Sen. Liz Miranda

By Ms. Miranda, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2380) of Liz Miranda (with approval of the mayor and city council) for legislation to authorize additional licenses for the sale of alcoholic beverages to be drunk on the premises in Boston. Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure. [Local approval received]

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new chapter in Massachusetts law dedicated to language access and inclusion for state agencies. It creates a legal framework requiring agencies to provide equal access to public services for individuals who do not speak English as their primary language. The legislation mandates that agencies develop formal language access plans to outline how they will offer translation and interpretation services. Additionally, the bill defines key terms such as "limited English proficient" and "culturally competent" to guide how state departments interact with diverse populations.

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.

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 expands the legal definition of domestic violence in Massachusetts to include specific behaviors like coercive control and technological abuse. It clarifies that coercive control involves patterns of intimidation, isolation, or financial monitoring, while technological abuse covers actions such as cyberstalking, nonconsensual sharing of images, and electronic surveillance. The legislation also explicitly lists examples such as threatening deportation based on immigration status or forcing someone into criminal activity as forms of abuse. By updating these definitions, the law aims to provide clearer grounds for victims to seek protection orders against a wider range of harmful behaviors.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires private and nonprofit employers in Massachusetts with at least 100 full-time employees to submit detailed wage and demographic data to the state. Covered entities, which also include the governor and mayors with large workforces, must provide this information annually by the EEO-1 or EEO-4 reporting deadlines. The state will then compile and publish these aggregate wage reports on its website starting in 2024, broken down by specific industries such as healthcare, construction, and retail. The legislation aims to increase pay transparency by making industry-wide wage data publicly available for comparison.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires state-appointed public boards and commissions in Massachusetts to strive for membership that reflects the state's gender and racial demographics. Specifically, it sets a goal for at least 50% of members to identify as female and at least 30% to identify as an underrepresented minority or LGBTQ+ individual, with these percentages adjusted annually based on new Census data. To achieve these targets, appointing authorities must actively recruit diverse candidates through partnerships with community organizations and submit annual reports detailing their recruitment efforts and the demographic makeup of their boards. Additionally, the governor's office will publish a public report each fiscal year that aggregates this data to track progress while ensuring no individual applicant or member is personally identified.

Senate, July 31, 2023 -- The committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight to whom was referred the petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1975) of Nick Collins for legislation relative to property rights, reports the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2430).

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority to upgrade the Fairmount commuter rail line by standardizing fares with the subway system, adopting a new name for the line, and improving connections with local bus services. It mandates that the rail line be electrified by December 2024 and requires the agency to report on the environmental benefits of this change by the end of 2025. Additionally, the legislation sets specific goals for increasing train frequency to every 7.5 minutes by 2029, constructing accessible platforms at two stations, and maintaining the ability to run trains every 5 minutes by 2035.

Maddy summaryThis bill seeks to amend the Massachusetts Constitution to officially change the title of the Governor to "The Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts." The proposed change would also update the formal address for the office to "Her Excellency, His Excellency, or Their Excellency," depending on the gender of the officeholder. To pass, the measure requires approval by a majority of legislators in a joint session and subsequent ratification by voters in a statewide election. The legislation directly affects the state's highest executive office and the formal language used to address the Governor in official capacities.