Rep. Jay Livingstone

Maddy summaryThis bill requires human service employers (like nursing homes, mental health facilities, and licensed social service agencies employing five or more people) to create workplace violence prevention programs. It mandates annual risk assessments considering factors such as working alone at night, high-crime areas, or handling crisis situations, followed by written prevention plans including staff training and incident reporting systems. Employers must also establish crisis response teams for staff affected by violence and provide support like counseling. Violations can result in fines up to $2,000 per offense.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HD 632) adds penalties for transportation network drivers (like Uber or Lyft drivers) who refuse service to riders with disabilities using service animals. It creates a tiered fine system: $500 for a first offense, $750 for a second, and $1,000 for a third violation. The law amends existing rules to require drivers to comply with anti-discrimination protections for service animal users and imposes these specific monetary penalties. It directly affects drivers in app-based ride services who discriminate against riders with disabilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HD 1743) increases tax exemptions for senior homeowners and primary residence owners in Massachusetts. It raises the qualifying age for senior exemptions from 35 to 50 years old, doubles the income threshold for primary residence exemptions from $4,000 to $8,000 annually, and increases the property tax exemption amount from $500 to $1,000. The bill also significantly expands income limits for married couples (from $7,000 to $90,000 combined) and raises tax rate exemptions from 5% to 10% and 20% to 40%. These changes directly affect Massachusetts homeowners aged 50+ or those meeting the new income thresholds, providing greater tax relief by expanding eligibility.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits Massachusetts state and local government agencies (including police departments, sheriff's offices, and correctional facilities) from entering new agreements with federal immigration authorities for immigration enforcement or detention. It also requires all existing agreements of this type to end within 30 days (for enforcement agreements) or 90 days (for detention agreements) after the law takes effect. The Attorney General can enforce the law by seeking court orders to stop violations. The bill directly affects how Massachusetts law enforcement interacts with federal immigration authorities regarding detention and enforcement.

Maddy summaryThis bill (H 5069) is a procedural extension that grants the House Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities until Wednesday, March 18, 2026, to complete its report on House Document 279. It does not change policy but adjusts the committee’s deadline for a specific administrative task. The extension was approved by the full House on February 17, 2026, after committee and rules committee action. It directly affects the committee’s scheduling for reviewing this document.

By Representative Livingstone of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 90) of Jay D. Livingstone relative to provenance regarding artificial intelligence. Advanced Information Technology, the Internet and Cybersecurity.

Maddy summaryThis bill (H 5056) creates a new process for Massachusetts courts to handle requests involving depositions or discovery from courts in other states or countries. It requires parties seeking such discovery to submit a foreign subpoena to a Massachusetts court clerk, along with specific details like case information and contact details for all involved parties. The clerk then issues a Massachusetts subpoena incorporating the foreign request, following standard court procedures. This change applies to all pending cases as of January 1, 2027, and aims to streamline cross-jurisdictional legal proceedings.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a standardized process for Massachusetts courts to handle legal discovery requests from other states. It requires parties seeking testimony or documents in Massachusetts for out-of-state civil cases to submit foreign subpoenas to a Massachusetts clerk, along with specific details like counsel contact information, after which the clerk issues a local subpoena. The law applies to civil cases filed in other states that need to conduct depositions or gather evidence within Massachusetts, taking effect January 1, 2026. It ensures consistency with Massachusetts procedural rules while requiring reciprocity with states having similar laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HD 1173) requires specific insurance plans in Massachusetts to cover medically necessary functional repair or restoration for certain congenital craniofacial disorders. It applies to Commonwealth employee health plans, state division programs, private insurance policies, and health maintenance organizations. Coverage must include treatment for ectodermal dysplasia, dentinogenesis imperfecta, and amelogenesis imperfecta (excluding cleft lip/palate, which is covered under separate existing sections), but excludes cosmetic surgery and unrelated dental/orthodontic care. Crucially, these benefits must not face higher deductibles, copays, or out-of-pocket limits than other plan benefits.

Maddy summaryH 4989 extends the deadline for the House committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities to report on two specific House documents (213 and 296). The bill grants the committee until Wednesday, March 18, 2026, to complete its report, overriding standard time limits under House Rule 27. This procedural change directly affects the committee's schedule and process for reviewing those documents. The bill was adopted without debate on February 2, 2026.