By Mr. Moore, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1591) of Michael O. Moore and James B. Eldridge for legislation relative to stroke data reporting. Public Health.
Senate, October , 2025 -- The committee on Environment and Natural Resources to whom was referred the petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 548) of Joanne M. Comerford, Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr., Marcus S. Vaughn, James B. Eldridge and other members of the General Court for legislation to expand access to trails for people of all abilities, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2654).
By Mr. Moore, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 91) of Michael O. Moore for legislation to establish a temporary moratorium on the issuance of certain marijuana license types in order to conduct and publish a study analyzing the current businesses licensed. Cannabis Policy.
By Mr. Durant, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 223) of Peter J. Durant and Donald R. Berthiaume, Jr. relative to homeowners right to perform electrical work. Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure.
By Ms. Comerford, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 548) of Joanne M. Comerford, Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr., Marcus S. Vaughn, James B. Eldridge and other members of the General Court for legislation to expand access to trails for people of all abilities. Environment and Natural Resources.
Maddy summaryH 4642 requires Massachusetts teacher preparation programs to align with evidence-based literacy instruction, including the five research-based reading areas (phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension). School districts must screen all K-3 students twice yearly using approved tools, provide evidence-based interventions within 30 days for students significantly below benchmarks, and inform parents of results. The bill mandates that elementary literacy curricula must cover these research-based areas and use scientifically validated methods, prohibiting approaches like "three-cueing" (MSV). It also requires annual public reporting of program quality, screening tool usage, and graduate employment data by the education commissioner.
Maddy summaryH 4672 requires Massachusetts school districts to use evidence-based literacy instruction for kindergarten through grade 3, banning methods like "three-cueing" (guessing from pictures or context) and mandating curricula aligned with five research-backed reading skills: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Districts must select "high-quality" curricula approved by the education department, though they can apply for waivers or pilot programs with specific reporting requirements. The bill also mandates annual data reporting on literacy implementation and creates resources for teacher training on evidence-based methods. It directly affects K-3 teachers, school districts, and curriculum developers by changing how reading programs are selected and evaluated.
Maddy summaryH 4651 creates the Open Educational Resource (OER) Trust Fund to reduce college textbook costs for students at Massachusetts public institutions. The fund will support the development and distribution of free, high-quality digital textbooks and learning materials, replacing expensive commercial course materials. It requires the Department of Higher Education to administer the fund, review private donations to prevent restrictions, and mandate competitive grants for OER adoption. Public colleges must inform students about OER courses, and the department must annually report on fund usage and savings to the legislature. This directly affects students by lowering course material expenses, a major factor in college affordability.
Maddy summaryHD 2192 establishes the Open Educational Resource (OER) Trust Fund to reduce college costs for students at Massachusetts public institutions of higher education. The bill creates a dedicated fund to develop, distribute, and promote free or low-cost course materials (like textbooks and digital resources) instead of expensive commercial textbooks. Public colleges must use these materials in eligible courses, and the fund supports faculty training, technical assistance, and competitive grants for institutions to implement OER. The law requires annual public reporting on fund usage, savings for students, and grant outcomes. This directly affects students facing textbook cost burdens and public colleges implementing OER programs.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a state-mandated bereavement leave policy in Massachusetts. It requires most employers to allow employees up to 10 business days of leave within a 12-month period following the death of a covered family member (including children, parents, spouses, siblings, or partners in a substantive dating relationship living with the employee) to handle funeral arrangements, attend services, or grieve. Employers must permit the leave but decide whether it is paid or unpaid, and employees must request leave within 30 days of learning of the death. The law exempts employers with fewer than 10 employees in the Commonwealth and takes effect on January 1, 2025.
