Sen. Becca Rausch

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Massachusetts Plastics Reduction Act to limit the use of single-use plastics by retailers and state agencies. It requires businesses to charge a minimum fee of 10 cents for recycled paper carryout bags while prohibiting the provision of plastic bags unless they are reusable or recycled paper. The legislation also mandates that disposable food service items like straws and utensils be available only upon customer request and restricts state agencies from purchasing small single-use plastic bottles. Additionally, the bill directs the Department of Environmental Protection to create a program for recycling bulk plastic materials and grants municipalities the ability to develop local recycling initiatives.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Board of Registration in Midwifery within the Department of Public Health to oversee the licensing and regulation of midwives in the state. The board will consist of eight appointed members, including licensed midwives with significant experience, a physician, a nurse-midwife, and a public representative, with specific requirements for members to address racial disparities in maternal health. Additionally, the legislation establishes a new Board of Allied Health Professions that includes representatives from various health fields such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and lactation consulting. The bill also expands the legal definition of "licensed midwife" to allow them to issue prescriptions and grants local health agencies the authority to conduct in-depth reviews of fetal and infant deaths to improve community health services.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Board of Registration in Midwifery within the Department of Public Health to oversee and regulate the practice of midwifery in the state. The board will consist of nine appointed members, including licensed midwives, obstetricians, and a public representative, with a specific requirement to consider racial disparities in maternal health during appointments. Additionally, the legislation expands the definition of who can prescribe medication to include licensed midwives and establishes a program for postpartum depression screenings for state employees. It also updates various state laws to formally recognize and define the roles of certified nurse-midwives and licensed midwives across different departments.

Maddy summaryThis law establishes a mandatory educational diversion program in Massachusetts for minors charged with specific offenses related to possessing or sharing sexual images, commonly known as sexting. The Attorney General will lead the creation of this program in collaboration with various state agencies and community groups, focusing on informing youth about legal penalties, social consequences, and the risks of online image sharing. If a child is charged with these offenses, the court will typically pause legal proceedings to require the completion of this program instead of immediate prosecution, unless the district attorney objects. Successful completion of the program allows the case to be dismissed, while failure to participate results in the case being restored for standard legal processing. Additionally, the bill expands the legal definition of abuse to include "coercive control" and requires schools to teach media literacy skills using materials from the new diversion program.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts William McGrath, the police chief of Wrentham, from the standard age limit for police officers. It allows him to continue serving until he turns 70 or is removed from his position, provided a town-appointed physician confirms he remains mentally and physically capable of performing his duties. Additionally, the legislation ensures that no further deductions are made from his salary after age 65 and guarantees his retirement benefits will match what he would have received had he retired at 65.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities to create financial rebates for electric vehicle owners who charge their cars during off-peak hours. The department must organize a process where utility companies propose these discounts based on factors like reduced strain on the power grid and lower energy costs. Once the proposals are finalized, the utilities are required to begin offering these rebates within six months of the process starting. The goal is to encourage drivers to charge their vehicles when electricity demand is low, while ensuring that different utility providers offer similar discount structures.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires electric utility companies in Massachusetts to create and regularly update climate vulnerability and resilience plans to protect power grids from extreme weather. These plans must identify risks like rising sea levels and storms, prioritize nature-based solutions where possible, and include a specific outreach strategy to engage with environmental justice communities. The legislation also mandates that utilities consider these climate risks when calculating rates and planning future infrastructure investments. Additionally, the bill establishes requirements for disclosing the climate data and assumptions used in engineering designs to ensure long-term grid reliability.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires married couples in Massachusetts to file a joint state income tax return if they file a joint federal return. The law applies to all tax years beginning after December 31, 2022, and directly affects married taxpayers who currently file separately at the state level. By mandating joint filing for those who file jointly federally, the legislation aims to prevent high-income individuals from using separate state filings to reduce their tax liability.

By Representative O'Day of West Boylston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2908) of James J. O'Day and others relative to excluding certain income from the calculation of the tax on incomes in excess of one million dollars. Revenue.

By Representative O'Day of West Boylston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2909) of James J. O'Day and others for legislation to require certain married couples to submit joint income tax returns. Revenue.