Sen. Mike Brady

Maddy summaryHD 913 requires the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to annually request full state funding for regional school district transportation starting in fiscal year 2026. The bill mandates these funding requests comply with the Commonwealth's existing legal obligation under Chapter 71, Section 16C. This ensures regional school districts receive the full state funding they are legally entitled to for transportation services. The bill directly affects regional school districts by securing consistent state financial support for their transportation needs.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the state to fully reimburse school districts for special education transportation costs that exceed regular program costs. It directly affects cities, towns, regional school districts, and vocational schools serving students with special education needs. Reimbursement covers the regular program's average per-pupil cost plus excess costs (capped at 110% of the statewide average), calculated using specific department-defined methods. Funding increases gradually, reaching 100% reimbursement by fiscal year 2029. The bill ensures districts aren't burdened by costs not covered under existing programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a pathway for dental hygienists to obtain licensure in the state through reciprocal agreements with other countries or provinces. It allows individuals who are at least 19 years old and of good moral character to practice if they meet specific educational or experience requirements, such as graduating from an accredited program, completing a certain number of semesters as a student, or holding a valid license from a foreign jurisdiction with equivalent competency standards. The law also sets an annual fee for the examination process and requires applicants to pass a board exam covering essential dental hygiene subjects. Ultimately, the legislation expands the pool of eligible candidates by recognizing credentials from outside the state while maintaining established safety and qualification benchmarks.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Hanson Milone Act, updates Massachusetts boating laws to include canoes and kayaks in safety regulations and establishes a new mandatory safety education program for motorboat and personal watercraft operators born on or after January 1, 1989. The law requires these individuals to complete an online course and pass an examination to receive a lifetime safety certificate, though they may be supervised by an adult with a valid certificate or hold certain professional licenses as exemptions. It also clarifies definitions for various watercraft and enforces specific rules regarding commercial fishing vessels and non-resident operators.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts civil service law to strengthen protections for employees and improve the fairness of the hiring process. It expands the definition of protected characteristics to explicitly include military status, disability, sexual orientation, and gender identity, while also allowing the Civil Service Commission to award attorney fees to successful appellants in cases of bad faith or repeated violations. The legislation grants the commission new powers to close hearings to protect sensitive personal information and requires appeals to include specific details about alleged harms. Additionally, the bill mandates that promotional and entry examinations be held annually, with larger municipalities allowed to opt out of annual exams but required to hold them at least every two years. Finally, it changes the eligibility window for taking exams and updates scoring rules to consider an applicant's highest score rather than their most recent one.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the state's health insurance laws to update the names of various regulatory agencies and redefine key terms used in market reviews. It specifically reorganizes the Department of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation by clarifying which divisions fall under it and renaming the commissioner of insurance to the commissioner of health insurance. The legislation also introduces new definitions for concepts such as "health equity," "private equity companies," and "significant equity investors" to provide clearer guidance for oversight. Additionally, it establishes a new "benchmark cycle" for monitoring projected changes in total healthcare expenditures over a three-year period. These changes aim to modernize the legal framework governing the state's health insurance market and improve transparency in regulatory oversight.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission by redefining key terms and adjusting the composition of its governing board. It introduces new definitions for concepts such as "health equity," "significant equity investor," and various healthcare entities like pharmacy benefit managers and private equity companies to clarify who is regulated. The legislation also changes how the commission's board is formed, specifying that members will be appointed by the governor, state officials, and legislative leaders rather than solely by the Department of Public Health. Additionally, the bill repeals previous sections related to medical assistance divisions and modifies the oversight structure for the commission. These changes aim to refine the legal framework used to review and regulate the state's healthcare market.

By Mr. Brady, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2854) of Michael D. Brady and David F. DeCoste for legislation amending a conservation restriction in the town of Hanson. Municipalities and Regional Government. [Local Approval Received.]

Senate, October 24, 2024 -- The committee on Senate Ways and Means, to whom was referred the Senate Bill relative to applied behavioral analysis therapy (Senate, No. 617),- reports, recommending that the same ought to pass with an amendment substituting a new draft (Senate, No. 2970).

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Massachusetts state laws to replace outdated terms like "handicapped" and "mentally retarded" with modern, person-first language such as "individuals with disabilities" and "intellectual or developmental disabilities." The legislation directly affects various statutes within Chapter 6 of the General Laws, which cover areas including employment, veterans' benefits, and general disability protections. By systematically changing these specific words throughout the legal code, the bill ensures that official state documents use respectful and current terminology when referring to people with disabilities.