Sen. Bruce Tarr

Senate, June 15, 2023 -- Text of amendment (51) (offered by Senator Collins) to the Ways and Means amendment (Senate, No. 2397) to the House Bill to improve the Commonwealth’s competitiveness, affordability, and equity.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts firearm laws to require the state to produce a biennial report analyzing gun trace data and sales transactions to evaluate the effectiveness of current regulations. It also updates legal definitions to explicitly include bump stocks and other rapid-fire trigger activators as machine guns. Additionally, the legislation establishes new criminal penalties for manufacturing, selling, or possessing firearms, frames, or receivers that lack valid serial numbers, with specific exemptions for law enforcement, licensed gunsmiths, and antique weapons.

Maddy summaryThis Massachusetts Senate resolution expresses the state's support for Israel and calls on the U.S. government to assist victims of the October 7 terrorist attacks. The document formally requests the safe return of individuals held hostage during the assault and condemns the actions taken by Hamas. It also highlights concerns over rising antisemitism and asks that a copy of the resolution be sent to the President and Congress. As a formal statement of solidarity rather than a law, the bill does not create new legal obligations or change existing policies.

Maddy summaryMassachusetts bill SD 864 creates a dedicated Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) under the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security. It establishes the role of a full-time Director of Emergency Management, defines key terms like "emergency" and "emergency shelter," and creates an Emergency Management Advisory Council with specific membership requirements. The bill requires MEMA to coordinate emergency response resources, develop preparedness plans, and assist communities, while the Governor maintains oversight. This legislation directly affects state agencies, local governments, emergency personnel, and residents by restructuring how Massachusetts organizes and executes emergency management.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the state Department of Public Health, in consultation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, to create clear, science-based warning notices about the effects of fluoridated drinking water. The notices must be developed using current public health research and designed to be easily understood by the public. Public water suppliers that provide fluoridated water would then be obligated to distribute these notices to their customers in a format specified by the Department. The bill does not change existing water fluoridation practices but mandates that consumers receive standardized information about fluoride in their drinking water.