Sen. Mike Moore

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts the Westborough Affordable Housing Trust and its related entities from standard town procurement laws when planning or building projects at 6 Beach Street and 45 High Street Extension. The exemption allows these groups to handle contracts for design, construction, and maintenance without following the usual bidding processes required of public agencies, though they must still pay prevailing wages to workers. Additionally, if these properties are later sold or leased to a redevelopment corporation or a nonprofit, the transaction must follow specific state laws regarding urban redevelopment. The changes apply only to these two specific locations in Westborough and take effect immediately upon passing.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts all officers in the Millbury Police Department from the state's civil service law, which typically governs hiring, firing, and promotions for public employees. The legislation allows the town to manage its police force without adhering to the standard rules found in Chapter 31 of the General Laws. However, the law protects any officers who were already permanently employed in civil service positions on the day the bill becomes active, ensuring their existing status remains unchanged.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new licensing system for quarries that produce concrete aggregate used in foundations, requiring applicants to submit geological reports and test results to prove the absence of harmful minerals like pyrite and pyrrhotite. It creates a state agency to oversee this process, publish a public database of licensed quarries, and manage a fund to help homeowners with deteriorated foundations caused by these minerals. The legislation also imposes strict liability on unlicensed quarry operators and contractors who use non-compliant concrete, while allowing local governments to set even stricter safety standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends state laws to clarify definitions of key terms like biosimilars, brand name drugs, and generic drugs, ensuring consistent language for pharmaceutical regulation. It expands the scope of entities subject to oversight by including self-insured health plans and explicitly defining pharmaceutical manufacturing companies and pharmacy benefit managers. The legislation also requires pharmaceutical companies to provide early notice of new products or price increases while protecting the confidentiality of their internal business and clinical data. Additionally, it adjusts the assessment fees charged to these industries, setting a minimum rate of 25 percent of the appropriated amount.

Maddy summaryThis law prohibits the sale or transfer of dogs and cats that are younger than eight weeks old, with each violation punishable by a fine of up to $100. It also bans the selling or trading of these animals in public places such as roadside areas, parks, flea markets, and parking lots, while allowing exceptions for licensed shelters, animal control facilities, and educational exhibitions. Local animal control officers or police are responsible for enforcing these rules, and fines increase for repeat offenses of selling animals in public spaces.

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).

Senate, December 27, 2024 -- Report of the committee of conference on the disagreeing votes of the two branches with reference to the House amendment to the Senate relative to pharmaceutical access, costs and transparency (Senate, No. 2520) (amended by the House all after the enacting clause and inserting in place thereof the text of House document numbered 4910; and by striking out the title and inserting in place thereof the following title: “An Act promoting access and affordability of prescription drugs.”),-- reports, a “Bill relative to pharmaceutical access, costs and transparency” (Senate, No. 3012).

Senate, December 30, 2024 -- The committee on Senate Ways and Means, to whom was referred the Senate Bill relative to crumbling concrete foundations (Senate, No. 2559),- reports, recommending that the same ought to pass with an amendment substituting a new draft with the same title (Senate, No. 3015).

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.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how the Town of Grafton selects its town clerk, shifting the role from an elected position to one appointed by the town administrator. The legislation repeals the section of the town charter that previously allowed for an elected town clerk and establishes new rules where the administrator hires the clerk under an employment contract. Under these new provisions, the town administrator will set the clerk's salary, benefits, and other employment conditions, while the current elected clerk will transition to the appointed role to finish their remaining term.