Sen. Lydia Edwards

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a special legislative commission to audit how Massachusetts funds programs aimed at preventing gun violence. The commission will be made up of members from grassroots and community-based organizations in areas most affected by gun violence. Its investigation will examine specific state grants and initiatives, track where money has been spent by neighborhood, and identify which communities have suffered the most from gun violence. Within 180 days, the group must submit a report with its findings and recommendations to various state committees and officials.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new requirements for state contractors to report how much of their payments go to minority and women-owned businesses and to disclose the racial and gender makeup of their workforce. It mandates that contractors submit these reports within 150 days of receiving a contract, while state agencies must create a standardized form and update their reporting system to collect this data. Additionally, the law sets a goal for the state to align its contracting with the demographic diversity of the population and requires agencies to consider a bidder's past compliance with workforce inclusion commitments. The legislation also defines "low income communities" to ensure that job creation on state construction projects in these areas targets local residents and reflects the community's diversity.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Massachusetts cities and towns to charge an additional fee on the sale of large, high-value homes to generate revenue for affordable housing. The fee applies only when a property is sold for a price exceeding a specific threshold set by the local municipality, and the collected funds must be used exclusively to create or preserve housing for low- and moderate-income families. Local governments would define what constitutes a "mansion" and determine the exact fee amount, while regional housing commissions could also collect these fees if their member towns agree to the program. The legislation does not impose a state-wide mandate or set a uniform fee, leaving the specific rules and financial targets to be decided by individual communities.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new right for employees in Massachusetts to take up to 10 business days of bereavement leave within a 12-month period following the death of a family member. The law defines family members to include children, parents, guardians, siblings, spouses, and partners living with the employee, allowing time for funeral arrangements, attending services, grieving, or handling legal matters. Employers have the discretion to decide whether this leave is paid or unpaid, and they may require proof of death, such as a medical record or police report. The policy applies only to employers with 10 or more employees in the state and does not affect existing contracts or laws that offer more generous leave benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority to upgrade the Fairmount commuter rail line by standardizing fares with the subway system, adopting a new name for the line, and improving connections with local bus services. It mandates that the rail line be electrified by December 2024 and requires the agency to report on the environmental benefits of this change by the end of 2025. Additionally, the legislation sets specific goals for increasing train frequency to every 7.5 minutes by 2029, constructing accessible platforms at two stations, and maintaining the ability to run trains every 5 minutes by 2035.

Maddy summaryThis bill requests the installation of a commemorative portrait honoring former State Representative Doris Bunte within the Massachusetts State House. If passed, the superintendent of the state house would be directed to place the artwork in a suitable location after receiving approval on its size and content from the art commission. The commission must consult with the house committee on rules and the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus before finalizing the portrait's placement. This measure serves as a formal recognition of Representative Bunte's service through a physical memorial in the state capitol building.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Massachusetts unemployment insurance laws to allow the state commissioner to waive recovery of overpayments when the recipient is found to be without fault. It expands the ability to forgive these debts in cases where collecting the money would defeat the purpose of the benefits or be considered unfair. Additionally, the legislation clarifies that the state can only offset unemployment overpayments against state or federal tax refunds if the individual was at fault for the error. The bill also requires the department to provide multilingual notices explaining these waiver standards to all affected individuals.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Massachusetts Department of Transportation's governing structure by establishing a 12-member board of directors. The board will include the Secretary of Transportation as an automatic chair, with the remaining seats filled by the Governor and the Mayor of Boston based on specific qualifications such as expertise in finance, engineering, and local government. To ensure balanced representation, the legislation limits the number of directors from the same political party to seven and sets term lengths that vary depending on the appointing authority. Directors will serve without pay but can receive reimbursement for necessary travel expenses up to $3,000 per year.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to require health insurance plans to cover screenings for postpartum depression during pediatrician visits. It directly affects parents of newborns by ensuring they can receive mental health assessments for themselves while their child is under one year old. The key provision mandates that these screenings occur whenever a parent visits a pediatrician's office within the first year of the child's life. This change aims to improve access to mental health care for new parents by integrating screening into routine pediatric appointments.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority to classify all commuter rail stations within Boston as Zone 1A. By reclassifying these stations, the legislation aims to provide fare equity for commuters living in the city. The change applies specifically to the MBTA and affects anyone using commuter rail service in Boston.