Sen. Becca Rausch

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Massachusetts Foreclosure Prevention Program designed to help homeowners facing the risk of losing their homes. The program establishes supervised conferences where borrowers and creditors meet with trained monitors to negotiate sustainable alternatives to foreclosure, such as loan modifications or repayment plans. Eligible participants include homeowners who have received a notice of right to cure, those at imminent risk of default, individuals referred by judges, and borrowers in active bankruptcy cases with permission from the court. The law defines specific rules for who can attend these conferences, ensuring that the creditor's representative at the meeting is not the borrower's attorney.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new process for the state health commissioner to officially designate specific contagious or infectious diseases as having heightened public health importance. Once a disease is designated, the law requires various health insurance plans, including those for government employees and private commercial policies, to cover related prevention, diagnosis, and treatment services without charging patients copayments, deductibles, or requiring prior authorization. The commissioner must notify relevant insurance regulators and healthcare providers immediately after making a designation and must review the list of designated diseases at least once a year to renew or remove them.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires licensed building contractors in Massachusetts who renovate or remodel their own homes and later sell them to provide an implied warranty of habitability to the buyer. The law mandates that these renovations must meet all applicable building codes and be fit for human living, similar to standards for new construction or rental properties. This warranty remains in effect for three years after the sale and cannot be waived by the contract, holding contractors financially responsible for any resulting personal injury or property damage. Additionally, the bill modifies the existing six-year statute of repose, which limits how long a contractor can be sued, by removing this time limit for contractors who fail to obtain required permits and inspections.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts state laws to streamline access to gender-affirming health care for transgender and non-binary individuals. It prohibits insurance companies, healthcare divisions, and other regulated entities from rejecting a single letter from a qualified mental health professional that confirms the medical necessity of such care. The legislation defines a qualified professional as one who meets specific training standards set by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health. By limiting the documentation required to one letter, the bill aims to reduce administrative barriers and ensure that individuals can receive necessary treatments without facing unnecessary delays or denials.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a grant program in Massachusetts to help school districts afford zero-emission school buses and the charging infrastructure needed to run them. The state will provide funding to cover the price difference between buying electric buses and traditional diesel buses, with a specific focus on directing money to environmental justice communities. To ensure these areas get priority, the program will automatically notify and offer assistance to districts with lower median incomes or higher rates of childhood asthma. Additionally, the bill requires the state to publish detailed data on grants awarded and emissions reduced, while also setting up a statewide contract to simplify the process for districts purchasing these new vehicles.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to improve legal support and housing security for people facing eviction or the loss of housing subsidies. It creates a new advisory committee to oversee the program and defines specific legal actions, such as those involving mobile home parks or public housing, as "covered proceedings." The legislation designates non-profit organizations to provide legal counsel to individuals involved in these housing-related cases. By formalizing this support system, the bill aims to ensure that tenants have access to legal representation when their housing stability is at risk.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates an agricultural healthy incentives program in Massachusetts that directly affects Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients. The program would allow these individuals to receive a matching benefit on their EBT cards when they purchase fresh, canned, dried, or frozen fruits and vegetables at participating vendors. The Department of Transitional Assistance, in partnership with the Department of Agricultural Resources and the Department of Public Health, would operate the program and set specific spending limits. This initiative aims to encourage healthier food choices among low-income families by providing financial incentives for buying produce.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands eligibility for in-state tuition rates and state financial aid at Massachusetts public colleges and universities to high school graduates who have attended and graduated from a local high school for at least three years, regardless of their immigration status. It specifically excludes nonimmigrant aliens on certain federal visa categories and the University of Massachusetts Medical School and School of Law from these provisions. To qualify, eligible students must provide proof of their social security or taxpayer identification number, documentation of selective service registration if applicable, and an affidavit stating their intent to apply for citizenship or legal permanent residence within 120 days. The legislation clarifies that these students cannot be denied in-state benefits based on their eligibility under this new rule.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new program in Massachusetts that matches Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits when recipients buy fruits and vegetables. The Department of Transitional Assistance will run this initiative alongside the Departments of Agricultural Resources and Public Health to encourage healthier food choices among SNAP users. A dedicated state fund will be established to finance these matching benefits through various sources, including federal grants and private donations. The program specifically applies to purchases at participating vendors and covers fresh, canned, dried, or frozen produce.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Massachusetts labor laws to allow public employees to strike after a mandatory six-month negotiation period. It extends the time required for mediation in labor disputes to no more than six months and removes certain restrictions that previously applied once negotiations reached an impasse. The law specifically prohibits strikes, work stoppages, or service slowdowns by public safety workers and other public employees until this six-month window has passed. These changes directly affect public sector workers and their unions by altering the timeline and conditions under which they can legally stop working.