Rep. Marcus Vaughn

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to make it a felony for anyone to possess, buy, sell, or distribute pill press machines, encapsulating machines, or counterfeiting materials if they know or have reason to believe these items will be used to manufacture or counterfeit controlled substances. The legislation directly affects individuals who own or trade in equipment capable of producing fake drugs, holding them criminally liable with potential prison sentences of one to five years or fines of at least $25,000. By adding specific machinery to the list of prohibited items, the bill aims to close a loophole that previously allowed these devices to be used for illegal drug production without legal consequence.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all public high school students in Massachusetts to pass a civics test before graduating or earning a general equivalency diploma. The test would consist of 100 questions identical to the civics portion of the U.S. naturalization exam, with a passing score set at 60 correct answers. Students who do not pass on their first attempt would be allowed to retake the test until they achieve a passing score, while those receiving special education services would be exempt from this requirement. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education would be responsible for creating rules to ensure schools follow these new graduation standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Massachusetts law to change how presidential electors are selected and how they cast their votes. It requires that one elector be chosen from each congressional district while two are chosen at-large, rather than using a single statewide winner-take-all method. Under the new rules, each district elector would vote for the presidential and vice-presidential candidates who won the most votes in that specific district, while the at-large electors would vote for the statewide winners. The legislation also updates the procedures for electors to meet, organize, and record their ballots.

Maddy summaryThis Massachusetts bill prohibits level 3 sex offenders from living in the same home as another level 3 sex offender. The law applies to single-family homes and apartments, banning cohabitation unless the individuals are legally related by blood, marriage, or adoption. Anyone who violates this rule faces a fine of up to $1,000, imprisonment for up to 2.5 years, or both, and must report the violation to the sex offender registry board.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new crime of fetal homicide in Massachusetts, allowing prosecutors to charge individuals separately for causing the death or serious physical injury to a fetus. The law defines a "child in utero" as a human being at any stage of development carried in the womb and specifies that "bodily injury" includes significant physical harm such as broken bones or internal organ damage. Punishment for violating this new section would be the same as if the injury or death had occurred to the pregnant woman, without requiring proof that the offender knew the victim was pregnant or intended to harm the fetus. The legislation explicitly prohibits using these provisions to prosecute abortions performed with the pregnant woman's consent or any medical treatment provided to the mother or her unborn child.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates voter registration lists, absentee voting lists, and specially qualified voter lists as public records held by the state secretary. It requires registrars to submit copies of these lists to the state secretary, noting that electronic registration data satisfies this requirement for general voter lists. Requests for inspection or copies of these records will be processed under the existing public records law, chapter 66. The changes directly affect state election officials and the public seeking access to voter information.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to create an open-container law for marijuana in Massachusetts, prohibiting drivers and passengers from possessing opened marijuana products in the passenger area of a motor vehicle. The legislation defines an "opened container" as any marijuana product where the original packaging is broken or altered, and it establishes a civil penalty of between $100 and $500 for violations. The law includes specific exceptions for passengers in for-hire vehicles where the driver is separated from them and for living quarters within house coaches or trailers. Additionally, the bill removes an existing subsection from the state's cannabis regulations that previously addressed open containers.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits individuals from secretly installing electronic tracking devices on motor vehicles without the consent of the driver and all passengers. The law defines specific exceptions where tracking is allowed, such as when conducted by law enforcement for criminal investigations, by parents monitoring their minor children, or by businesses tracking their own fleet vehicles. It also permits tracking by vehicle dealers and insurance companies provided there is explicit written permission from the owner or lessee. Violations of this prohibition can result in up to one year in jail, a fine of $1,000, or both penalties.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs that a portion of fines and fees collected from individuals convicted of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of substances be deposited into the Head Injury Treatment Services Trust Fund. Specifically, it requires $50 of each fine under one section to go to the fund and increases an existing assessment for DUI-related offenses from $50 to $100, with 100% of that new amount funding the trust. Additionally, the legislation mandates that 75% of fines collected under several other specific subsections of the same law be transferred to the trust fund. These changes directly affect courts and the state treasurer, who must now route these specific financial collections to support head injury treatment services rather than general state revenue.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs to conduct a study of Kingsbury Pond in the town of Norfolk. The investigation will examine water levels, the impact of nearby public wells on those levels, and other environmental factors influenced by changes in the pond's water. The results of this study must be reported to state officials and legislative committees within one year of the bill's passage.