Sen. Brendan Crighton

By Mr. Crighton, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 559) of Brendan P. Crighton for legislation to fund water infrastructure and addressing economic target areas. Environment and Natural Resources.

By Mr. Feeney, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1860) of Paul R. Feeney, Marcus S. Vaughn, Steven George Xiarhos, Paul K. Frost and other members of the General Court for legislation to expand the cancer presumption for firefighters. Public Service.

By Mr. Brady, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1788) of Michael D. Brady, Marcus S. Vaughn, Steven George Xiarhos, Paul K. Frost and other members of the General Court for legislation relative to PTSD and accidental disability retirement. Public Service.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a state trust fund to help low- and moderate-income homeowners build secondary housing units (like backyard cottages or basement apartments) on their properties. It targets property owners with incomes up to 110% of the local median income (as defined by federal housing standards). The fund will provide financial assistance for pre-construction costs - such as design fees, permits, utility connections, and site preparation - but only the minimum amount needed to make the project feasible. Administered by the state housing office or designated agencies, the fund will accept state appropriations, private donations, and other sources, with unspent funds remaining in the fund rather than reverting to the general state budget.

Maddy summarySD 804 establishes a special commission to study whether single-stair multi-family residential buildings (up to six stories) can be legalized in Massachusetts. The commission, composed of fire safety experts, architects, building officials, and housing advocates, will develop a building code amendment that includes safety measures for these structures. It must build on prior research and analyze safety comparisons to two-stair buildings, plus create an implementation plan. The study will be funded with $250,000 from the General Fund. This bill does not change current law but sets the stage for potential future code updates affecting developers and residents of mid-rise housing.

Maddy summaryThis bill automates the sealing of certain criminal records in Massachusetts, removing the need for individuals to file petitions. For adults, misdemeanor records become eligible for automatic sealing 3 years after conviction (or 7 years for felonies), excluding sex offenses (which still require a request) and specific drug offenses. Correctional facilities must report release dates monthly to the probation commissioner, who must seal eligible records within 30 days. Juveniles' records are automatically sealed after a 3-year waiting period without requiring petitions, and agencies must provide notice about sealing at the time of conviction or adjudication.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends court procedures for name changes to enhance personal safety protections. It requires courts to request probation reports before approving name changes and mandates submission of birth records or prior name-change documentation. Crucially, courts can now keep name-change records confidential and segregated if they determine public access would jeopardize safety - specifically citing risks related to gender non-conformity, transgender status, or domestic violence survival. The law ensures courts cannot deny confidentiality requests solely due to lack of documented threats, focusing on the "totality of circumstances" rather than specific incidents. This directly affects individuals seeking name changes who face safety concerns, making court records more secure without altering substantive name-change eligibility.

By Ms. Friedman, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 130) of Cindy F. Friedman, Kathleen R. LaNatra, Joanne M. Comerford, Michael O. Moore and other members of the General Court for legislation relative to a livable wage for human services workers. Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.

By Mr. Crighton, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1060) of Brendan P. Crighton and Rory McCarthy, for legislation relative to the charitable immunity cap for cases involving sexual abuse. The Judiciary.

By Mr. DiDomenico, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 118) of Sal N. DiDomenico, Carmine Lawrence Gentile, Joanne M. Comerford, Mark C. Montigny and other members of the General Court for legislation to lift kids out of deep poverty. Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.