By Mr. Gomez, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 368) of Adam Gomez, Michael J. Barrett, Joanne M. Comerford, Jason M. Lewis and other members of the Senate for legislation to reduce exclusionary discipline for grooming and dress code violations. Education.
By Mr. Velis, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 834) of John C. Velis, Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr. and Michael O. Moore for legislation relative to the practice of acupuncture. Financial Services.
By Mr. Eldridge, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2099) of James B. Eldridge, Patricia D. Jehlen, Mike Connolly, Erika Uyterhoeven and other members of the General Court for legislation to provide sunlight to state government. Rules of the two branches, acting concurrently.
Maddy summaryThis bill (SD 936) ensures continuity of mental health treatment for insured individuals when their provider is involuntarily or voluntarily disenrolled from their insurance network (except for quality issues or fraud) or when the insurance company changes. It defines a "continuing course of treatment" as having at least one visit in the past four months for the same or similar mental health condition. The law requires insurance companies to allow patients to continue treatment with that provider through an out-of-network option, paying the usual network reimbursement rate (using the median rate if multiple exist) without adding extra costs or deductibles. Patients cannot be charged more for this option unless the insurance company provides actuarial proof of increased costs, which must be approved by the health department.
Maddy summaryThis bill (SD 947) requires health insurance plans to cover specific addiction and mental health treatments without preauthorization. It defines "acute treatment," "clinical stabilization," and "co-occurring treatment" services as 24-hour inpatient care for substance use and mental health conditions, with a 14-day maximum coverage limit. The law applies to state employee health plans (Section 1), Medicaid programs (Section 2), and private insurance policies meeting "creditable coverage" standards (Section 3), mandating coverage for these services while requiring facilities to notify insurers within 48 hours of admission. Utilization reviews can begin after day 7 of treatment. The policy change directly affects individuals seeking these treatments through these specific insurance programs.
By Mr. Cronin, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 703) of John J. Cronin, Jason M. Lewis, Michael O. Moore, John F. Keenan and other members of the Senate for legislation relative to community behavioral health centers. Financial Services.
Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Massachusetts school safety policies by restricting school resource officers (SROs) to only address serious criminal conduct (like violence or property damage), prohibiting them from handling routine discipline or non-violent disruptions. It requires school districts to annually report detailed data on student interactions with SROs (including arrests and referrals) and budgets for mental health support, with public disclosure of this information. Additionally, the bill creates grants for schools to adopt "holistic school health and safety practices" that avoid law enforcement involvement, such as restorative justice programs and relationship-building initiatives. These changes directly affect all public school districts, charter schools, and regional districts in Massachusetts, aiming to shift safety approaches away from punitive measures.
By Mr. Cyr, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 711) of Julian Cyr, Joanne M. Comerford, Paul R. Feeney and David T. Vieira for legislation to require prospective payment system methodology for reimbursement to community health centers. Financial Services.
By Mr. DiDomenico, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1507) of Sal N. DiDomenico, Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr., Lindsay N. Sabadosa, Joanne M. Comerford and others for legislation relative to the pediatric palliative care program. Public Health.
Senate, November 10, 2025 -- The committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure to whom was referred the petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 210) of John J. Cronin, Cindy F. Friedman, Sally P. Kerans, Jacob R. Oliveira and other members of the General Court for legislation to expand wheelchair warranty protections for consumers with disabilities, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2662).
