Maddy summaryHD 3502 requires health care employers (including hospitals, teaching hospitals, certain correctional facilities, and other specific health care settings) to create and maintain workplace violence prevention programs. Each year, employers must conduct risk assessments with employee input, develop written prevention plans covering training and reporting systems, designate a senior manager for crisis response, and submit annual incident reports to the state. The law prohibits retaliation against employees who report safety concerns and imposes fines of up to $2,000 per violation for non-compliance. These programs aim to protect employees, emergency medical personnel, and others working in health care facilities from violence risks.
Rep. Bridget Plouffe
Sponsored bills
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.
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 summaryThis bill creates a special commission to review Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency's (MHFA) performance on affordable and low-income housing in gateway cities. The commission, consisting of three members appointed by the Governor, Senate President, and House Speaker, will assess MHFA's work over the past five years and recommend improvements. The commission must begin its review within 30 days of the bill's effective date and submit a report with recommendations to both legislative chambers within one year. The bill does not change housing programs but establishes a formal process for evaluating MHFA's effectiveness in targeted communities.
Maddy summaryThis bill (H 4681) modernizes Massachusetts labor law to expand workers' organizing rights. It directly affects employees in state-contracted services (like healthcare, social services, and nonprofits) by redefining "employee" to include these workers (excluding agricultural/domestic workers) and clarifying that multiple employers sharing control over workers are "joint employers." Key provisions include allowing electronic signatures for union authorization cards, ensuring state labor law applies if federal law doesn't cover certain workers, and removing barriers to collective bargaining for workers not protected by federal law. The bill aims to strengthen labor-management relations by making it easier for workers to form unions and negotiate.
Maddy summaryHD 2369 expands labor protections in Massachusetts by redefining key terms in Chapter 150A to cover more workers. It explicitly includes employees of healthcare facilities, nonprofits, and government contractors (like those providing social or medical services) as "employees," while excluding agricultural and domestic workers. The bill creates a "written majority authorization" process using signed cards or electronic forms (valid for 12 months) to form unions, and defines "joint employers" to hold multiple entities accountable for labor practices. Crucially, it states Massachusetts law will apply if federal labor laws no longer cover certain workers or employers. This directly affects workers in covered sectors seeking union representation.
Maddy summaryH 4670 requires Massachusetts public middle and high schools to provide personal financial literacy education starting in the 2026-2027 school year. It creates a dedicated fund to support this effort, financed by state appropriations, private donations (with safeguards against undue influence), and interest, which schools can use for curriculum materials, teacher training, and competitive grants. The law mandates specific topics like budgeting, credit, investing, and digital safety, while prioritizing underserved schools and requiring annual public reports on fund usage and program implementation. This directly affects all public schools and students in grades 6-12 by integrating financial skills into their education.
By Representative Lawn of Watertown, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 627) of John J. Lawn, Jr., for legislation to authorize the department of elementary and secondary education to establish the financial literacy trust fund. Education.
Maddy summaryThis bill allows authorized entities like schools, restaurants, camps, and sports facilities to stock epinephrine autoinjectors for emergencies. It requires trained staff (who complete approved courses) to manage and administer the devices when someone shows signs of a severe allergic reaction, regardless of prior diagnosis. The law provides legal immunity for good-faith use, except in cases of gross negligence. Entities must report incidents to the public health department, which will publish annual summary reports.
Maddy summaryThis bill updates Massachusetts' veterans' bonus program by defining specific conflict periods (like World War II, the Korean Emergency, and the Persian Gulf War) and revising eligibility rules. It removes a requirement that veterans must have lived in Massachusetts for six months before service, instead requiring the veteran to reside in the state. The bill also expands eligibility to include veterans currently serving and those discharged under less than honorable conditions due to sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or HIV status. Additionally, it repeals outdated laws related to veterans' bonuses that were no longer in use.