Sen. Cynthia Creem

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to clarify definitions regarding firearms, specifically targeting unserialized weapons known as ghost guns. It establishes precise meanings for terms like "frame," "receiver," and "unfinished frame or receiver" to ensure that parts intended for assembling functional guns are legally recognized. The legislation also defines "ghost guns" as those manufactured without a valid serial number and expands the scope to include nonmetallic firearms that might evade standard security detection. By updating these definitions, the bill aims to close legal gaps that currently allow individuals to assemble firearms without proper identification or tracking.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Massachusetts prisons and county facilities to maximize time outside of cells and expand access to education, work, and rehabilitation programs for incarcerated individuals. It mandates that all incarcerated people receive at least one hour of daily group programming, eight hours of out-of-cell time without physical restraints, and one hour of outdoor recreation, while also ensuring access to culturally appropriate commissary and visitation rights. The legislation aims to promote human rights by prohibiting discrimination based on race, gender identity, or other characteristics and by allowing inmates to form peer support groups. Additionally, it requires that good conduct deductions be earned through a combination of in-person and virtual activities to facilitate successful re-entry into society.

Senate, July 19, 2024 -- Text of the Senate amendment (Senator Creem) to the House Bill facilitating the appropriation and expenditure of community preservation funds for community housing purposes in the town of Wellesley (House, No. 4042)

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a state-run Fresh Start Program within the Executive Office of Public Safety to help individuals remove or anonymize negative online stories about their past criminal offenses. The program allows people to submit requests for changes to published articles, while a new Fresh Start Coordinating Council reviews these applications and sets guidelines for media outlets to follow. The Council, composed of twenty-five members including representatives from the media, law enforcement, and formerly incarcerated individuals, will oversee the process and report annually on its progress. Additionally, the bill updates the age threshold for certain youth-related reporting standards from 18 to 25.

Senate, July 11, 2024 -- Text of amendment (474) (offered by Senator Crighton) to the Ways and Means amendment (Senate, No. 2856) to the Senate Bill relative to economic development

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources to create guidelines requiring the use of low-embodied carbon concrete in state construction projects. It mandates that contractors and subcontractors certify their work meets specific standards and submit periodic test reports to verify compliance. Additionally, the law establishes a stakeholder advisory group comprising engineers, architects, industry representatives, and academics to help set these guidelines. The bill also requires the department to consider incentives like bid credits and to evaluate options such as mandatory carbon thresholds or performance-based specifications for future projects.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires state agencies in Massachusetts to prioritize the purchase of building materials with lower carbon footprints when constructing new projects. Starting in 2024, the state's capital asset management division must set maximum limits for greenhouse gas emissions for materials like steel, concrete, and wood, ensuring these limits do not increase over time. Contractors bidding on state projects will be required to provide detailed environmental reports proving their materials meet these strict emission standards. The law applies specifically to new building projects but excludes routine maintenance and road work.

By Representative Vitolo of Brookline and Senator Creem, a joint petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Tommy Vitolo and Cynthia Stone Creem (by vote of the town) that the town of Brookline be authorized to adopt green zoning by-laws and regulations in said town. Municipalities and Regional Government. [Local Approval Received.]

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the ability of individuals in Massachusetts to have their juvenile and young adult criminal records permanently erased from public view. It primarily affects people who were arrested as minors or young adults and whose cases did not result in a conviction or delinquency adjudication. The law removes strict limits on the number of offenses eligible for expungement and extends the waiting period for felonies to seven years while reducing it to three years for misdemeanors and juvenile cases. Additionally, the legislation clarifies that expunged records cannot be used to identify individuals except for statistical or research purposes and prohibits the sharing of fingerprints for arrests made before a person reaches the age of criminal majority.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the senior circuit breaker program in Massachusetts to help older homeowners pay less in property taxes. It directly affects seniors who must pay for their own Medicare Part A insurance because they do not qualify for it for free. The law requires that these Medicare payments be added to the amount of property taxes a senior can exclude from their income when calculating their tax bill. Additionally, the bill raises the maximum property value that qualifies for this tax relief, allowing it to be either $600,000 or the average home value in the town, whichever is higher.