Senate, September 2, 2025 -- The committee on Higher Education to whom was referred the petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 923) of Brendan P. Crighton and Manny Cruz for legislation relative to college credits while attending high school, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No.2591).

Senate, September 2, 2025-- The committee on Higher Education to whom was referred the petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 218) of Sal N. DiDomenico, Joanne M. Comerford, Manny Cruz, Paul R. Feeney and other members of the General Court for legislation relative to Social Work Uplifting Practices and Exam Removal (“The SUPER Act”), report the accompanying bill (Senate, No.2590)..

Maddy summaryHD 4025 amends a state law to extend disability benefits for POST-certified police officers disabled by cardiac disease to additional police forces. The bill adds the University of Massachusetts police, Massachusetts Port Authority police, state university and community college police, environmental law enforcement, and Department of Mental Health campus police to the list of covered entities. Previously, officers in these forces were excluded from the same benefit provision that applied to entities like the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. This change directly affects POST-certified officers in these newly included forces by making them eligible for the same cardiac disability benefits.

By Mr. Velis, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1638) of John C. Velis, Jason M. Lewis and Hannah Kane for legislation to create a commission to study endometriosis and other commonly associated diseases. Public Health.

By Ms. Kennedy, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1564) of Robyn K. Kennedy, Jason M. Lewis and Hannah Kane relative to the creation of an endometriosis task force within the Executive Office of Health and Human Services. Public Health.

Maddy summaryHD 2649 requires every public high school in Massachusetts to offer at least one foundational computer science course that includes rigorous math or science concepts, ensuring all students can access such a course within their four-year high school plan. The bill creates a new micro-credentialing process for educators, allowing them to demonstrate competency in computer science teaching without full certification (valid for up to 5 years), with this credential counting toward full certification later. It directly affects all public high schools and their students, as well as educators seeking to teach computer science. The law takes effect for the 2026-2027 school year.