Sen. Jason Lewis

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a formal system to train, assess, and assign qualified interpreters for students and families with limited English proficiency in Massachusetts schools. It defines specific roles for interpreters based on their expertise, requiring highly trained Tier 3 interpreters for critical legal and educational meetings like Individualized Education Programs, while allowing less specialized interpreters for routine gatherings. The legislation also mandates that the state department of education create a training program and a public registry to help schools locate these qualified professionals for scheduled appointments.

By Representative Khan of Newton, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2211) of Kay Khan and others for legislation to update postural screenings in schools. Public Health.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to allow individuals with eviction records to have those records sealed under specific conditions, aiming to help people secure future housing. It defines key terms such as "eviction action" and "no-fault eviction" to clarify which cases are eligible for sealing, while also establishing rules for how consumer reporting agencies and courts must handle these records. The legislation requires that sealed eviction records be treated as if they never existed for the purpose of rental applications and credit checks, thereby removing barriers to housing for tenants who have faced past evictions.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Massachusetts Attorney General to create a comprehensive plan for regulating facial recognition technology across the state. It defines key terms like "facial recognition" and "biometric surveillance technology" to ensure clarity in future rules. The legislation requires the Attorney General to submit a report outlining how the state will manage the use of these technologies by public and private entities. Ultimately, the bill aims to establish a formal framework for oversight rather than immediately banning or mandating specific uses.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new criminal offense specifically for assaulting or battering public transit workers while they are performing their duties. It defines the crime to include acts such as spitting, throwing bodily fluids, or flinging unspecified liquids at transit employees. Anyone convicted faces a prison sentence of at least 90 days and up to two and a half years, or a fine ranging from $500 to $5,000. The legislation also authorizes law enforcement to make warrantless arrests for these offenses when the transit worker is operating a vehicle.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Massachusetts colleges and universities to create written policies that help prevent financial conflicts of interest for faculty and staff. Under the new rules, employees who receive money or ownership stakes from outside companies must publicly disclose these relationships on an online platform. The state Board of Higher Education will work with the state ethics commission to develop guidelines for these policies and must issue them within 270 days of the law passing. The law applies to all public and independent higher education institutions in the state, aiming to increase transparency regarding financial ties between academics and external entities.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new regulatory framework for peer-to-peer car sharing services in Massachusetts, which facilitate the rental of private vehicles to individuals. It requires these services to share vehicle registration details with state agencies, display clear cost estimates to consumers, and attach an approved symbol to every rented car. Additionally, the Department of Public Utilities is tasked with ensuring vehicle safety through inspections and has the authority to issue fines or take other actions against programs that violate the law. The bill also outlines a process for appealing penalties and allows for judicial review if a company disagrees with a departmental decision.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a task force to study and recommend ways to replace the current motor vehicle fuel tax with a mileage-based fee system. The legislation requires the state Department of Transportation to run a pilot program involving at least 1,000 volunteers who would use new technology to track their vehicle miles traveled. During this one-year pilot, the task force will evaluate the technology's reliability, cost, and ability to protect driver privacy while gathering public input through six hearings. The bill also mandates that participants in the pilot be refunded their existing fuel taxes to ensure they are not financially disadvantaged during the trial. Ultimately, the task force will provide recommendations on how to implement a new revenue collection method if the pilot proves successful.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts healthcare laws to ensure children with specific severe food allergies and eosinophilic disorders receive necessary medical support. It formally defines "medically necessary food" to include specialized formulas and low-protein products prescribed by doctors for managing these conditions, while explicitly excluding general diet items like gluten-free or diabetes foods. Additionally, the bill requires health insurance carriers to cover these specialized foods without charging co-pays or deductibles and to allow direct access to immunologists without prior referrals.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a statewide ban on law enforcement agencies in Massachusetts using facial recognition or other remote biometric surveillance technology, with the exception of the Department of Motor Vehicles for verifying driver identities. It directly affects police departments and other public safety organizations by prohibiting them from acquiring, possessing, or contracting for such software unless explicitly authorized by a separate law. The legislation also ensures that any evidence obtained through the unauthorized use of these tools cannot be used in court proceedings. By defining specific terms like "biometric surveillance technology" and "public agency," the law creates clear boundaries for what is permitted while restricting the ability of government entities to use automated systems that identify individuals based on their physical features.