Rep. Dennis Gallagher

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to amend the Bridgewater Town Charter to change how citizens can challenge new town measures through a referendum. Under the new rules, residents could stop a measure from taking effect if they collect signatures from at least 5% of registered voters within 30 days of the measure's final passage. If the petition is filed, the town council must immediately reconsider the measure, and if it is not fully rescinded, the issue must be put to a vote at the next regular or a special election. The amendment will only take effect if approved by the town council, the state legislature, and the voters of Bridgewater.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes an amendment to the Bridgewater Town Charter to change how the Town Manager is appointed and how long they serve. Under the new rules, the Town Council would select a manager for a maximum of three-year terms, which can be renewed for additional three-year periods only if the full council votes to approve it again. The change requires approval from the town council, the state legislature, and the town's voters before it takes effect.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Bridgewater's town charter to establish a formal recall process for elected officials, allowing qualified voters to petition for the removal of any town official who holds elective office. The key mechanism requires 100 or 400 registered voters to file an affidavit listing specific grounds for recall, such as felony convictions, certain misdemeanors, conflict of interest violations, poor attendance at public meetings, or corruption, followed by a petition gathering at least 10% of registered voters' signatures. If the petition is certified, a recall election is held within 60 to 90 days where voters decide whether to remove the official and, if so, elect a successor from competing candidates. The bill also includes protections preventing recall petitions within six months of an official taking office and bars recalled or resigned officials from being appointed to town positions for two years.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes amending Bridgewater's town charter to limit how many times a person can serve on the Town Council. It would cap both District Council and At-large Council positions at four terms or appointments combined, regardless of which specific seat a person holds. The amendment would not count terms shorter than 24 months and allows council members to switch between District and At-large roles without affecting their term limit count. This change requires approval from Bridgewater voters before it takes effect.

Maddy summaryHD 1735 imposes a tax on large real estate investment firms (defined as entities managing $10 million or more in assets) that own more residential properties (1-4 units) than allowed under phased ownership limits. The tax equals $10 million multiplied by the number of excess properties, calculated annually based on a declining percentage of their 2023 holdings over nine years. Revenue from this tax funds a down payment assistance program for first-time homebuyers purchasing residential properties, administered through the Housing Down Payment Trust Fund. The bill directly affects large investment firms managing significant residential portfolios, requiring them to reduce holdings or pay the tax, while excluding nonprofit organizations and affordable housing from its scope.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows pharmacists in Massachusetts to provide emergency insulin without a current prescription during urgent situations where a patient cannot quickly obtain authorization from their doctor. It defines an "emergency situation" as one where immediate prescription authorization isn't possible and requires pharmacists to use their professional judgment to determine if insulin is essential for sustaining life or managing a chronic condition. The bill limits emergency insulin dispensing to a 30-day supply per instance and prohibits the same pharmacist from providing this emergency supply more than once every six months to the same patient. It amends multiple statutes to include this provision, ensuring pharmacists can act in emergencies while maintaining safety safeguards.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how certain Massachusetts counties retain property transfer tax revenue (deeds excise receipts). Starting July 1, 2025, Bristol, Dukes, Nantucket, Norfolk, and Plymouth counties will keep an additional 20% of these receipts, while Barnstable County will keep an additional 7.5%. The funds must go into each county’s general fund and can be used for county operations, maintenance, or saved for future needs. The bill applies only to receipts collected after the specified date and modifies existing retention rules for these specific counties.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes the fee for Massachusetts motor vehicle registration plates displaying "VETERAN" on them. It removes a $20 annual fee that was previously added on top of the standard registration fee for these plates, making the cost equal to regular private passenger vehicle registration. The change directly affects veterans who choose to display these special plates on their vehicles. The law ensures veteran plates will no longer carry an extra $20 charge, aligning their cost with standard registration fees.

Maddy summaryHD 2565 proposes adding a recall provision to Bridgewater's town charter, allowing voters to remove elected officials like town council members for specific reasons. Grounds for recall include felony convictions, certain serious misdemeanors (e.g., domestic violence, DUI), conflict of interest violations, or missing over half of official meetings. To initiate a recall, at least 10% of registered voters must sign a petition, leading to a vote within 60-90 days where voters choose "for" or "against" the recall. If recalled, the winner takes the unexpired term, and the official remains in office until the election. This proposal requires approval by Bridgewater's town council, the state legislature, and voters to take effect.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires carnivals operating mobile amusement devices with enclosed passenger areas (like pods or cabins) to install seat belts as a safety restraint. It directly affects carnival operators who use such enclosed ride equipment. The law mandates these restraints to prevent injury if a rider loses consciousness or control during operation, with violations punishable by fines up to $1,000 or up to one year in jail. The bill defines "carnival" as mobile amusement enterprises using portable devices or temporary structures.