Rep. Richard Wells

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Massachusetts laws to improve safety training and enforcement for workers involved in cutting, welding, and hot works processes. It requires state-approved training programs that include digital verification systems, multilingual instruction, and ongoing education, while also creating a public record of non-compliance that alerts property owners and insurers. The legislation significantly increases penalties for violations, raising fines up to $10,000 for repeat offenders and introducing potential prison time, and it establishes stricter criminal charges for reckless actions that result in serious injury or death.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance companies to reimburse licensed athletic trainers (with physician referrals) for services they're legally allowed to provide, on the same terms as other covered providers. It applies only to health plans that already cover similar services or conditions within athletic trainers' scope of practice. Insurers cannot impose additional cost-sharing (like higher deductibles) or utilization restrictions that unfairly target athletic trainer care, though standard plan rules still apply. The law ensures athletic trainers are treated equally for covered services without expanding their scope of practice.

Senate, February 26, 2026 -- The committee on Senate Ways and Means, to whom was referred the Senate Bill authorizing the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, acting by and through its Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance, to grant permanent easements over certain land in the town of Milton for highway purposes (Senate, No. 2657),- reports, recommending that the same ought to pass with an amendment substituting a new draft with the same title (Senate, No. 2968).

Maddy summaryThis bill mandates that health care plans for firefighters in Massachusetts cover specific cancer screenings without charging co-payments or deductibles. It requires these screenings to begin three years after a firefighter starts their job and to be repeated every three years while they are employed. The law specifies that the exams must check for various types of cancer, including lung, colon, and prostate cancer, and applies to firefighters working for the state, cities, towns, and certain military bases. While the bill generally prohibits out-of-pocket costs, it allows for cost-sharing only if federal tax laws require it to maintain the plan's tax-exempt status.

Maddy summaryH 4335 requires Massachusetts' Group Insurance Commission to cover medically necessary cognitive rehabilitation services for Commonwealth employees (active and retired) with an acquired brain injury (ABI). The bill mandates coverage for specific therapies including cognitive rehabilitation therapy, neurocognitive therapy, community reintegration services, and neurofeedback therapy, without lifetime or unreasonable annual limits. It prohibits insurers from denying coverage solely because services occur outside a hospital and requires insurers to train staff on these benefits. The law also specifies that providers must hold appropriate licenses and accreditation for these services. This directly affects Commonwealth employees with ABI by ensuring comprehensive insurance coverage for their rehabilitation needs.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public employers (such as state, city, or fire district departments) to provide full-time firefighters with free cancer screenings every three years, starting three years after they begin working as firefighters. It covers screenings for 11 specific cancers including colon, lung, bladder, and prostate, with all costs paid by the employer's health plan - no co-pays or deductibles required. The mandate applies to firefighters in municipal departments, the Massachusetts Military Reservation, the 104th Fighter Wing, and Devens fire departments. The only exception is if the employer's health plan is federally tax-exempt and would lose that status without cost-sharing, though this is uncommon.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows the town of Milton to issue 5 additional licenses for on-premise alcohol sales (for consumption at the location) within five specifically designated economic development zones: East Milton, Central/Milton Village, Curry College/Fuller Village, Mattapan Station Area, and Route 28 Area. Licenses must be marked with the specific zone name and are restricted to dining rooms and approved public areas within those zones. The town licensing authority cannot approve transfers of these licenses outside the original zone, and licenses must be returned if terminated, allowing reuse within the same zone. All licenses must be issued within 3 years of the bill's effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill ensures teachers who move from classroom roles to positions at the Executive Office of Education or the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education retain their status in the teacher retirement system (or Boston retirement system), avoiding a switch to the state employees' retirement system. It requires such employees to pay makeup contributions for the difference in retirement payments between systems during their time in state education roles. Additionally, it creates a one-time 180-day opportunity for eligible teachers (who began contributing before July 2001 and didn’t choose an alternative retirement program) to join a specific retirement benefit program. The bill directly affects current and future educators transitioning to state education agency jobs, focusing on maintaining retirement benefits and contribution continuity.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurers to cover all medical supplies for ostomy care (including management of surgically created or spontaneous fistulas) without forcing patients to use non-medical alternatives. It mandates that insurers transfer ostomy care records within 72 hours when patients switch coverage, ensures suppliers are reimbursed at Medicare rates, and extends prescriptions for these supplies to at least one year with no disruption in coverage. The law also requires suppliers to provide one month's advance notice before changing products, including samples for trial, and guarantees patients can return to their original product if substitutions compromise care. These provisions directly affect ostomy patients, healthcare providers, and insurers across Massachusetts.

Maddy summaryHD 1936 prohibits construction contractors from shifting responsibility for workplace safety violations through contracts. It directly affects parties entering construction contracts who have legal or contractual duties to maintain safe worksites. The bill makes any contract clause attempting to transfer liability for safety breaches - covering claims, fines, or damages - void and unenforceable. This amendment to Massachusetts law ensures contractors cannot legally avoid accountability for their own safety failures.