Sen. Adam Gómez

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Massachusetts state laws to replace outdated terms like "handicapped" and "mentally retarded" with modern, person-first language such as "individuals with disabilities" and "intellectual or developmental disabilities." The legislation directly affects various statutes within Chapter 6 of the General Laws, which cover areas including employment, veterans' benefits, and general disability protections. By systematically changing these specific words throughout the legal code, the bill ensures that official state documents use respectful and current terminology when referring to people with disabilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new tax on private colleges and universities in Massachusetts that have endowments larger than one billion dollars, requiring them to pay an annual fee of 2.5 percent on those funds. The money collected from this tax will be placed into a dedicated trust fund designed to help lower-income and middle-class residents pay for higher education, early childhood education, and child care services. To manage the fund, the bill establishes a seven-member board of trustees that includes representatives from state education departments, labor organizations, community colleges, and the private institutions being taxed.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Massachusetts cities and towns to require large tax-exempt organizations to make payments in lieu of property taxes. Specifically, it mandates that organizations with property valued at $15 million or more pay 25% of the taxes they would owe if they were not exempt. The law gives municipalities the option to adopt this rule and requires them to create local agreements that can include exemptions for community benefits or other arrangements. It directly affects local governments seeking additional revenue and large non-profit or religious entities that currently do not pay property taxes.

Maddy summaryThis law changes the retirement rules for retired police officers in Springfield who work as special police officers. Previously, these officers faced the same age limits as regular police officers, but this bill sets their maximum age at 70. Additionally, the law ensures that their pay is not reduced after they turn 65, removing a previous deduction rule. It applies only to those appointed under a specific 2018 law and takes effect immediately upon passing.

Senate, November 21, 2024 - Text of the Senate amendment (Senator Gomez) to the House Bill increasing the age limit for the appointment of special police officers in the city of Springfield (House, No. 4822).

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health care employers in Massachusetts to create and enforce programs aimed at preventing workplace violence. To achieve this, facilities must conduct annual risk assessments in cooperation with employees and labor unions to identify specific dangers, such as working in public areas or guarding property. The legislation defines workplace violence to include unpermitted touching, attempts to use physical force, or threatening behavior that causes fear of future harm. These measures apply to a wide range of settings, including hospitals and state correctional facilities, while explicitly excluding certain outpatient services like clinics and dialysis centers.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes collective bargaining rights for drivers working in Massachusetts' transportation network industry, such as rideshare and ride-hailing services. It allows these drivers to form organizations and negotiate industry-wide recommendations with companies regarding work standards, pay, and benefits. The legislation creates a new chapter in state law that exempts these negotiations from federal and state antitrust laws and sets up a process where the Secretary of Labor reviews and can make these negotiated terms binding. Additionally, the bill permits rideshare companies to form multi-company associations to represent them during these negotiations.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases excise taxes on specific goods in Massachusetts to generate revenue for climate change adaptation and affordable housing. The additional funds collected are directed into three separate trust funds: one for climate resilience projects, another for affordable housing development, and a third for preserving existing housing. The legislation also mandates that climate-related investments prioritize communities facing environmental justice challenges. By adjusting tax rates and specifying fund allocations, the bill aims to secure dedicated resources for infrastructure and housing needs without changing the underlying tax structure itself.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new tax credits and paid time off rights for agricultural workers in Massachusetts. Employers who hire non-family seasonal or year-round farm laborers can receive tax credits of up to 50% or 30% on overtime wages paid, depending on whether the work is seasonal or year-round. Additionally, the law requires these employers to provide up to 55 hours of paid time off per year, which resets annually and cannot be used for the first 45 days of employment. The bill also prohibits retaliation against workers who use their accrued time off and allows the Department of Labor Standards to create specific regulations for implementation.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Massachusetts cities and towns to voluntarily implement a fee on real estate transfers to generate revenue specifically for affordable housing. Under the new provisions, settlement agents would collect this fee based on the sale price of a property and remit the funds to local or regional affordable housing commissions. The collected money must be used exclusively for adaptive reuse, production, or preservation of affordable housing projects that serve low- and moderate-income households. Local communities that choose to adopt this option would gain a dedicated funding source to support their specific housing needs without state mandates.