Sen. Becca Rausch

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to allow unaccompanied homeless youth between the ages of 15 and 18 to consent to their own shelter and supportive services without parental permission. It defines eligible services as resources for housing, education, employment, and emotional well-being, while specifying that a youth qualifies if they lack a fixed residence or face significant danger of homelessness. To access these services, a service provider must reasonably believe the minor understands the benefits, risks, and rules of the program and that the assistance is necessary for their safety. The legislation also permits a minor parent to consent to services for their own child under the same conditions.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts state laws to update terminology regarding individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Its primary function is to replace outdated terms like "handicapped persons" and "autistic" with modern, person-first language such as "persons with disabilities" and "individuals with disabilities." These changes affect various sections of Chapter 6 of the General Laws, which cover topics including employment weeks and general definitions used across state regulations. By standardizing this language, the legislation ensures that official documents and statutes reflect current respectful terminology without altering the substantive rights or programs available to these individuals.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance to provide cash and nutritional aid to immigrants who are lawfully admitted for permanent residence or permanently residing under color of law. It removes immigration status and citizenship requirements from eligibility for cash assistance programs for children, pregnant women, and caretaker adults, as well as for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The financial benefits and program rules would remain identical to those currently available to other residents, except for the exclusion of immigration status checks. Funding for these expanded benefits is contingent upon future state appropriations.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the language used in Massachusetts state law to refer to people with intellectual or developmental disabilities. It replaces older terms like "handicapped" and "autistic" with more modern and respectful phrasing such as "persons with disabilities" and "individuals with disabilities." The changes apply to various sections of the General Laws that govern employment, services, and support for people with disabilities. By updating these specific legal definitions, the bill ensures that official state documents use current terminology when discussing this population.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to ensure that public employee benefits apply to men and women who die while on active duty, regardless of whether their death is combat-related. The change directly affects state agencies and the families of public servants who lose their lives in military service. By removing the distinction between combat and non-combat deaths, the legislation broadens the scope of protections available to these service members and their dependents.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a pilot program in Massachusetts to provide diapers to low-income families with infants and young children. It establishes a dedicated trust fund that will be financed through state appropriations, interest, and unrestricted private donations to support diaper distribution organizations. The Department of Public Health will award grants to up to 12 applicants across the state's regions to purchase, store, and distribute diapers, with a requirement to report on the program's impact after one year.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Massachusetts Census Equity Commission to improve the accuracy of future federal census counts in the state. The commission will consist of 29 members, including state officials, local city and town council representatives, and community advocates, with a focus on reaching groups that are often undercounted. These undercounted groups include people experiencing homelessness, immigrants, racial and ethnic minorities, low-income individuals, and residents of rural areas. The commission is tasked with ensuring that all residents are counted during the census, which directly affects how federal funding and political representation are distributed.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the chief medical examiner in Massachusetts to review and approve autopsy findings for any child under the age of two who dies. The provision ensures that the official report determining the cause of death is verified by the chief medical examiner before it is finalized. By adding this layer of oversight, the legislation aims to increase certainty regarding the circumstances surrounding the deaths of infants and toddlers. It applies specifically to cases involving children younger than two years old and does not alter the process for older children or adults.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Massachusetts cities and towns to choose ranked choice voting for their municipal elections, giving local communities the option to replace traditional voting methods. Under this system, voters rank candidates in order of preference rather than selecting just one, and votes are counted in rounds where ballots for eliminated candidates transfer to the voter's next choice until a winner is decided. Municipalities can adopt this method through a ballot measure, local ordinance, or charter amendment, and they must create specific rules for how votes are counted and conduct voter education campaigns to help residents understand the process. The law also ensures that voters can still use write-in candidates and allows communities to return to their previous voting system after four years if they choose to do so.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new Outdoor Recreation Program in Massachusetts to support recreational activities and conservation projects. It creates a dedicated trust fund that automatically receives all state sales tax revenue generated from sporting goods stores, ensuring these funds remain separate from the general budget. The program is designed to provide grants for trails, parks, and nature-based initiatives while prioritizing access for underserved communities, including rural residents and people of color. Additionally, the legislation defines specific terms related to equity and recreational use to guide the program's implementation.