Sen. Pavel Payano

Senate November 19, 2025 -- The committee on Environment and Natural Resources, to whom was referred the petitions (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 618) of Jason M. Lewis, Michael O. Moore, Michael D. Brady, James K. Hawkins and other members of the General Court for legislation to ban the retail sale of dogs, cats, rabbits, and guinea pigs in pet shops; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 650) of Patrick M. O'Connor, Michael O. Moore, Michael D. Brady, James K. Hawkins and other members of the General Court for legislation banning the retail sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in pet shops; and (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 651) of Patrick M. O'Connor, Michael O. Moore, Marcus S. Vaughn, Michael D. Brady and other members of the General Court for legislation to ban the retail sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in new pet shops, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2720).

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new certification requirements for bilingual educators in Massachusetts public schools. It creates a bilingual education endorsement that requires passing a language test, completing specific coursework, and gaining 75 hours of field experience in dual-language programs. The bill also mandates annual reporting on certified bilingual educators and sets a 2035 goal for increasing their numbers. Additionally, it creates an incentive program to recruit and retain racially and linguistically diverse bilingual educators, prioritizing schools with high multilingual student populations.

By Mr. Fernandes, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1539) of Dylan A. Fernandes, Rodney M. Elliott, James B. Eldridge, Jason M. Lewis and others for legislation to address conflicts of interest in the use of temporary nursing agencies at skilled nursing facilities. Public Health.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SD 817) protects tenants with pets from eviction during emergencies and standardizes pet policies in housing. Landlords cannot evict tenants for having pets during a state of emergency (for one year after it ends) unless pets cause actual harm, and hotels cannot unreasonably refuse pets during emergencies. It bans housing rules that restrict pets based on breed, size, or appearance, and allows landlords to charge a capped additional rent (max 1% of rent per dog or total for other pets), excluding service animals. These changes directly affect renters, landlords, and housing authorities, aiming to prevent pet-related housing discrimination.

By Mr. Payano, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2921) (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Pavel M. Payano for legislation relative to travel insurance. Financial Services.

Senate, February 26, 2026 -- Text of the Senate Bill updating the unit pricing exemption threshold (Senate, No. 2978) (being the text of Senate, No. 2965, printed as amended)

Senate, February 26, 2026 -- The committee on Senate Ways and Means, to whom was referred the Senate Bill updating the unit pricing exemption threshold (Senate, No. 267),- reports, recommending that the same ought to pass with an amendment substituting a new draft with the same title (Senate, No. 2965).

Senate, January 5, 2026 -- The committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure to whom was referred the petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 284) of Pavel M. Payano for legislation to enable trained dental hygienists to administer dermal fillers and botox, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2822).

Maddy summaryHD 688 creates a task force to study how to fund assistance for homeowners struggling with crumbling foundations. The task force will examine costs of materials, geographic hotspots, inspection expenses, existing state funding models, and administrative costs. It must include housing officials, insurance representatives, property managers, and housing authority members, and submit recommendations by July 31, 2027. This bill directly affects homeowners in areas with foundation issues and aims to identify a sustainable funding source through a formal study process.

By Mr. Velis, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1633) of John C. Velis, Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr., John F. Keenan, Jacob R. Oliveira and others for legislation to regulate staff at home health and hospice agencies. Public Health.