Sen. Becca Rausch

Maddy summaryThis bill requires state agencies and municipalities in Massachusetts to create and follow a formal information governance plan for managing their documents and data. The plan must include specific protocols for storing, naming, securing, and disposing of records while ensuring compliance with state retention schedules. It also mandates that these plans be made public, with the exception of any parts protected by legal privileges like attorney-client confidentiality. The Attorney General is assigned the responsibility of enforcing these new requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Massachusetts laws to streamline how individuals file complaints about public meetings and how government bodies respond to them. It requires complainants to submit their grievances within 20 business days and mandates that public bodies review and respond to these complaints within 14 business days, unless the body petitions the Attorney General for relief due to an excessive number of filings or other burdens. The legislation also clarifies that any remedial actions taken by a public body in response to a complaint cannot be used as evidence against them in future legal proceedings. Additionally, the bill modifies a provision regarding requests for information that are not intended for broad public dissemination.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts election laws to explicitly include the title "governor's councillor" in official ballot descriptions. By adding this specific phrase to two existing sections of the state's election code, the legislation ensures that the role is clearly identified for voters. The change is purely textual and does not alter the duties of the office or the election process itself.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits public schools in Massachusetts from suspending or expelling students in pre-kindergarten through third grade for disciplinary infractions. While it immediately bans these exclusions for the youngest students, it also extends the ban to fourth and fifth graders, with the changes taking effect one and two years after the law passes, respectively. To support educators, the legislation requires the state to provide guidance and resources for alternative behavior management strategies, such as mediation and restorative justice. The primary goal is to ensure that young children remain in the classroom to continue their learning and to address disparities in educational outcomes caused by strict discipline policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to update regulations requiring teacher training programs to include instruction on augmentative and alternative communication and assistive technologies. It also mandates that individual professional development plans for educators address the specific needs of students who are nonverbal or have limited speech. These changes aim to ensure that teachers are better equipped to support children with disabilities who rely on alternative methods of communication.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts education laws to establish stricter rules for school dress and grooming codes, aiming to prevent discriminatory practices against students. It requires that any such codes allow for religious head coverings, apply equally to all genders, and limit racial disparities in enforcement to no more than 10%. Additionally, the law prohibits suspending or expelling a student solely for violating a dress code and bans school employees from forcing students to undress or using physical contact to enforce these rules. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is tasked with creating necessary training and policies to ensure these new standards are properly implemented.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts education laws to clarify the rules for suspending and expelling students based on specific disciplinary actions. It updates the list of prohibited items to include certain devices and controlled substances like cocaine and heroin while explicitly excluding marijuana. The legislation also strengthens due process requirements by mandating that students receive written notice of charges and their right to a hearing before any suspension takes effect. Additionally, it ensures that all official notices regarding disciplinary actions are provided in both English and the student's primary home language. Finally, the bill expands the grounds for expulsion to include situations where a student poses a specific, documentable concern of inflicting serious bodily injury on others.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Massachusetts governor to issue an annual proclamation designating March 21 as Massachusetts Child Nutrition Day. It also mandates that food service companies serving public schools ensure at least 50% of their weekly lunch entrées are healthy options containing whole grains, vegetables, fruits, legumes, and fiber-rich proteins. Additionally, the law prohibits schools from serving more than 20% of their lunch entrées as ultra-processed foods or items with excessive cholesterol and saturated fat. To enforce these rules, providers must publicly share monthly nutrition data, and they will have a three-year phase-in period to meet the new requirements.