Sen. Liz Miranda

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance to provide cash and nutritional aid to immigrants who are lawfully admitted for permanent residence or permanently residing under color of law. It removes immigration status and citizenship requirements from eligibility for cash assistance programs for children, pregnant women, and caretaker adults, as well as for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The financial benefits and program rules would remain identical to those currently available to other residents, except for the exclusion of immigration status checks. Funding for these expanded benefits is contingent upon future state appropriations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires publicly traded corporations in Massachusetts to make their tax reports available to the public in a searchable online database. It affects large companies that currently file tax information with the state secretary, mandating that these records be accessible on the internet starting from the third year after the tax year ends. The legislation also ensures that the state secretary provides a list of corporations that failed to file their reports and allows the public to purchase copies of the database or individual reports. By removing previous restrictions, the bill aims to increase transparency regarding the tax activities of major corporate entities without changing the underlying tax laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill grants the city of Boston the authority to allow residents aged 16 and 17 to vote in local municipal elections, such as those for city council members and local ballot questions. Under the law, eligible young residents would register on a special list and use a separate registration form to cast ballots in these specific local contests. The legislation clarifies that these 16- and 17-year-olds cannot vote for state or federal offices or on statewide ballot questions, and they must transition to standard state voter registration once they turn 18. Implementation of this program would be managed by the city's board of election commissioners through new regulations and forms created at the city's expense.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends state law to require the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection to create specific regulations for solid waste disposal facilities located in environmental justice communities. The key provision mandates that these facilities face substantially higher monetary fines for each permit violation compared to others, with the fine amount increasing for repeated offenses. Additionally, the bill allows for the revocation of permits for facilities in these communities that consistently violate permit terms. These measures aim to provide stricter enforcement and penalties for waste facilities operating in areas already facing environmental burdens.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to officially classify racism as a public health crisis. It requires the Office of Health Equity to create policies aimed at dismantling systemic racism, which includes conducting audits of health services, improving data transparency on race and ethnicity, and launching programs to prevent and treat chronic diseases that disproportionately affect communities of color. Additionally, the Office must submit an annual report to the Commissioner and the Legislature detailing the state of systemic racism's impact on public health.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows unaccompanied minors aged 15 and older to consent to their own shelter and supportive services without parental permission, provided they meet specific criteria regarding homelessness or risk of homelessness. To qualify, the youth must not be in physical custody of a parent or guardian and must demonstrate a significant danger of experiencing homelessness due to factors such as prior homelessness, family conflict, or abuse. The legislation requires service providers to verify that the minor understands the benefits and risks of the services before allowing them to stay, while also mandating that providers register with the state, conduct background checks on staff, and attempt to contact the minor's parents or guardians within 72 hours of providing care. Additionally, the law permits a minor who is a parent to consent to services for their own child and sets conditions under which a provider may deny shelter if the minor provided false information or does not meet the eligibility requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs to limit the number of industrial facilities that report toxic chemical releases in neighborhoods classified as environmental justice populations. It requires state agencies with permitting authority to recommend ways to stop the siting or expansion of these facilities in affected areas and mandates the creation of a cap on the total number of such facilities allowed in these communities. The legislation defines environmental justice populations based on existing state criteria and includes protections for residents who do not speak English, ensuring that policies prioritize reducing toxin exposure and preserving access to clean environments regardless of race, income, or language ability.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a statewide limit on the number of patients a registered nurse can care for at one time within Massachusetts hospitals. The specific patient-to-nurse ratios would be set by the Department of Public Health after holding public hearings and considering various hospital units, including emergency rooms and maternity wards. Facilities found violating these limits could face civil penalties of up to $25,000 per day, and the law protects nurses from retaliation if they follow the new staffing rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new Climate Change Adaptation Cost Recovery Fund in Massachusetts to finance infrastructure projects that help communities prepare for and respond to climate change impacts. The law defines eligible projects broadly, including coastal protections, upgraded drainage systems, resilient energy grids, and health programs to treat climate-related illnesses. Under the bill, entities responsible for greenhouse gas emissions between 2000 and 2018 would be charged to contribute to this fund based on their historical fossil fuel use. The collected payments would be used to cover the costs of building and maintaining the specified adaptive infrastructure.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires any organization or entity in Massachusetts that receives public funds to follow federal laws when returning Native American human remains, sacred objects, or cultural items to their tribes. Specifically, it mandates that groups holding these items must adhere to the penalties and requirements of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act if they plan to remove them from their collections. The law applies to a wide range of recipients, including government agencies, nonprofits, and trusts that use state or local money. By enforcing these existing federal standards, the bill aims to ensure that Native American heritage items are repatriated in accordance with established legal definitions.