Sen. Adam Gómez

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to prevent unnecessary vacancies in homes that have been foreclosed upon, directly affecting tenants living in such properties and the entities that acquire them. It establishes specific definitions for terms like "foreclosing owner" and "foreclosure sale purchaser" to clarify which organizations are subject to new rules. The legislation sets conditions under which a tenant can be evicted after a foreclosure, requiring valid reasons such as non-payment of rent or lease violations, and mandates that new owners pay a fair market rent if no agreement is reached. By updating Chapter 186A of the General Laws, the bill aims to ensure that homes do not sit empty unnecessarily while protecting the rights of existing tenants during the transition of ownership.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the Massachusetts Victim and Witness Assistance Board to better support crime victims and witnesses by clarifying its duties and expanding its resources. It requires the board to distribute a summary of victim rights in English and the top five most spoken languages at home in all courthouses and police stations. The legislation also grants the board authority to manage the Garden of Peace memorial in Boston, administer the SAFEPLAN advocacy program, and fund professional development for victim service providers. Additionally, the bill mandates that the board create its own internal bylaws and allows it to accept donations specifically for maintaining the memorial garden.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Massachusetts' public pension funds to stop investing in companies that make or sell ammunition and firearms for civilian use. It defines these companies as those deriving more than 15% of their revenue from such products and mandates that the pension board identify all current investments in these firms within 90 days. The legislation directs the fund to sell these holdings over a 12-month period while exempting investments in mutual funds that hold these companies. Ultimately, the bill aims to align the state's retirement investments with its existing gun control laws by removing financial support for the firearms industry.

Maddy summaryThis bill reformulates Massachusetts hate crime laws by expanding data collection and clarifying legal definitions. It requires law enforcement agencies and community groups to submit detailed hate crime reports to a central repository, which will analyze and publish this information quarterly and annually. The legislation also updates the definition of harassment to include digital communications and lowers the threshold for proving a hate crime by allowing conduct to be classified as such even if the protected characteristic is not the sole reason for the act. Additionally, the bill mandates that state agencies develop best practices for prevention, restorative justice, and culturally competent outreach. These changes directly affect police departments, prosecutors, judges, and community organizations involved in handling hate crime incidents.

Maddy summaryThis bill restricts Massachusetts law enforcement agencies from entering into new or extended agreements with federal authorities regarding immigration detention and deputization. It requires any such agreement or federal deputization to receive prior written authorization from the Governor, ensuring state control over these partnerships. Additionally, the law limits existing immigration detention contracts to a maximum of ninety days after the bill takes effect. The Attorney General is empowered to take legal action against any entity that violates these restrictions, while allowing officers to continue their standard public safety duties.

Maddy summaryStavri's Law requires Massachusetts courts to record specific details about individuals who make suicidal threats or engage in suicidal behavior while in court custody. The bill mandates that judges enter the person's name, address, age, reason for detention, and the nature and date of the incident into the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services computer system. This requirement applies to both people facing criminal charges and those involved in civil commitment proceedings related to mental health. The law aims to create a centralized record of these events to improve tracking and response protocols for at-risk individuals within the justice system.

Maddy summaryThis bill streamlines the process for sealing criminal and juvenile court records in Massachusetts by mandating that agencies complete sealing within 90 days of eligibility. It also allows individuals with sealed records to access their own files without needing a court order or having to unseal them first. Additionally, the legislation requires the commissioner of probation to clear eligible records from their files within six months of the law taking effect. These changes directly affect residents seeking to remove past legal records from public view and improve their access to those documents.

Maddy summaryThis Massachusetts bill aims to protect the presumption of innocence and reduce negative long-term impacts for individuals charged with crimes but not convicted. It requires courts and agencies to immediately seal records for offenses that did not result in a conviction or a guilty plea, removing the need for individuals to file separate requests to do so. The law also mandates that anyone receiving criminal records must be informed that a presumption of innocence applies to pending or non-convicted cases, and it grants individuals direct access to their own sealed records without needing a court order. Additionally, the bill clarifies that juvenile records for offenses not transferred to adult court will be sealed immediately if no adjudication occurs, unless the juvenile objects.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to allow courts to approve the sale of vacant residential properties under receivership to nonprofit organizations. The sale must be at fair market value and is strictly conditioned on the nonprofit fixing all existing sanitary code violations and rehabilitating the home for affordable sale to a first-time homebuyer earning no more than 120 percent of the median income. Before the court can approve such a sale, it must determine that the nonprofit has the necessary expertise and resources to complete the required repairs. Additionally, the bill ensures that property owners and other interested parties have at least thirty days to propose their own plans to correct code violations, which would delay the sale if those plans are deemed feasible.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Massachusetts laws to clarify how bail is handled outside of regular court hours. It establishes that the Trial Court will fund compensation for authorized individuals who take bail after hours, provided there is available money. Additionally, the legislation allows these authorized persons to administer oaths electronically through wire or electronic means while prohibiting them from delegating their duties to others. These changes aim to streamline the bail process during evenings and weekends without altering the fundamental requirements for setting bail.