Sen. Jason Lewis

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the use of elephants, big cats, primates, giraffes, and bears in traveling animal acts, circuses, and similar mobile performances within Massachusetts. It directly affects owners and operators of traveling exhibits by banning the participation of these specific animals in events where they are transported between locations for entertainment purposes. The law includes an exemption for permanent institutions like zoos, provided the animals are not moved specifically for the traveling act. Violations of this new rule can result in civil penalties ranging from $500 to $10,000 for each animal involved.

Maddy summaryThis bill aims to improve early education and care in Massachusetts by exempting providers from certain price limits and clarifying who qualifies as a caregiver. It removes restrictions that cap the fees providers can charge, allowing them to set their own rates under specific contracts, while also defining "caregivers" to include guardians and non-resident supervisors. Additionally, the legislation establishes a new definition for "high needs" to identify children and families requiring extra support due to factors like disabilities, trauma, or economic hardship. These changes are designed to increase access to quality care and better support the development of young children across the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the town of Reading to close its existing Affordable Housing Trust Fund and move all its money and properties into a new trust fund governed by state law. The legislation repeals the 2001 law that created the original fund and directs that future management of the assets follow the rules of the newer Municipal Affordable Housing Trust Fund Law. The changes will only take effect after the town officially updates its local bylaws to establish the new trust structure.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Massachusetts governor to declare March 21 as Massachusetts Child Nutrition Day and establishes new rules for food served in public schools. It mandates that at least 50% of weekly lunch entrées must be fiber-rich whole foods while limiting ultra-processed items and those high in cholesterol or saturated fat to no more than 20%. Schools must also publicly share monthly nutrition data to prove compliance, with a three-year transition period for food service providers to meet these standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new requirements for state contractors to report how much of their payments go to minority and women-owned businesses and to disclose the racial and gender makeup of their workforce. It mandates that contractors submit these reports within 150 days of receiving a contract, while state agencies must create a standardized form and update their reporting system to collect this data. Additionally, the law sets a goal for the state to align its contracting with the demographic diversity of the population and requires agencies to consider a bidder's past compliance with workforce inclusion commitments. The legislation also defines "low income communities" to ensure that job creation on state construction projects in these areas targets local residents and reflects the community's diversity.

Maddy summaryThis bill mandates that all public schools in Massachusetts provide free breakfast and lunch to every student attending the school. To help cover these costs, the legislation requires schools to maximize the use of federal funding programs and assigns the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education the responsibility of paying for any remaining expenses not covered by federal reimbursements. Additionally, the bill directs the state to create regulations that help families access supplemental nutrition assistance programs by offering application support or referrals to relevant agencies. These provisions are scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2023.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to update teacher training programs to include instruction on augmentative and alternative communication and assistive technologies. It directly affects educators by mandating that their professional development plans address the specific needs of nonverbal students or those with limited speech. The law ensures that future teachers are equipped with the necessary skills to support children with disabilities who rely on these communication tools.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Safe Drinking Water at School Act to mandate annual lead testing for all drinking water outlets in Massachusetts schools and child care centers. It requires facilities to use certified laboratories and specific testing methods to check for lead levels exceeding one part per billion, with a six-month deadline for those previously excluded from the state's assistance program. The legislation defines key terms such as "school" and "drinking water outlet" to ensure clear compliance standards across public, charter, and non-public educational facilities. By updating Chapter 111 of the General Laws, the bill creates a uniform requirement for monitoring water safety to protect student health.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to protect patients from nonconsensual intimate examinations, specifically pelvic, prostate, or rectal exams, while they are anesthetized, deeply sedated, or unconscious. It requires health care providers to obtain specific written consent from a patient for such exams unless the procedure is already part of the planned medical treatment for which the patient gave general consent or is an emergency situation. The law defines "health care providers" broadly to include physicians, nurses, students, and other clinical trainees who might perform these procedures. By establishing these clear requirements, the legislation aims to prevent unauthorized intimate physical contact during vulnerable medical states.