Sen. Adam Gómez

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Food Literacy Trust Fund to support food education programs in Massachusetts schools. The fund will be financed through state appropriations, private donations, and federal grants, with money used to develop and implement curriculum focused on understanding food systems, nutrition, and food justice. Additionally, the legislation updates existing laws to require schools to incorporate specific food literacy standards into their math, science, and social studies classes. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will provide resources and professional development to help schools integrate these lessons into their existing programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new commission to investigate why substance use disorders and overdoses disproportionately affect minority communities in Massachusetts. The commission will review current data, evaluate existing treatment programs, and identify obstacles such as a lack of culturally appropriate care or necessary resources. Its members include state health officials and eight individuals appointed by the governor to represent advocacy groups, community health centers, and diverse geographic areas. The group is required to submit an annual report with evidence-based recommendations to the state legislature aimed at reducing overdose deaths and improving access to treatment.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a statewide ban on law enforcement agencies in Massachusetts using facial recognition or other remote biometric surveillance technology, with the exception of the Department of Motor Vehicles for verifying driver identities. It directly affects police departments and other public safety organizations by prohibiting them from acquiring, possessing, or contracting for such software unless explicitly authorized by a separate law. The legislation also ensures that any evidence obtained through the unauthorized use of these tools cannot be used in court proceedings. By defining specific terms like "biometric surveillance technology" and "public agency," the law creates clear boundaries for what is permitted while restricting the ability of government entities to use automated systems that identify individuals based on their physical features.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Massachusetts municipalities to deposit their public funds into credit unions and federal credit unions, expanding the types of financial institutions they can use beyond traditional banks. It achieves this by amending existing state laws to explicitly include credit unions alongside federal savings banks and cooperative banks in provisions governing public fund deposits and investments. Additionally, the legislation sets a limit, ensuring that a credit union's total public funds cannot exceed 25% of its assets at any given time. The primary beneficiaries are local towns and cities seeking to diversify where they keep their money, while the key constraint is the cap on the proportion of public money any single credit union can hold.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Massachusetts Foreclosure Prevention Program designed to help homeowners facing the risk of losing their homes. The program establishes supervised conferences where borrowers and creditors meet with trained monitors to negotiate sustainable alternatives to foreclosure, such as loan modifications or repayment plans. Eligible participants include homeowners who have received a notice of right to cure, those at imminent risk of default, individuals referred by judges, and borrowers in active bankruptcy cases with permission from the court. The law defines specific rules for who can attend these conferences, ensuring that the creditor's representative at the meeting is not the borrower's attorney.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands eligibility for in-state tuition rates and state financial aid at Massachusetts public colleges and universities to high school graduates who have attended and graduated from a local high school for at least three years, regardless of their immigration status. It specifically excludes nonimmigrant aliens on certain federal visa categories and the University of Massachusetts Medical School and School of Law from these provisions. To qualify, eligible students must provide proof of their social security or taxpayer identification number, documentation of selective service registration if applicable, and an affidavit stating their intent to apply for citizenship or legal permanent residence within 120 days. The legislation clarifies that these students cannot be denied in-state benefits based on their eligibility under this new rule.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new program in Massachusetts that matches Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits when recipients buy fruits and vegetables. The Department of Transitional Assistance will run this initiative alongside the Departments of Agricultural Resources and Public Health to encourage healthier food choices among SNAP users. A dedicated state fund will be established to finance these matching benefits through various sources, including federal grants and private donations. The program specifically applies to purchases at participating vendors and covers fresh, canned, dried, or frozen produce.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts insurance laws to reduce racial and socioeconomic disparities in auto insurance premiums by limiting how much insurers can charge based on where a driver lives. It requires insurance companies to weight their pricing plans so that no more than 75% of a premium is based on local risk data, while at least 25% must reflect the state-wide average. Additionally, the legislation mandates that insurers cannot create new rules that undermine this balance and must provide detailed explanations to regulators showing how they comply with these requirements. The changes directly affect private passenger auto insurance rates across the state and empower the Commissioner of Insurance to disapprove filings that fail to meet these equity standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows individuals in Massachusetts to petition the court to seal their eviction records if the eviction was not caused by nonpayment of rent or a breach of the lease agreement. The law defines specific terms such as "no-fault eviction" to clarify which cases are eligible for sealing and requires that all appeals be exhausted before a petition can be filed. By removing these records from public view, the legislation aims to help tenants with clean rental histories improve their chances of securing future housing. The changes apply to anyone with a relevant court record in the state's trial court system.