Sen. Mark Montigny

Maddy summaryThis bill designates bridge N-06-024(3Y0) on Philips Road over Route 140 in New Bedford as the "Corporal Francis J. McHugh Memorial Bridge" to honor a WWII Army veteran who earned the Silver Star for saving a fellow soldier. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation will install and maintain markers bearing this name. The bill is purely commemorative, with no policy changes or financial impacts. It directly affects the bridge's official designation and the city of New Bedford.

By Mr. Montigny, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1730) of Mark C. Montigny and Steven George Xiarhos for legislation relative to critical incident intervention by emergency service providers. Public Safety and Homeland Security.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HD 1914) bans Massachusetts manufacturers and contract testing facilities from using traditional animal testing methods for product safety assessments when valid non-animal alternatives exist, excluding medical research. It requires the commissioner of public health to establish regulations within 180 days defining acceptable alternative test methods (like computer modeling or lab studies), aligning with international standards. The law takes effect six months after passage, directly affecting companies testing products in the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes Section 3-1-2 from Acushnet's town charter, which governs local governance procedures. The change takes immediate effect upon passage. As a procedural amendment to the town's existing charter, it does not create new policies or directly affect residents.

By Mr. Montigny, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 794) of Mark C. Montigny for legislation relative to the fiduciary responsibility of lenders for non-payment of insurance premiums from escrowed accounts. Financial Services.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes a $20 annual fee for veterans' license plates in Massachusetts. It directly affects veterans who qualify under existing definitions, including those eligible for veterans' annuities under Chapter 115. The key change modifies the law to state that veteran plates will be issued "without fee other than the established registration fee" for vehicles. This means qualifying veterans will no longer pay the extra $20 fee on top of standard registration costs.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the Massachusetts Teachers’ Retirement System to count Kellie Martin’s prior teaching service (August 2003-August 2006) toward her retirement benefits. It directly affects Kellie Martin, a teacher at Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School, by allowing her to include this period in her retirement calculation. To qualify, Martin must repay the retirement system the amount that would have been deducted from her salary during that time, plus interest. The bill overrides existing rules to make this adjustment possible under Massachusetts law.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits most video screens and displays in motor vehicles while driving in Massachusetts. It bans television receivers, video monitors, or entertainment-focused screens visible to the driver forward of the back seat, and adds a restriction against using mobile devices for social media or camera functions while operating a vehicle. Exceptions include navigation systems, rear-view safety monitors, government vehicle use, and factory-installed systems with interlock features that disable screens during driving tasks like steering or lane changes. The law directly affects all drivers of registered vehicles in Massachusetts, with specific exemptions for safety, navigation, and certain official vehicle uses.

Maddy summarySD 1385 amends two sections of Massachusetts law to expand the types of funding available for victim services. It adds "gifts, grants and donations" from both public and private sources to the list of revenues that can be used for victim service programs. This change directly affects organizations providing victim support services by allowing them to access a broader pool of state funds. The bill modifies existing legal definitions (in Sections 66 and 66A of Chapter 10) to include these new revenue sources without creating new funding streams. It is a procedural update to clarify how existing funds can be allocated.

By Ms. Lovely, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 152) of Joan B. Lovely and Mark C. Montigny for legislation relative to preventing sexual abuse of children and youth by adults in positions of authority or trust. Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.