Sen. Jason Lewis

Maddy summaryThis bill requires manufacturers of menstrual products sold in Massachusetts to list all intentionally added ingredients on the product packaging and their websites. The law mandates that these ingredient lists be printed in at least 10-point font on the outside of the package and updated within 12 months if a product's formula changes. Additionally, manufacturers must revise the information on their websites within six months of any formula change. The legislation applies to all types of menstrual products, including tampons, pads, cups, and underwear, and includes a $1,000 fine for violations. The requirements take effect 12 months after the bill is passed.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to create a specialized assessment tool that calculates the health impacts and costs of pollution from electricity and fuel sources. The tool must specifically measure effects on vulnerable communities, the state's health insurance program, hospitals, and the overall budget, while also tracking benefits from energy efficiency and renewable energy. Once developed, the department must update this tool every three years and ensure that all new state policies regarding energy, buildings, transportation, and waste explicitly factor in its findings. Within one year of the bill taking effect, the department must submit the completed tool and instructions on how to use it to state officials and legislative clerks.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes renaming the Winchester Center rail station to the John A. Volpe Winchester Center Station in honor of former Governor John A. Volpe. The legislation affects the Town of Winchester and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority by establishing a Volpe Memorial Working Group to oversee the project. This group will consist of representatives from the town, the transit authority, and a local memorial organization to handle tasks such as designing signage and creating historical displays. The bill aims to publicly recognize Volpe's history with the station and his contributions to transportation and public safety.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires employers in Massachusetts with 15 or more employees to disclose salary ranges for job postings and provide them to applicants and employees upon request. It defines a pay range as the compensation an employer reasonably expects to offer for a specific role and mandates that this information be shared during job advertisements, promotions, and transfers. The law prohibits retaliation against individuals who exercise their rights under this act and establishes penalties, including fines and potential legal action by the Attorney General, for non-compliance. Additionally, the bill directs the Attorney General to run a public awareness campaign to inform both employers and the public about these new transparency requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires private and nonprofit employers in Massachusetts with at least 100 full-time employees to submit detailed wage and demographic data to the state. Covered entities, which also include the governor and mayors with large workforces, must provide this information annually by the EEO-1 or EEO-4 reporting deadlines. The state will then compile and publish these aggregate wage reports on its website starting in 2024, broken down by specific industries such as healthcare, construction, and retail. The legislation aims to increase pay transparency by making industry-wide wage data publicly available for comparison.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Massachusetts pesticide regulations to require schools, child care centers, and universities to prioritize using safer pest control products. It mandates that these facilities use pesticides classified as exempt by the EPA or those containing only ingredients approved for organic farming, unless a hardship waiver is granted. The legislation also modernizes reporting requirements by specifying that certain records must be submitted electronically through a state portal.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new commission within the Massachusetts Executive Office of Technology Services and Security to study and regulate how government agencies use automated decision-making systems. The commission will conduct a comprehensive survey of current uses, evaluate their impact on human rights, and consult with experts on issues like algorithmic bias and civil rights. Its primary goal is to develop recommendations for regulations, standards, and safeguards that ensure transparency, accountability, and fairness in these technologies.

By Representatives Nguyen of Andover and Shand of Newburyport, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3095) of Tram T. Nguyen, Dawne Shand and others for legislation to promote diversity on public boards and commissions. State Administration and Regulatory Oversight.