Sen. Susan Moran

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Lobstering Closure Mitigation Fund to provide financial assistance to Massachusetts lobstermen affected by fishing area closures designed to protect endangered marine species. Administered by the Department of Unemployment Assistance, the fund offers eligible lobstermen weekly payments of one dollar per active trap from February 1 through July 30 each year. The legislation creates a dedicated account for these funds, outlines annual reporting requirements for income and expenditures, and authorizes the department to create regulations for application and payment processes.

The committee on Agriculture to whom was referred the petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 552) of Patrick M. O'Connor, Jennifer Balinsky Armini, Julian Cyr, Bruce E. Tarr and other members of the General Court for legislation relative to lobstering closure mitigation, reports the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2534).

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the town of Plymouth to create a special account in its treasury called the Facilities Improvement Fund. The fund is specifically designed to pay for building, renovating, or operating the 1820 courthouse and other public facilities like schools or police stations. By amending existing state laws, the legislation allows Plymouth to set aside money for these projects even if other financial rules would normally prevent it.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the Town of Mashpee to transfer a specific parcel of conservation land to individuals Jacques and Rosalie Fresco. In exchange for this transfer, the town is permitted to acquire an adjacent parcel of land for its own conservation use. The legislation ensures that the land the town receives will be permanently restricted to open space, conservation, and passive recreation purposes. This action allows the town to maintain its conservation goals while facilitating the sale or exchange of the original property.

Senate, October 26, 2023 -- Text of the Senate Bill to increase access to disposable menstrual products (Senate, No. 2491) (being the text of Senate, No. 2481, printed as amended)

Senate, October 19, 2023 -- The committee on Senate Ways and Means, to whom was referred the Senate Bill enabling pharmacists to prescribe, dispense and administer PrEP (Senate, No. 1353),- reports, recommending that the same ought to pass with an amendment substituting a new draft with the same title (Senate, No. 2480).

Maddy summaryThis bill requires three types of facilities in Massachusetts to provide free disposable menstrual products to people who menstruate. Specifically, it mandates that temporary housing providers, such as shelters and safe houses, supply these items without cost. Additionally, the law requires all primary and secondary schools to offer free menstrual products in restrooms, and it orders correctional facilities, including jails and prisons, to provide these products to incarcerated individuals. The legislation aims to ensure convenient and non-stigmatizing access to sanitary napkins, tampons, and liners in these specific settings.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows licensed pharmacists in Massachusetts to prescribe, dispense, and administer PrEP, a medication used to prevent HIV infection. To qualify for the drug, patients must test negative for HIV within the last seven days, show no signs of acute HIV infection, and not be taking any medications that conflict with PrEP. Pharmacists providing the treatment must offer counseling on safety, side effects, and adherence, and they are limited to issuing a 60-day supply no more than twice every two years. Additionally, pharmacists are required to notify the patient's primary care provider about the treatment unless the patient lacks a provider or refuses consent.

Senate, October 19, 2023 -- The committee on Senate Ways and Means, to whom was referred the Senate Bill to increase access to disposable menstrual products (Senate, No. 1381),- reports, recommending that the same ought to pass with an amendment substituting a new draft with the same title (Senate, No. 2481).

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a legal framework in Massachusetts to ensure that owners of portable wireless devices can have them repaired by independent repair shops. It requires manufacturers to provide independent repair providers with the necessary parts, tools, and technical documentation on fair and reasonable terms, preventing companies from blocking third-party repairs through restrictive access. The law defines specific categories for manufacturers, authorized repair providers, and independent repair providers to clarify who must comply with these access requirements. By mandating access to repair resources, the legislation aims to increase consumer choice and competition in the device repair market.