Sen. Mike Barrett

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to strengthen protections for pregnant and postpartum incarcerated women against the use of physical restraints. It clarifies that "postpartum recovery" lasts for at least six weeks or longer if a doctor decides, and expands the definition of medical professionals who can authorize restraints to include emergency medical personnel. The legislation requires correctional facility staff to undergo annual training on these rules and mandates that any use of restraints on these women be reported within 48 hours with specific details. Additionally, the bill establishes a requirement for the state to publish an annual report detailing compliance with these restraint restrictions.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to protect students and applicants from schools asking for their personal social media passwords or forcing them to add staff members as contacts. It prohibits educational institutions from requiring access to private social media accounts or threatening students with penalties for refusing to share such information, unless there is a specific legal investigation where the school must first notify the student and show that no other way exists to get the needed information. The legislation also establishes a civil remedy allowing aggrieved individuals to sue for damages, including up to $1,000 per violation and attorney fees, while explicitly stating that publicly available information remains accessible to schools. Additionally, the bill clarifies that these privacy protections do not override existing laws regarding the use of school-owned electronic equipment.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Massachusetts charter schools to voluntarily give enrollment priority to vulnerable student groups, such as those with special needs, English learners, and students in foster care. Under the new rules, these schools could admit eligible students at any time during the school year, including those who are on waitlists or admitted through the lottery. The state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education must create specific regulations to define which student subgroups qualify and outline the process for implementing these preferences. The legislation also explicitly includes students with emergency resettlement status as eligible for these enrollment preferences.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the state to commission a university or nonprofit organization to create a biennial report analyzing crime gun data. The report will examine statistics on firearms crimes, arrests, and the effectiveness of current gun regulations and reporting mechanisms. It will also analyze patterns in how guns used in crimes were purchased, including whether they came from licensed dealers or private sellers and how often the same buyer is linked to multiple firearms. All data included in the report must be presented in an aggregate format that does not identify specific individuals. The final report will be sent to state legislative leaders and public safety committee chairs by March of every even-numbered year.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new tax on bottled sugary drinks sold in Massachusetts to encourage consumers to choose healthier beverage options. The legislation defines specific terms such as "sugary drink," "sugar," and "non-nutritive sweetener" to determine which products are subject to the tax, while explicitly exempting milk, natural juices, and beverages for medical use. Revenue generated from this tax will be directed to the state's Health Promotion Fund to support public health initiatives. The law applies to distributors, retailers, and manufacturers selling these products within the Commonwealth.

Maddy summaryThis Massachusetts bill aims to reduce food waste by requiring standardized phrases on food packaging to clarify when items are best eaten versus when they become unsafe. It mandates that voluntary quality dates use the phrase "best if used by," while mandatory safety dates for ready-to-eat products must say "expires on." The state's public health commissioner will define which products require safety dates, establish guidelines for setting these dates, and educate consumers on their meanings. Additionally, the law explicitly states that food can still be sold or donated after the quality date passes, ensuring that edible items are not unnecessarily discarded.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Massachusetts high school students to earn industry-recognized certifications for jobs in high demand, with the goal of improving their future employment prospects. The state Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development will identify these high-value occupations and share the list with school districts, which must make it publicly available online. To encourage participation, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will provide financial awards to school districts when students earn these certifications, with funds used to support instructors and help low-income students cover certification fees. The law also requires the Department to publish an annual report detailing how many students are pursuing these credentials and how the program is progressing.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to clarify how hate crimes are defined and how restitution is handled for property damage. It changes the language in the hate crime statute to specify that the act involves intimidating "another" person rather than "a person," and it adds a new provision requiring that court-ordered restitution for damaged property be used specifically to repair that property. The law applies to individuals who commit crimes motivated by bias against a victim's race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. By updating these specific legal terms and restitution requirements, the bill aims to ensure clearer application of hate crime penalties and victim compensation.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new state fund called the Massachusetts Fund for Vulnerable Countries Most Affected by Climate Change to support international climate adaptation efforts. It allows individual Massachusetts taxpayers to voluntarily direct all or part of their state tax refunds into this fund when filing their personal income tax returns. The money collected is intended to be transferred to the United Nations Least Developed Countries Fund or designated non-profit organizations that support the same mission. By adding this option to state tax forms, the legislation gives residents a direct way to contribute to global climate change initiatives through their existing tax payment process.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new chapter in Massachusetts law to regulate debt collection practices and protect consumers from aggressive collection tactics. It defines key terms such as "consumer," "creditor," and "debt buyer" to clarify who is covered under the new rules. The legislation specifically mandates that a consumer's weekly earnings must be exempt from garnishment if they are less than 65 times the state or federal minimum hourly wage. This provision ensures that low-income individuals cannot have their essential income seized to satisfy a judgment for consumer debt.