Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Board of Registration in Midwifery within the Department of Public Health to oversee the licensing and regulation of midwives in the state. The board will consist of eight appointed members, including licensed midwives with significant experience, a physician, a nurse-midwife, and a public representative, with specific requirements for members to address racial disparities in maternal health. Additionally, the legislation establishes a new Board of Allied Health Professions that includes representatives from various health fields such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and lactation consulting. The bill also expands the legal definition of "licensed midwife" to allow them to issue prescriptions and grants local health agencies the authority to conduct in-depth reviews of fetal and infant deaths to improve community health services.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a formal framework for Massachusetts to lead in carbon dioxide removal by creating a state-run program to purchase and store greenhouse gases. It directs the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center to set annual removal targets and solicit bids from qualified entities that propose projects to durably store carbon in geological, terrestrial, or ocean reservoirs for at least 100 years. A key provision requires bidders to submit an environmental justice report demonstrating that disadvantaged communities have been consulted and that the project will benefit local ecosystems and residents. The legislation also mandates rigorous scientific verification of removal amounts and requires a full life-cycle analysis to ensure the projects do not create more emissions than they capture.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new low-income cooling assistance program to help vulnerable Massachusetts residents cope with rising temperatures. It targets households earning less than 60% of the state median income that include elderly individuals, young children, or people with specific health conditions, provided they do not already own a working air conditioner or fan. The program offers financial aid to purchase ENERGY STAR-certified air-conditioning units or box fans, with maximum benefits of $500 and $75 respectively, while also coordinating with existing energy efficiency programs for additional rebates. Funding for this initiative will come from a mandatory 5% allocation of the state's Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program budget each fiscal year.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to remove the December 31, 2029 deadline for the state's Renewable Portfolio Standard. The change directly affects electric utilities and energy providers who must meet renewable energy requirements. By deleting the specific end date, the legislation allows the RPS program to continue beyond 2029 without an automatic expiration. This adjustment ensures that the state's renewable energy goals can be extended or modified through future legislative action rather than ending on a fixed date.
Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Massachusetts Clean Energy Technology Center to conduct a study on gaps in clean energy project financing, such as lack of capital and insurance. Based on the study's findings, the center may establish a Green Bank to provide investment capital for clean energy projects in sectors like buildings, transportation, and industry. The legislation also allows the center to use funds for innovative financial strategies, including creating a loan loss reserve and energy savings performance contracting, to help achieve the state's net zero emissions goal.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires electric utility companies in Massachusetts to create and regularly update climate vulnerability and resilience plans to protect power grids from extreme weather. These plans must identify risks like rising sea levels and storms, prioritize nature-based solutions where possible, and include a specific outreach strategy to engage with environmental justice communities. The legislation also mandates that utilities consider these climate risks when calculating rates and planning future infrastructure investments. Additionally, the bill establishes requirements for disclosing the climate data and assumptions used in engineering designs to ensure long-term grid reliability.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new state fund called the Thermal Transition Trust Fund to help Massachusetts residents switch from gas heating to clean electric alternatives like heat pumps. The fund will be financed by existing energy revenues and will pay for replacing gas appliances, upgrading electrical services, and fixing building insulation issues needed to support these new systems. Money from the fund will be attached to customers' utility bills, allowing them to pay for the upgrades over time without increasing their monthly energy costs. Additionally, the bill sets aside money to retrain workers currently employed in gas pipeline infrastructure for jobs in renewable thermal energy projects.
By Representative Haddad of Somerset, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2337) of Patricia A. Haddad and others relative to the use of hoisting equipment in vocational technical education. Public Safety and Homeland Security.
By Mr. Pacheco, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2519) of Marc R. Pacheco and Susan Williams Gifford (by vote of the town) for legislation relative to the Wareham town charter. Municipalities and Regional Government. [Local Approval Received.]
Maddy summaryThis bill requires Mass Save, a Massachusetts energy efficiency program, to provide free zero-carbon assessments to all its customers. These assessments will identify specific steps homeowners and businesses can take to eliminate fossil fuel use in their buildings, such as improving insulation, sealing air leaks, and switching to electric appliances. The program will also generate detailed reports for each customer outlining the comfort, safety, and cost benefits of these changes. Additionally, the bill mandates that utility companies submit collected data to the state department annually, which must then be published on a public website by the end of April each year.