Sen. Sal DiDomenico

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts corporate tax laws to increase the state excise tax rate from 9.0% to 10.5% for tax years starting on or after January 1, 2023. The legislation directly affects corporations subject to the state excise tax by raising the rate on their taxable net income. Additionally, the bill adjusts the corresponding income tax rate for corporations from 8.0% to 9.5% effective the same date. These changes reverse previous reductions in tax rates that were in place since 2012.

Maddy summaryThis Massachusetts bill establishes a tiered corporate minimum tax that requires businesses to pay a set fee based on their annual sales within the state. Companies with less than one million dollars in sales pay $456, while those with over one billion dollars in sales pay $150,000, with specific amounts set for every sales bracket in between. The tax applies to corporations operating in Massachusetts starting with tax years that begin on or after January 1, 2023.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Massachusetts businesses to claim a tax deduction equal to half of the costs they incur for providing home energy efficiency audits to their employees. To qualify for this benefit, the company must hire both an energy auditor and a contractor to perform the work, and the services must follow an approved energy efficiency plan. The audit itself must be rigorous enough to identify energy losses and include on-site implementation of efficiency measures meeting specific industry standards. This change directly affects domestic and foreign corporations operating in the state that wish to offer this specific benefit to their workforce.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a comprehensive educational diversion program to address the legal and social consequences of adolescents sharing sexual images, commonly known as sexting. It requires the Attorney General to create this curriculum in collaboration with state education and youth services departments, which will be used to divert minors from court proceedings if they are charged with related offenses. The program also mandates that schools integrate media literacy instruction using the same materials to help students understand the risks of online image sharing. Additionally, the legislation expands the legal definition of abuse to include coercive control and increases fines for certain offenses.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Massachusetts laws to ban the sale of specific mercury-containing fluorescent light bulbs, aiming to reduce environmental contamination from these lamps. Starting January 1, 2024, screw and bayonet base compact fluorescent lamps will be prohibited, with a complete ban on pin-base compact and linear fluorescent lamps taking effect on January 1, 2025. The legislation includes important exceptions for specialized uses, such as lamps required for medical germicidal applications, industrial printing, and scientific research involving coral or ozone generation. By clearly defining which light sources are restricted and which are exempt, the law provides a structured timeline for retailers and consumers to transition away from older lighting technologies.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires energy facility developers to create a detailed preliminary statement before applying for permits, specifically analyzing risks to public health, the environment, and climate within a five-mile radius of the proposed site. The proposal mandates that applicants identify nearby environmental justice populations, share the project details with local community groups and officials, and hold a review meeting to address concerns before submitting a formal petition. Additionally, the legislation establishes an independent energy facilities siting board to oversee the permitting process, ensuring that projects minimize negative impacts on communities and the environment while maintaining a reliable energy supply.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a special commission to study the long-term financial health and sustainability of special education programs across Massachusetts. The commission will include representatives from the state legislature, the Department of Education, and various local education and parent organizations. Its main tasks involve analyzing student enrollment and costs, reviewing transportation and service delivery methods, and examining how districts manage special education funding and compliance with state and federal laws. The group must submit its findings and recommendations to the state legislature by January 1, 2024.

Senate, June 6, 2024 -- The committee on Education, to whom was referred the petitions (accompanied by resolve, Senate, No. 241) of Joanne M. Comerford that provisions be made for an investigation and study by a special commission (including members of the General Court) relative to special education funding reform; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 249) of Cynthia Stone Creem and Vanna Howard for legislation to ensure equitable access to education, including special education services, for all students in Massachusetts; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 269) of Ryan C. Fattman for legislation to prevent discrimination in interscholastic athletic and extracurricular activities; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 324) of Patrick M. O'Connor for legislation relative to accommodations for special needs students taking the MCAS examination; (accompanied by resolve, Senate, No. 332) of Jacob R. Oliveira, Adam Scanlon, Lydia Edwards, Patrick M. O'Connor and other members of the General Court that provisions be made for an investigation and study by a special commission (including members of the General Court) relative to the long-term fiscal health and sustainability of special education in the Commonwealth; and (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 356) of Bruce E. Tarr for legislation relative to conduct a study on the delivery of special education services, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2807).

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to strengthen protections against discrimination by government entities. It establishes clear definitions for key terms such as age, disability, and familial status, while also introducing the concept of "discriminatory effect" to cover policies that disproportionately harm protected groups even without intentional bias. The legislation requires government programs to provide a legally sufficient justification, which must be narrowly tailored and supported by concrete evidence, to avoid being found discriminatory. These changes aim to make it easier for individuals to challenge unfair government actions and ensure that policies do not inadvertently exclude or disadvantage people based on their characteristics.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to restrict visitation and custody rights for parents convicted of or facing charges for specific sexual offenses against their children. It directly affects cases where a parent has been found guilty or cleared without a finding of crimes such as rape or incest, preventing them from automatically obtaining court-ordered access to a child conceived during the crime. The legislation establishes that these parents can only gain visitation or custody if a judge determines it is in the child's best interests and the mother explicitly agrees to the arrangement. Importantly, the bill clarifies that denying parental rights does not stop the perpetrator from being ordered to pay child support or from the child inheriting from them. It also ensures that a lack of conviction does not automatically prove the crime did not happen, requiring clear and convincing evidence for any legal determination.