Sen. Mark Montigny

Senate, December 18, 2025 -- The committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure to whom was referred the petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 263) of Mark C. Montigny, Michael O. Moore, James K. Hawkins, James B. Eldridge and other members of the General Court for legislation to protect consumers from contributing to inhumane animal testing for cosmetics, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2744).

Maddy summarySD 452 prohibits Massachusetts employers from discriminating against job applicants based on unemployment status, such as refusing to hire, screening, or advertising jobs that require current employment or disqualify the unemployed. It also bans employers from demanding personal social media or email passwords during hiring, except for specific investigations into security breaches or company data leaks. Exceptions allow employers to consider relevant work history or recent job experience as legitimate hiring factors. This law directly affects all Massachusetts employers and job seekers, aiming to reduce bias in hiring and protect personal digital privacy.

By Mr. Montigny, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 483) of Mark C. Montigny for legislation to provide for certification of skilled nursing facility medical directors. Elder Affairs.

By Mr. Montigny, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 485) of Mark C. Montigny for legislation to establish safe staffing levels at skilled nursing facilities. Elder Affairs.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SD 1413) requires Massachusetts courts to consider documented evidence of domestic abuse - defined under Chapter 209A - when determining alimony awards in divorce cases. It mandates that courts evaluate abuse history, including emotional distress, between spouses or against a child, using records from the state’s domestic violence database. The law prohibits alimony judgments benefiting a convicted abuser (e.g., if one spouse has a criminal conviction for abuse against the other or their child). Additionally, it allows payors to seek termination of existing alimony orders if a post-judgment conviction for abuse is obtained. The bill directly affects divorce proceedings and alimony decisions involving domestic violence cases.

Maddy summarySD 450, titled "An Act protecting victims of rape and their children," amends Massachusetts law to restrict visitation rights for parents convicted of rape. The bill directly affects victims of rape and their children by preventing courts from granting visitation to a parent convicted of rape (under specific sections of Chapters 265 or 272) seeking access to a child conceived during the assault. Key provisions state that courts cannot order such visitation if the parent has a rape conviction, or if clear evidence of rape exists even without a conviction. The law aims to protect victims and children by limiting contact with perpetrators in these specific circumstances.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SD 1329, "Katie Brienzo's Law") amends Massachusetts law to increase penalties for drivers who flee the scene of an accident resulting in death. It raises the minimum prison sentence for this offense from one year to two and one-half years, removing the previous option of jail or house of correction sentences. The law directly affects drivers convicted of leaving a fatal accident scene, increasing the mandatory prison term. The bill focuses on updating sentencing requirements within Chapter 90, Section 24 of the General Laws.

Maddy summarySD 1802 strengthens wage theft protections by requiring employers to provide new written wage notices to employees within 10 days of hire, detailing pay rates, benefits, and company details. It establishes joint liability for lead contractors, labor contractors, and subcontractors when wage theft occurs, meaning all can be held responsible. The Attorney General gains expanded power to file civil actions for unpaid wages, seeking triple damages and attorney fees, and can pursue injunctive relief. The bill also ensures unemployment benefits are calculated as if wages were properly paid when wage theft is proven during the benefit period. It directly affects employers, contractors, and employees in Massachusetts.

Maddy summaryThis bill permits government entities (like municipalities or state agencies) to publish legally required notices online through newspaper websites, statewide digital repositories, or municipal websites, instead of only print. It clarifies that errors from website operator mistakes or temporary outages won't invalidate notices if they appear correctly elsewhere online. Municipalities can now accept public hearing notices on official city websites, as specified in Section 3. The law applies to all legally mandated notices, such as property sales or public meetings.

By Mr. Montigny, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1192) of Mark C. Montigny, Christopher Hendricks, Dennis C. Gallagher, Steven George Xiarhos and other members of the General Court for legislation to provide a DNA exception for statute of limitations on sex offenses. The Judiciary.