Sen. Jamie Eldridge

Maddy summaryH 4651 creates the Open Educational Resource (OER) Trust Fund to reduce college textbook costs for students at Massachusetts public institutions. The fund will support the development and distribution of free, high-quality digital textbooks and learning materials, replacing expensive commercial course materials. It requires the Department of Higher Education to administer the fund, review private donations to prevent restrictions, and mandate competitive grants for OER adoption. Public colleges must inform students about OER courses, and the department must annually report on fund usage and savings to the legislature. This directly affects students by lowering course material expenses, a major factor in college affordability.

Maddy summaryH 4396 creates a permanent Law Revision Commission to identify and recommend updates to outdated or inconsistent state laws. The commission, composed of legal experts appointed by legislative leaders, the governor, and legal organizations, will examine statutes, common law, and judicial decisions to eliminate archaic provisions, improve law accessibility, and consolidate session laws. It must submit annual reports with specific reform recommendations to legislative committees. This procedural bill establishes a process for law modernization but does not enact specific policy changes itself.

Maddy summaryH 4650 removes a licensing exam requirement for certain social workers in Massachusetts, renaming "Licensed Certified Social Workers" to "Licensed Independent Clinical Social Workers" to streamline the process. It creates a new paid internship grant program for Master of Social Work (MSW) students from historically marginalized and low-income communities, funded through state or federal resources. The bill also allows licensed clinical social workers to earn continuing education credits for supervising interns. These changes aim to increase workforce diversity and retention, with an evaluation required to assess impacts on access to mental health services and workforce diversity, effective January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHD 2192 establishes the Open Educational Resource (OER) Trust Fund to reduce college costs for students at Massachusetts public institutions of higher education. The bill creates a dedicated fund to develop, distribute, and promote free or low-cost course materials (like textbooks and digital resources) instead of expensive commercial textbooks. Public colleges must use these materials in eligible courses, and the fund supports faculty training, technical assistance, and competitive grants for institutions to implement OER. The law requires annual public reporting on fund usage, savings for students, and grant outcomes. This directly affects students facing textbook cost burdens and public colleges implementing OER programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes the examination requirement for Licensed Certified Social Workers (LCSWs) and narrows exam focus to Licensed Independent Clinical Social Workers (LICSWs). It creates a paid practicum grant program for Master of Social Work (MSW) students in Massachusetts, prioritizing recruitment and retention from historically marginalized and low-income communities. The bill also allows supervisors providing one-on-one mentoring to earn up to 8 continuing education credits per licensing period. An evaluation of the exam removal's impact on workforce diversity, access to behavioral health services, and patient care for vulnerable populations is required, to be submitted to relevant legislative committees.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires state employees to receive training about federal student loan forgiveness. It mandates an annual training program and an online module during new employee onboarding to help workers understand eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF) administered by the U.S. Department of Education. The student loan ombudsman and human services division must coordinate this training. It directly affects all current and new state employees in Massachusetts. The policy change focuses on increasing awareness of existing federal loan forgiveness options through state-led education.

Maddy summarySD 804 establishes a special commission to study whether single-stair multi-family residential buildings (up to six stories) can be legalized in Massachusetts. The commission, composed of fire safety experts, architects, building officials, and housing advocates, will develop a building code amendment that includes safety measures for these structures. It must build on prior research and analyze safety comparisons to two-stair buildings, plus create an implementation plan. The study will be funded with $250,000 from the General Fund. This bill does not change current law but sets the stage for potential future code updates affecting developers and residents of mid-rise housing.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a state-mandated bereavement leave policy in Massachusetts. It requires most employers to allow employees up to 10 business days of leave within a 12-month period following the death of a covered family member (including children, parents, spouses, siblings, or partners in a substantive dating relationship living with the employee) to handle funeral arrangements, attend services, or grieve. Employers must permit the leave but decide whether it is paid or unpaid, and employees must request leave within 30 days of learning of the death. The law exempts employers with fewer than 10 employees in the Commonwealth and takes effect on January 1, 2025.

By Ms. Comerford, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 959) of Joanne M. Comerford for legislation to provide for energy assistance during the summer months. Housing.

By Mr. Oliveira, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1361) of Jacob R. Oliveira for legislation to establish paid prenatal leave program that would require employers to give employees twenty-four hours of paid prenatal leave during a fifty-two-week calendar. Labor and Workforce Development.