Rep. Jack Lewis

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a moratorium on new construction and expansion for jails and prisons in Massachusetts. It directly affects state and public agencies by prohibiting them from building new facilities, increasing the capacity of existing ones, or converting other buildings for incarceration purposes. The law also restricts renovations and repairs unless they are strictly for maintenance or to meet building code standards. A key provision is that the ban on expanding facilities will remain in effect for five years after the law takes effect.

Maddy summaryThis bill mandates that the Department of Correction and local sheriffs provide free voice telephone services to all inmates in Massachusetts correctional facilities, including jails and mental health units. The law requires these communication services to be available at all times, provided they do not disrupt educational programs or daily facility operations. Additionally, the bill ensures that both the incarcerated person and the recipient of the call incur no charges for these calls for a period of 90 days following the bill's enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a statewide registry in Massachusetts to track individuals convicted of animal abuse crimes. Under the new law, anyone aged 18 or older found guilty of violating animal cruelty statutes must register with the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services within ten days of their conviction or release from prison. The registry will collect personal details such as the offender's name, address, crime description, and a photograph, and the registrant must pay an annual $50 fee to cover administrative costs. Convicted individuals must update their information if their address changes or submit an annual update, with the registration requirement lasting for five years or longer if additional convictions occur.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Massachusetts laws regarding sexual relations between young adults and minors to reduce criminal penalties in specific circumstances. It creates an exception where individuals are not prosecuted if they are no more than two years older than the minor and the minor is at least 13 years old. Additionally, the bill mandates that cases involving defendants under the age of criminal majority must be handled exclusively in juvenile court rather than adult court. Finally, it repeals an existing statute that previously addressed similar situations.

Maddy summaryThis bill seeks to remove two specific sections of Massachusetts law that currently prohibit certain acts performed with other people or animals. By repealing these sections, the legislation aims to eliminate legal restrictions that critics argue are rooted in homophobia and transphobia. The change would directly affect individuals who might otherwise face criminal penalties under these repealed statutes.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Massachusetts courts to automatically seal criminal and juvenile records related to the possession, cultivation, or distribution of small amounts of marijuana that were previously decriminalized by state law. It also directs the state to use available funds to create a uniform, digital system for managing these records, ensuring that such information is automatically hidden from public view when penalties are removed. The legislation directly affects individuals with past low-level cannabis charges and the court system responsible for maintaining those files. By mandating automatic sealing, the bill aims to reduce the long-term legal and social consequences for people with these specific non-violent offenses.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to protect foster care providers from being held financially responsible for injuries or property damage caused by the state, its employees, or third parties. It specifically applies to organizations contracted by the Department of Children and Families to care for children and youth. By clarifying that these providers cannot be sued for negligence resulting from the state's actions, the legislation aims to shield them from liability in situations where the state or others are at fault.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Massachusetts municipalities to invest their funds in credit unions and federal credit unions, expanding the types of financial institutions they can support alongside existing options like banks and cooperative banks. By amending several state laws, the legislation removes previous restrictions that limited municipal investments to specific bank types, thereby opening up credit unions as a potential investment vehicle for local governments. Additionally, the bill sets a safety limit requiring that public funds held by any single credit union cannot exceed 25% of that institution's total assets at any given time. These changes directly affect local governments and the credit unions operating within the state by creating new opportunities for public capital deployment while maintaining a cap to ensure financial stability.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Massachusetts laws to allow credit unions to purchase failing mutual or stock banks and assume their deposit liabilities. It establishes a process where a bank's members can vote to dissolve the institution and sell its assets to a credit union through an expedited liquidation procedure. Under the new rules, the credit union would immediately take over the bank's branches, and the bank's depositors would become members of the credit union within two years. The state banking commissioner retains the authority to approve these transactions and oversee the liquidation process.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Massachusetts municipalities to deposit public funds in credit unions and federal credit unions, expanding their investment options beyond traditional banks. It achieves this by amending state laws to explicitly include credit unions alongside existing financial institutions where towns can place their money. Additionally, the legislation sets a limit requiring that public funds held by any single credit union cannot exceed 25% of that institution's total assets. These changes directly affect local governments and the financial institutions that serve them by broadening the range of eligible places for municipal savings.