Rep. Jay Livingstone

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Massachusetts laws to ensure that legal parentage rights apply equally to all families, regardless of the parents' gender, marital status, or sexual orientation. It replaces gender-specific terms like "father" and "mother" with neutral language such as "other parent" and "person who gave birth," while also changing "paternity" to "parentage" throughout the statutes. The legislation introduces new definitions for various family arrangements, including surrogacy and assisted reproduction, to clarify how different types of parents are recognized under the law. By amending existing chapters on birth certificates and family law, the bill aims to provide consistent legal protections for children born through diverse circumstances, including those resulting from surrogacy or non-marital births.

By Representative Livingstone of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3372) of Jay D. Livingstone and others relative to third party delivery data reporting. Transportation.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Massachusetts Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act to clarify how legal representatives can access a deceased person's email and other digital accounts. It defines key terms such as "digital asset," "custodian," and "fiduciary" to create a clear framework for managing electronic records after death. The law allows designated recipients, agents, conservators, and personal representatives to access digital assets unless the user has explicitly restricted access through an online tool provided by the service. By amending state law, the bill gives legal standing to these representatives while respecting a user's specific instructions regarding privacy and data disclosure.

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 amends Massachusetts law to clarify the penalties for witnesses who refuse to testify or provide evidence after receiving immunity from prosecution. Under the new provisions, if an immune witness disobeys a court order, the attorney general or district attorney must file contempt charges against them. Once found guilty of contempt, the witness faces imprisonment in state prison or the house of correction for a term matching the maximum penalty of the underlying crime, or until they comply with the court's order. Minors found in contempt would instead be committed to the Department of Youth Services for up to one year or until they obey the order. The bill ensures that standard criminal appeal rules apply to any legal challenges arising from these contempt proceedings.

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 expands the availability of witness immunity in Massachusetts courts to include proceedings in the District Court and Juvenile Court, in addition to existing coverage for the Supreme Judicial, Appeals, and Superior Courts. By amending specific sections of the state's General Laws, the legislation allows witnesses to request protection from using their testimony against themselves in a wider range of criminal investigations and trials. The changes aim to make it easier for individuals to testify without fear of self-incrimination across more levels of the judicial system.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a working group to investigate gender-based price discrimination for products marketed specifically to women in Massachusetts. The group will include representatives from the state legislature, consumer protection agencies, the Women's Bar Association, and the Retailers Association of Massachusetts. Within 30 days of the bill taking effect, the group must meet to study pricing differences based on gender marketing and submit their findings and recommendations to the state legislature by December 31, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to allow any adult who is at least 18 years old and not involved in a lawsuit to serve legal summonses and complaints. Currently, the law restricts this task to specific individuals, but the proposed change would expand eligibility to include a broader range of non-party adults. The measure applies to civil cases filed in District Court, Boston Municipal Court, and Superior Court. By permitting more people to perform this service, the legislation aims to reduce the logistical difficulties litigants face when trying to deliver court documents.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to clarify how legal representatives, such as executors or trustees, can access a deceased person's digital assets like emails and cloud storage. It establishes that these fiduciaries generally have the right to manage digital accounts unless the account holder explicitly restricted access through a specific online tool or a power of attorney. By defining key terms and setting clear rules for when access is permitted or denied, the legislation aims to simplify the legal process for handling digital property after death.