Sen. Mike Moore

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new chapter in Massachusetts law to regulate facilities that collect source plasma through plasmapheresis. It requires the Department of Public Health to establish registration standards for these centers that align with federal guidelines and maintain a public list of approved facilities. The legislation also mandates that blood or blood products from paid donors cannot be used for transfusions unless a physician determines no compatible alternative is available for the patient.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new state fund to help Massachusetts farmers deal with financial losses caused by PFAS contamination in their soil and crops. It also grants farmers immunity from lawsuits if they are sued for damages resulting from standard farming practices that lead to PFAS presence in the environment. The legislation defines PFAS as specific fluorinated organic compounds and allows the fund to be financed through state appropriations, donations, and federal grants. Money from the fund can be used for testing, adapting farm management practices, providing health support, and developing educational resources for affected agricultural operations.

Senate, January 29, 2024 --The committee on Higher Education to whom was referred the petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 841) of Michael O. Moore that provisions be made to establish public higher education credit transfers, report the accompanying resolve (Senate, No. 2563).

Senate, January 29, 2024 --The committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure, to whom was referred the petitions (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 175) of Cindy F. Friedman, Joanne M. Comerford, Carmine Lawrence Gentile, Lydia Edwards and other members of the General Court for legislation relative to the disclosure of toxic chemicals in children’s products; and (accompanied by bill, House, No. 318) of James K. Hawkins and others for legislation to direct the Department of Environmental Protection to publish a toxic chemicals of concern consumer products list, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2564).

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to require manufacturers and sellers to disclose specific toxic chemicals found in products intended for children aged 12 and under. It defines "children's products" broadly to include items like toys, clothing, cosmetics, car seats, and school supplies, while explicitly excluding electronics, bicycles, and certain other items. The legislation mandates that companies provide a list of chemicals known to cause cancer or other toxicity, using a list of authoritative scientific bodies to determine which substances are harmful. By establishing clear definitions and disclosure requirements, the bill aims to increase transparency regarding chemical safety in consumer goods used by young people.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education to finish mapping Associate's to Bachelor's degree pathways under the MassTransfer program by December 31, 2024. The measure ensures that courses taken as major requirements at one public college will be accepted as major requirements at another public institution within the state. It directly affects students transferring between public colleges and universities in Massachusetts by guaranteeing that their major-specific coursework will count toward their new degree.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a special commission to study how Massachusetts' minimum pricing laws affect the economy and small businesses. The commission will include government officials, industry representatives, health advocates, and experts in finance and economics to examine current state rules and compare them with neighboring states. During its investigation, the group will analyze how these laws influence product costs and may hold public hearings to gather data and testimony. The commission is required to submit a final report with findings and potential legislative changes to the governor and state officials within one year of the bill taking effect.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all public colleges and universities in Massachusetts to accept scores of three, four, or five on Advanced Placement exams to fulfill degree requirements. Institutions must clearly state on their websites whether these credits apply to general education, major, or elective courses and explain how they transfer to other schools. While colleges can ask for higher scores, they must provide specific proof that a score of three is insufficient for success in the related course. The state's higher education board will annually review these policies and report its findings to the legislature by July 1.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes Massachusetts state universities to offer clinical and professional doctorate degrees, expanding their current academic offerings beyond traditional research-focused PhD programs. The legislation amends state law to explicitly allow these institutions to grant degrees such as Doctor of Education or Doctor of Physical Therapy, provided they receive approval from the Board of Higher Education. While state universities can now pursue these professional degrees independently, the bill maintains a restriction that they cannot offer PhD programs unless they do so in cooperation with the University of Massachusetts. The primary goal of the change is to increase the capacity of the state university system to train professional educators and other specialized practitioners.