Sen. Paul Feeney

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Board of Registration in Midwifery within the Department of Public Health to oversee the licensing and regulation of midwives in the state. The board will consist of eight appointed members, including licensed midwives with significant experience, a physician, a nurse-midwife, and a public representative, with specific requirements for members to address racial disparities in maternal health. Additionally, the legislation establishes a new Board of Allied Health Professions that includes representatives from various health fields such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and lactation consulting. The bill also expands the legal definition of "licensed midwife" to allow them to issue prescriptions and grants local health agencies the authority to conduct in-depth reviews of fetal and infant deaths to improve community health services.

Maddy summaryThis law establishes a mandatory educational diversion program in Massachusetts for minors charged with specific offenses related to possessing or sharing sexual images, commonly known as sexting. The Attorney General will lead the creation of this program in collaboration with various state agencies and community groups, focusing on informing youth about legal penalties, social consequences, and the risks of online image sharing. If a child is charged with these offenses, the court will typically pause legal proceedings to require the completion of this program instead of immediate prosecution, unless the district attorney objects. Successful completion of the program allows the case to be dismissed, while failure to participate results in the case being restored for standard legal processing. Additionally, the bill expands the legal definition of abuse to include "coercive control" and requires schools to teach media literacy skills using materials from the new diversion program.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the town of Sharon to convert a specific 0.86-acre parcel of land, originally designated for outdoor recreation, into general municipal use for a building and parking. In exchange for this change, the town must dedicate a separate 5.95-acre parcel to public outdoor recreational use and ensure that existing trees on the converted land are protected during construction. The legislation allows the town's select board to proceed with these land use changes while maintaining a balance between new municipal facilities and public green space.

By Mr. Tarr, a petition (accompanied by bill) (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Bruce E. Tarr, Kathleen R. LaNatra, Joan B. Lovely, Susan Williams Gifford, and other members of the General Court for legislation relative to abandoned fishing gear. Environment and Natural Resources.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires married couples in Massachusetts to file a joint state income tax return if they file a joint federal return. The law applies to all tax years beginning after December 31, 2022, and directly affects married taxpayers who currently file separately at the state level. By mandating joint filing for those who file jointly federally, the legislation aims to prevent high-income individuals from using separate state filings to reduce their tax liability.

By Representative Ayers of Quincy, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2703) of Bruce J. Ayers that certain fraternal organizations be exempt from the tax on the sale of alcoholic beverages. Revenue.

By Representative O'Day of West Boylston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2909) of James J. O'Day and others for legislation to require certain married couples to submit joint income tax returns. Revenue.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes the creation of a special commission to evaluate the potential impact of adopting the "Moral Budget" on the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The commission would include members of the state legislature and would report on how this specific budget proposal, developed by the Poor People's Campaign, would affect state revenue and public services. The text outlines the Moral Budget's key provisions, which include significant increases in funding for education, healthcare, housing, and infrastructure, alongside calls for a $15 federal minimum wage and expanded social safety nets. Ultimately, the bill seeks to investigate whether shifting state priorities to align with this national proposal would help address issues such as poverty, homelessness, and environmental concerns.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a comprehensive educational diversion program to address the legal and social consequences of adolescents sharing sexual images, commonly known as sexting. It requires the Attorney General to create this curriculum in collaboration with state education and youth services departments, which will be used to divert minors from court proceedings if they are charged with related offenses. The program also mandates that schools integrate media literacy instruction using the same materials to help students understand the risks of online image sharing. Additionally, the legislation expands the legal definition of abuse to include coercive control and increases fines for certain offenses.

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.