Sen. Susan Moran

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a pilot program in Massachusetts to regulate the safe use of psilocybin for treating mental health and substance use disorders. It creates a funding source to support qualified healthcare providers who have received federal approval to offer psilocybin-assisted therapy to eligible patients. Additionally, the legislation forms a new advisory board to oversee the program's development, ensure safety standards, and plan for future regulations once federal approval is granted.

Maddy summaryThis bill aims to improve the management of Massachusetts probate registries by clarifying the authority of registers to hire and oversee staff. It creates new positions for first and assistant registers of probate in various counties, specifying the number of employees each county can appoint and defining their three-year terms. The legislation also eliminates the administrative deputy assistant register role while allowing current holders to keep their jobs, and it increases the number of assistant judicial case managers available in certain counties. Ultimately, the act updates state laws to provide more structured staffing options for probate courts across the Commonwealth.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows individuals in Massachusetts to petition the court to seal their eviction records if the eviction was not caused by nonpayment of rent or a breach of the lease agreement. The law defines specific terms such as "no-fault eviction" to clarify which cases are eligible for sealing and requires that all appeals be exhausted before a petition can be filed. By removing these records from public view, the legislation aims to help tenants with clean rental histories improve their chances of securing future housing. The changes apply to anyone with a relevant court record in the state's trial court system.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Massachusetts Tourism Trust Fund to require that grants given to regional tourism councils be distributed by September 1 of the fiscal year they are allocated. The law directly affects regional tourism councils in the state by setting a specific deadline for receiving their funding. This change aims to ensure that these councils receive their allocated money in a timely manner to support local tourism initiatives. The provision does not create new funding but rather establishes a schedule for the release of existing funds.

Maddy summaryThis bill aims to improve how Massachusetts collects and reports data on minors involved with law enforcement and the juvenile justice system. It requires the Child Advocate to gather annual statistics from various government departments on how juveniles interact with the justice system, including specific details about decisions made at different stages of the process. The legislation mandates that this data be broken down by demographic factors such as age, race, gender identity, and sexual orientation to allow for more detailed analysis. Additionally, the bill updates legal definitions to ensure consistent reporting on gender identity and sexual orientation while expanding the scope of mental health data to include child welfare systems. These changes are designed to provide the governor, state officials, and the public with a clearer, more comprehensive picture of the juvenile justice landscape in the Commonwealth.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends state law to include municipal natural resource officers and supervisors in Plymouth and Barnstable Counties under the retirement benefits program for Department of Fisheries and Wildlife law enforcement officers. The change specifically applies to these local officers who perform duties similar to state wildlife enforcement agents. By adding these job titles to the existing legal definition, the legislation ensures that eligible workers in these two counties can access the same pension provisions as their state counterparts.

Maddy summaryThis Massachusetts bill amends state laws to legally allow individuals to buy, sell, and use fentanyl test strips and other drug checking equipment without fear of prosecution. By removing references to testing and analyzing from the definition of drug paraphernalia, the legislation explicitly exempts these tools from being classified as illegal items. The law also clarifies that possessing small amounts of drugs for the purpose of testing them is not a crime, while simultaneously defining drug supplies and harm reduction programs to ensure these activities are protected under the statute.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all schools and child care centers in Massachusetts to test their drinking water outlets annually for lead levels exceeding one part per billion. It mandates that testing be conducted by certified laboratories using specific methods and establishes a six-month deadline for facilities that have not previously participated in the state's assistance program. The legislation also defines key terms such as "certified point-of-use filter" and "drinking water outlet" to ensure clarity in compliance. Additionally, the act gives the Department of Environmental Protection the authority to adjust testing frequency on a case-by-case basis when necessary for public health.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the use of elephants, big cats, primates, giraffes, and bears in traveling animal acts, circuses, and similar mobile performances within Massachusetts. It directly affects owners and operators of traveling exhibits by banning the participation of these specific animals in events where they are transported between locations for entertainment purposes. The law includes an exemption for permanent institutions like zoos, provided the animals are not moved specifically for the traveling act. Violations of this new rule can result in civil penalties ranging from $500 to $10,000 for each animal involved.