Sen. Becca Rausch

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Massachusetts employers with at least 50 employees to offer all non-unionized workers the chance to use pre-tax dollars for commuting via transit or carpooling. Under the new rules, these employers must provide access to benefits that allow employees to deduct up to the federal maximum limit from their gross income for transportation costs. To support compliance, the state Department of Revenue will launch a multilingual awareness campaign and create model materials to help employers inform their staff about these options. Employers who fail to offer these benefits face fines of $100 for the first violation and $250 for each subsequent month of non-compliance, with a cap of one fine per month per employer. The financial penalties for non-compliance will not take effect until one year after the law is passed.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts unemployment insurance laws to align the definition of an "employee" with the standard used by the federal government. Specifically, it removes a clause that previously excluded individuals whose work was performed outside the employer's usual business activities from receiving unemployment benefits. The change directly affects workers whose jobs do not fit within their company's standard operations, ensuring they are treated consistently with federal guidelines. By harmonizing these definitions, the legislation aims to clarify eligibility criteria for unemployment compensation without altering the overall benefit structure.

Maddy summaryThis bill, titled "An Act to provide sunlight to state government," aims to increase transparency in Massachusetts state legislative proceedings. It requires legislative committees to post public testimony submission contact information on the General Court website and mandates that recorded committee votes be published online within 48 hours. Additionally, the law directs committees to make submitted testimony available to the public while allowing for the redaction of sensitive personal or safety-related information, and it encourages the promotion of diversity among expert witness panels. The legislation also extends public access requirements to include records from the office of the governor.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Massachusetts laws to allow audiologists and otolaryngologists to sell hearing aids to patients they have treated, provided they clearly disclose all associated costs and inform the patient of their right to purchase the device elsewhere. The legislation specifically permits these professionals to sell hearing aids even when employed by or affiliated with an otolaryngologist, removing a previous restriction that generally prohibited physicians from selling such devices. By mandating full financial transparency and offering patients the option to seek services from a different source, the bill aims to increase consumer choice and access to hearing aids.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Massachusetts employers with 50 or more employees to offer all eligible workers the chance to use pre-tax funds for commuting via transit or carpooling. It defines specific terms for employees and employers while excluding the federal government from these requirements. Employers who fail to provide this option face fines of $100 for a first offense and $250 for each subsequent month of non-compliance. The legislation also mandates a public awareness campaign to inform workers about these benefits and establishes a confidential reporting system for violations.

Maddy summaryThis bill aims to prevent workers from being incorrectly classified as independent contractors instead of employees, which would deny them access to unemployment insurance. It achieves this by amending state law to remove a specific condition that currently allows employers to classify workers as contractors if their work is performed outside the usual course of the employer's business. By eliminating this exception, the legislation ensures that individuals performing services for an employer are more likely to be recognized as employees for unemployment insurance purposes. The change directly affects workers and businesses by clarifying the criteria used to determine employment status under the state's unemployment insurance system.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts employment law to declare any contract clause that forces an employee to give up their legal rights against discrimination, retaliation, harassment, or wage theft as invalid and unenforceable. It specifically protects workers from being forced to sign agreements that require them to waive these rights before any dispute has occurred, ensuring such waivers cannot be used to block future claims. Employers who ask employees to sign these invalid waivers or retaliate against workers for refusing them face liability for damages and legal fees. Additionally, the law ensures that courts, rather than arbitrators, decide whether a waiver is invalid, and it allows employees to void arbitration agreements that contain these prohibited waivers once a dispute arises.

Maddy summaryThis bill aims to increase access to hearing aids by modifying existing laws that currently restrict how physicians and audiologists can sell these devices. It allows audiologists and otolaryngologists to sell hearing aids to patients they have treated, provided they clearly disclose all fees and costs before the sale and inform the patient of their right to purchase elsewhere. Additionally, the legislation permits audiologists and hearing instrument specialists to sell hearing aids while working for or being affiliated with an otolaryngologist. These changes are designed to reduce barriers for patients seeking hearing care by expanding who can provide these services and ensuring transparency in pricing.