Sen. John Velis

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Massachusetts Healthy Homes Program to assist property owners in addressing health and safety hazards like mold, lead, and pests in their residential buildings. It establishes a dedicated fund that can be financed through state appropriations, interest earnings, and voluntary contributions from private entities and individuals. The program defines specific categories of eligible applicants, including owner-occupants, small landlords, and larger landlords, who must own properties with identified habitability concerns. Additionally, the legislation requires the state department to coordinate with existing organizations that provide home repair services and allows the department to contract with these groups to administer the program.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program to clarify how the state distributes rental assistance to low-income households. It establishes that the program will use both mobile vouchers, which allow families to choose their own housing, and project-based vouchers tied to specific buildings. The legislation sets income limits for eligibility at 80 percent of the area median income and requires that at least 75 percent of vouchers go to families earning no more than 30 percent of that median. Additionally, the bill defines how much rent the program will cover, generally allowing subsidies up to 110 percent of the fair market rent, with specific exceptions for people with disabilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows movable tiny houses to be used as permanent homes or secondary living spaces in Massachusetts. It defines these structures as transportable units under 400 square feet that must be built to state safety standards but with lower insulation requirements than traditional homes. The legislation creates a new registration category for these homes, requiring them to be permanently attached to a vehicle chassis and establishing a process for issuing titles and certificates of occupancy after 180 days of residence. Local towns are permitted to set their own rules as long as they do not use design criteria to ban these units, and they may offer tax incentives to encourage their use.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts insurance laws to allow licensed agents to earn up to three hours of continuing education credit annually for maintaining an active membership in The National Association of Insurance and Financial Agents of Massachusetts. Under the new provision, agents can receive a total of nine hours of credit over any 36-month period if they are required to complete at least 45 hours of education during that time. The change directly affects insurance license holders who are subject to the state's continuing education requirements and wish to count their professional association membership toward those obligations.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Massachusetts schools to establish naloxone overdose prevention programs if approved by local authorities or a majority of regional school districts. Once adopted, the law requires every school nurse to receive training on administering naloxone and to keep the medication available in their office. The legislation also permits school districts to seek guidance from the state departments of education and public health when developing these safety protocols.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a Women's Veterans Network within the Massachusetts Department of Veterans' Services to better support female veterans. The network will hire a coordinator to conduct outreach, review existing programs, and develop online resources that explain available benefits and services. It requires the office to include women veterans' needs in strategic planning and to distribute benefit information to eligible individuals. Additionally, the network must submit an annual report to the state legislature and governor detailing outreach efforts and the demographics of women veterans in Massachusetts.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new Board of Registration of Recovery Coaches within the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to oversee the licensure of recovery coaches. The board will consist of twelve appointed members representing diverse backgrounds, including individuals with lived experience of substance use disorder, healthcare professionals, and family members. Key provisions include defining a licensed recovery coach as someone who uses mutual empowerment to help others recover, setting up a three-year term structure for board members, and granting the board authority to create regulations and process licensure applications. Ultimately, the legislation creates a formal regulatory framework to ensure that recovery coaches meet specific standards and operate under a recognized title.

Senate, March 7, 2024 -- Text of the Senate amendment (Senator Velis) to the House Bill amending the charter of the city of Easthampton (House, No. 3959).

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to include specific law enforcement groups in a program that provides financial equity to police officers disabled by cardiac disease. The changes directly affect officers working for the University of Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Port Authority, state universities and community colleges, and the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs. By adding these groups to the existing list of eligible agencies, the legislation ensures they receive the same disability benefits as other covered police forces.