Sen. Vanna Howard

Maddy summaryThis bill restricts the sale of tobacco and e-cigarette products in Massachusetts to specific locations known as adult-only retail tobacco stores or smoking bars. Under the new rules, manufacturers and retailers are prohibited from selling these items to anyone under the age of 21 outside of these designated venues. The law defines adult-only stores as businesses whose main purpose is selling tobacco products where minors are not allowed to enter at any time. Additionally, the legislation ensures that local and state governments retain the authority to impose even stricter regulations on tobacco sales.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a voluntary training program for medical and allied health students to improve their care of patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including autism. The Department of Public Health will work with The Arc of Massachusetts to develop this curriculum, which builds on an existing initiative called Operation House Call. To earn certification, participating schools must offer the training as an optional course that includes at least six hours of instruction covering best practices and diverse patient needs. The department will then publish an annual list of schools that have successfully completed the program and meet established standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a pilot program in Massachusetts to provide diapers to low-income families with infants and young children. It establishes a dedicated trust fund that will be financed through state appropriations, interest, and unrestricted private donations to support diaper distribution organizations. The Department of Public Health will award grants to up to 12 applicants across the state's regions to purchase, store, and distribute diapers, with a requirement to report on the program's impact after one year.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires every city, town, and district in Massachusetts to create a recycling program that accepts materials like paper, glass, metal, plastics, tires, and compostable waste. Under the new rules, all residents, schools, and businesses must separate recyclables from their trash, and apartment buildings with three or more units must provide the necessary space and materials for tenants to participate. The law also mandates that if waste is taken to a landfill or transfer station, the facility must offer a way to separate and store recyclables for disposal. Additionally, the program can be set up for multiple municipalities working together, and it may include curbside collection depending on how the town currently handles trash.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Municipal Water Infrastructure Trust Fund to finance water system upgrades in Massachusetts. Municipalities will pay a fee of $0.70 per 1,000 gallons of water withdrawn, and the collected funds will be distributed to cities and towns based on their water usage to support local infrastructure projects. A portion of the money will also go to the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust, while the remaining funds are used for direct municipal projects without needing separate state approval. Additionally, the bill requires public water systems drawing from wells to fully enclose their wellheads to improve security.

Maddy summaryThis Massachusetts bill aims to reduce food waste by requiring standardized phrases on food packaging to clarify when items are best eaten versus when they become unsafe. It mandates that voluntary quality dates use the phrase "best if used by," while mandatory safety dates for ready-to-eat products must say "expires on." The state's public health commissioner will define which products require safety dates, establish guidelines for setting these dates, and educate consumers on their meanings. Additionally, the law explicitly states that food can still be sold or donated after the quality date passes, ensuring that edible items are not unnecessarily discarded.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts laws to give the Department of Children and Families more authority to review animals in homes where foster or adoptive parents are applying. It allows the department to request behavior assessments and veterinary records from applicants, with the cost of these assessments paid by the parent or applicant. While the bill permits the department to consider factors like a dog's breed, size, and history of dangerous behavior when making placement decisions, it explicitly states that a child cannot be denied placement solely because a specific dog breed is present in the home. The legislation also enables the department to create new regulations to carry out these requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows registered pharmacists in Massachusetts to prescribe and dispense hormonal contraceptive patches and self-administered oral contraceptives to eligible patients. For adults aged 18 and older, pharmacists can provide these medications without a prior prescription from a doctor, while minors must have an existing prescription on record. The law requires pharmacists to complete specific training, use a self-screening risk assessment tool, and refer patients to primary care providers after dispensing the medication. Additionally, pharmacists are prohibited from requiring appointments for this service and must ensure patients have had a clinical visit for women's health within the previous three years.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires publicly traded corporations in Massachusetts to make their tax reports available to the public in a searchable online database. It affects large companies that currently file tax information with the state secretary, mandating that these records be accessible on the internet starting from the third year after the tax year ends. The legislation also ensures that the state secretary provides a list of corporations that failed to file their reports and allows the public to purchase copies of the database or individual reports. By removing previous restrictions, the bill aims to increase transparency regarding the tax activities of major corporate entities without changing the underlying tax laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires manufacturers and retailers in Massachusetts to clearly label certain disposable wipes with a "Do Not Flush" warning to protect wastewater and sewer systems. The law defines covered products as baby wipes and other bathroom cleaning items made with petrochemical fibers that are likely to be flushed down a toilet. Starting July 1, 2025, these products must display a high-contrast symbol and text on the front of the package, with the warning taking up at least 2% of the main display area. The legislation aims to prevent plumbing damage by ensuring consumers are visibly informed that these specific wipes should not be disposed of in toilets.