Rep. Jay Livingstone

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public schools and districts to adopt policies restricting personal electronic device use during school hours and school activities to reduce distractions and support learning. The state education department must provide a model policy including secure device storage options, methods for parents to contact students during the day (including emergencies), and enforcement rules that prevent unfair discipline. Schools must file their adopted policies annually by September 1, with exceptions for students with disabilities, health accommodations, or emergencies. The policy must not lead to student expulsion or suspension solely for device use violations.

Maddy summaryH 4746 establishes Massachusetts' first comprehensive consumer data privacy law, directly affecting businesses operating in the state that collect personal data ("controllers"). The law requires businesses to obtain clear "affirmative consent" from Massachusetts residents before collecting or selling their personal data, prohibiting manipulative "dark patterns" and ensuring consent requests are transparent, specific, and accessible. Key provisions include strict definitions for data types (like biometric data), rules for "contextual advertising" that doesn't track individuals, and requirements for businesses to honor consumer rights to access, delete, or opt out of data processing. The law applies to all businesses serving Massachusetts residents, with specific protections for children's data and health/wellness information.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all public schools to create and implement two specific policies. First, schools must establish a device policy prohibiting student access to personal electronic devices (like phones or tablets) during the school day, except for special education plans, emergencies, or administrator approval. Second, schools must develop a social media education policy teaching students about the risks of social media use, including emotional and physical impacts. Schools must notify parents about both policies and file them with the state education department, which will provide public guidance to help schools create effective policies. The bill directly affects public school students, parents, and school districts across the state.

By Representatives Lipper-Garabedian of Melrose and Vieira of Falmouth, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 86) of Kate Lipper-Garabedian, David T. Vieira and others relative to regulation of location information derived from electronic devices. Advanced Information Technology, the Internet and Cybersecurity.

Maddy summaryH 4396 creates a permanent Law Revision Commission to identify and recommend updates to outdated or inconsistent state laws. The commission, composed of legal experts appointed by legislative leaders, the governor, and legal organizations, will examine statutes, common law, and judicial decisions to eliminate archaic provisions, improve law accessibility, and consolidate session laws. It must submit annual reports with specific reform recommendations to legislative committees. This procedural bill establishes a process for law modernization but does not enact specific policy changes itself.

Maddy summaryHD 1575 establishes a licensing framework for anesthesiologist assistants in Massachusetts. The bill defines key terms, requires assistants to work under the direct, on-site supervision of a licensed anesthesiologist (who must be actively practicing), and mandates that assistants graduate from accredited programs and pass national certification. It creates a registration system under the Board of Registration in Medicine, sets continuing education requirements, and allows assistants to access medications as directed by their supervising anesthesiologist. Violations, such as practicing without a license, carry fines of $100-$1,000 or up to one year in jail. This bill directly affects anesthesiologist assistants, supervising anesthesiologists, and the medical licensing board.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HD 2682) amends Massachusetts law to expand protections for transit workers against assault and battery. It explicitly adds "public transit worker" to the list of protected employees under Section 13D of Chapter 265, and defines "assault and battery" to include attacks using bodily substances like blood, saliva, or urine. The law now treats such assaults as more severe offenses, with specific legal definitions clarifying what constitutes a "bodily substance." This directly affects transit workers by making assaults against them a distinct criminal violation under state law. The changes provide clearer legal grounds for prosecuting attacks on transit staff using bodily substances.

Maddy summaryHD 1589, titled "An Act to protect library patron privacy," prevents public access to library records revealing a patron's identity and reading or research habits. It classifies these records as non-public, meaning they cannot be accessed by the public or most government entities without legal authorization. Law enforcement may only view such records with a court-issued warrant under standard legal procedures or during immediate emergencies. This bill directly protects library users by ensuring their reading choices and research activities remain confidential.

Maddy summaryHD 2379 establishes a Massachusetts law enabling fiduciaries (such as executors, conservators, or agents) to access a deceased or incapacitated person's digital assets, including emails and photos, based on the user's prior instructions. Users can specify access preferences through an online tool provided by digital services (e.g., email or social media platforms) or in legal documents like a will, and these instructions override any conflicting terms in the service's agreement. The law applies to users who resided in Massachusetts at the time of death or while using the service. It ensures digital service providers follow user preferences without granting fiduciaries new rights beyond what the user authorized.

Maddy summaryH 4416 creates a dedicated education unit within Massachusetts' Department of Children and Families to improve educational stability for children in state care. It establishes an education director and specialists who will monitor students' academic progress quarterly, develop educational plans, coordinate with schools, and support social workers on school-related needs. The bill also mandates an annual public report by October 31st detailing case data, demographics, placement metrics, and outcomes like reunification rates and placement stability. These changes directly affect children under state custody and aim to standardize educational support through new staffing, monitoring, and transparency requirements.