Sen. Lydia Edwards

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes Election Day as a legal holiday in Massachusetts while excluding public employees involved in election administration. It also grants eligible employees two hours of paid leave to vote during early voting, mail-in periods, or on election day, provided they do not already receive the day off. Employers are prohibited from penalizing workers for using this voting leave in any employment decision.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to require Medicaid coverage for tobacco cessation counseling and related information. It directly affects Medicaid beneficiaries who need help quitting tobacco use and the healthcare providers who deliver these services. The key provision expands the definition of covered counseling to include individual, group, and phone sessions offered by a wide range of qualified professionals, such as physicians, dentists, and behavioral health counselors. By ensuring these services are paid for by Medicaid, the legislation aims to increase access to tobacco cessation support for low-income residents.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to update the Housing Development Incentive Program, which provides tax benefits to developers building new or renovated multi-unit housing. The changes require that eligible projects include at least 20 percent permanently affordable units for low- and moderate-income residents, while limiting the number of market-rate units to no more than 80 percent. Additionally, the program will now specifically target distressed neighborhoods or areas lacking mixed-income housing, and it adds language to ensure benefits reach lower-income residents without causing rent hikes or displacement. By redefining key terms like "mixed income development" and adjusting eligibility criteria, the legislation aims to reshape how state incentives are applied to future housing projects.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Massachusetts cities and towns to offer a property tax credit to landlords who rent their small, unsubsidized apartment buildings at rates below local market limits. To qualify, landlords must rent units to low-income individuals, seniors, or families with young children, and they can receive a credit of up to $2,000 per unit, limited to six units total. Local governments can also choose to provide an additional property tax exemption for these properties, with the specific amount determined by the municipality. The program is designed to encourage affordable housing without mandating specific rent prices or tenant selection criteria, leaving the details of implementation to local communities.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires that new and substantially remodeled commercial buildings in Massachusetts use electricity instead of fossil fuels for heating, cooling, cooking, and clothes drying. It specifically mandates that new hospitals and biological research laboratories achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and sets a phased schedule of decreasing emission limits for these facilities through 2049. The legislation also establishes specific heating requirements for labs and hospitals, ensuring their primary heating systems do not rely on on-site fossil fuel combustion. Additionally, the bill directs the Department of Energy Resources to create regulations for compliance, including the use of renewable energy credits, while allowing municipalities to set separate rules for existing facilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts labor laws to protect warehouse workers by establishing specific definitions for quotas, work speed data, and designated employee representatives. It requires employers to provide new hires with information about their assigned work standards within thirty days of hiring. The legislation applies to companies that directly or indirectly control the wages or working conditions of at least one hundred employees at a single warehouse distribution center or five hundred employees across multiple centers in the state. By clarifying these terms, the bill aims to ensure transparency regarding performance metrics that could affect an employee's continued employment.

Maddy summaryThis bill strengthens child welfare protections in Massachusetts by creating new roles within the Department of Children and Families to improve educational outcomes for children in care. It establishes a new Education Manager position to oversee statewide education policies and requires each regional office to hire a full-time Education Coordinator to monitor student progress and assist caseworkers. The legislation also mandates an annual public performance report detailing the department's activities and requires specific amendments to existing laws regarding record-keeping and reporting requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new State Board of Building Regulations and Standards to oversee Massachusetts building codes with a focus on climate safety. The board will consist of 17 members, including government officials and experts in areas like energy efficiency, climate resilience, and advanced building technology, who will be appointed by the governor. Additionally, the legislation establishes new legal definitions for terms such as "climate risks" and "expanded floodplain maps" to ensure future building standards account for projected climate changes like rising sea levels and increased storm intensity.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a state grant program within the Department of Mental Health to support nonprofit organizations that are at high risk of experiencing hate crimes. The funding is intended to help these organizations train their staff in behavioral health and expand supportive services for communities frequently targeted by bias. Grants can be used for specific initiatives such as mental health first aid training, culturally responsive referral systems, and community education to reduce stigma. The program requires that grants be distributed equitably across the state and aligned with recent hate crime data, with a final report on the program's performance due six months after the first grants are issued.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a "right of first refusal" for specific nonprofit organizations when a multi-unit apartment building is being foreclosed upon. It requires lenders or banks selling a foreclosed property at auction to first offer the building to designated local community development corporations and other eligible nonprofit groups. These eligible organizations must demonstrate a commitment to preserving or creating affordable housing and have the experience to manage such properties. If one of these groups accepts the offer, the property must be sold to them under terms that ensure it remains affordable for at least 30 years. The law applies to buildings with six or more rental units, excluding hotels, hospitals, and other specific types of facilities.