Rep. Ted Philips

By Representative Philips of Sharon and Senator Feeney, a joint petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Edward R. Philips and Paul R. Feeney for legislation to authorize the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority to provide sewer services to a certain parcel of land in the town of Sharon. Environment and Natural Resources.

Maddy summaryThis law requires health insurance plans in the state to cover specific breast cancer screening and diagnostic tests without charging patients extra fees. It mandates that if a plan covers standard mammograms, it must also cover digital breast tomosynthesis, breast MRI, and breast ultrasound on equal terms, including for follow-up exams after an abnormality is found. The legislation applies to private insurance, state employee plans, and Medicaid managed care, while also clarifying rules for high-deductible health savings accounts regarding these preventive benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates animal welfare laws to require department employees and contractors to report suspected animal cruelty, abuse, or neglect to investigators within two working days, with immediate phone reporting for urgent cases. It protects those who make reports in good faith from legal liability while clarifying that the department itself is not obligated to conduct investigations. Additionally, the legislation allows child welfare officials to request behavior assessments and veterinary records from foster or pre-adoptive homes to ensure child safety, while explicitly prohibiting placement denials based solely on a dog's breed.

By Representative Philips of Sharon, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2634) of Edward R. Philips relative to victim witness advocate retirement classification. Public Service.

By Representative Montaño of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2894) of Samantha Montaño and others for legislation to increase the deeds excise to fund emergency assistance needs of certain low income tenants and homeowners. Revenue.

By Representative Livingstone of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2876) of Jay D. Livingstone and others relative to the community investment tax credit. Revenue.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits state-funded programs and facilities from using procedures that cause physical pain or deny basic humane conditions to people with disabilities. Specifically, it bans practices such as hitting, pinching, or electric shock used to change behavior, while also forbidding any punishment that would be illegal if applied to non-disabled individuals. Additionally, the law prevents institutions from denying individuals reasonable access to sleep, food, shelter, bedding, and bathroom facilities. These changes directly affect agencies licensed or approved by the Commonwealth that care for persons with physical, intellectual, or developmental disabilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to create a new program that provides grants for expanding mental health services to pregnant and postpartum individuals. It defines key terms such as "perinatal" to cover the time from pregnancy through one year after birth and establishes specific criteria for identifying areas with inadequate access to care. The legislation authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to fund projects aimed at growing and diversifying the workforce of mental health providers who specialize in perinatal care. By creating these definitions and funding mechanisms, the bill seeks to improve access to mental health support for new parents and those involved in the care of infants.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to create a statewide standard protocol for emergency medical services to assess, treat, and transport stroke patients to designated hospitals. The new rules must be based on national evidence-based guidelines and developed in consultation with an existing expert advisory group to ensure timely care for patients, including those with severe blockages. Additionally, the bill requires the department to establish recommended quality measures for stroke care that will be used by the state's health information center to track performance. These changes aim to standardize how stroke patients are handled by first responders and improve the consistency of care across the state.

By Representative Philips of Sharon, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2386) of Edward R. Philips and Vanna Howard relative to fire protection systems for buildings and structures. Public Safety and Homeland Security.