Sen. Lydia Edwards

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 amends Massachusetts laws to give the Department of Children and Families more authority to review animals in homes where foster or adoptive parents are applying. It allows the department to request behavior assessments and veterinary records from applicants, with the cost of these assessments paid by the parent or applicant. While the bill permits the department to consider factors like a dog's breed, size, and history of dangerous behavior when making placement decisions, it explicitly states that a child cannot be denied placement solely because a specific dog breed is present in the home. The legislation also enables the department to create new regulations to carry out these requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Massachusetts cities and towns to choose ranked choice voting for their municipal elections, giving local communities the option to replace traditional voting methods. Under this system, voters rank candidates in order of preference rather than selecting just one, and votes are counted in rounds where ballots for eliminated candidates transfer to the voter's next choice until a winner is decided. Municipalities can adopt this method through a ballot measure, local ordinance, or charter amendment, and they must create specific rules for how votes are counted and conduct voter education campaigns to help residents understand the process. The law also ensures that voters can still use write-in candidates and allows communities to return to their previous voting system after four years if they choose to do so.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes three new grant programs to support Massachusetts businesses, educational institutions, and non-profits in developing a sustainable blue economy. The Department of Environmental Protection will offer funding to small businesses transitioning to a circular economy, while the Department of Energy and Environmental Affairs will provide grants for research and technology aimed at improving ocean health. Additionally, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will create a fund to help high schools expand training and job placement programs in ocean-related science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics fields. All programs prioritize applicants from environmental justice communities and minority-owned businesses to ensure equitable access to funding.

Maddy summaryThis Massachusetts bill requires the use of ranked choice voting for special elections held to fill vacant state Senate seats. When a seat becomes empty due to resignation, death, or other unforeseen reasons, voters will be able to rank candidates in order of preference instead of selecting only one. If no candidate receives a majority of first-choice votes, the system eliminates the lowest-ranked candidate and redistributes their votes to voters' next choices until someone wins. Additionally, the bill mandates that senators who leave office without valid justification must help fund the special election to fill their vacancy.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires publicly traded corporations in Massachusetts to make their tax reports available to the public in a searchable online database. It affects large companies that currently file tax information with the state secretary, mandating that these records be accessible on the internet starting from the third year after the tax year ends. The legislation also ensures that the state secretary provides a list of corporations that failed to file their reports and allows the public to purchase copies of the database or individual reports. By removing previous restrictions, the bill aims to increase transparency regarding the tax activities of major corporate entities without changing the underlying tax laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows unaccompanied minors aged 15 and older to consent to their own shelter and supportive services without parental permission, provided they meet specific criteria regarding homelessness or risk of homelessness. To qualify, the youth must not be in physical custody of a parent or guardian and must demonstrate a significant danger of experiencing homelessness due to factors such as prior homelessness, family conflict, or abuse. The legislation requires service providers to verify that the minor understands the benefits and risks of the services before allowing them to stay, while also mandating that providers register with the state, conduct background checks on staff, and attempt to contact the minor's parents or guardians within 72 hours of providing care. Additionally, the law permits a minor who is a parent to consent to services for their own child and sets conditions under which a provider may deny shelter if the minor provided false information or does not meet the eligibility requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill aims to improve voting access and election infrastructure in Massachusetts by allowing voters to easily choose permanent mail-in voting when they register. It requires election officials to send multilingual notices to new registrants explaining their options, including how to become a permanent mail voter. The legislation also updates the names of local governing bodies in election laws and mandates that colleges and universities have at least one polling place within a mile of their campus. Additionally, it clarifies the dates for state and presidential primaries and allows towns to hold local elections on the same day as a presidential primary if they use a separate ballot.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates new regulations for private wells in Massachusetts, which are defined as systems serving fewer than 25 people or operating for less than 60 days a year. It requires the Department of Environmental Protection to establish minimum safety standards for these wells and allows certified drillers to build or modify them without mandatory inspections when the property is transferred between close family members. Additionally, the legislation expands a state loan program to help homeowners afford water treatment systems that meet public drinking water standards. Local health boards will enforce these rules, and the bill includes provisions to reduce paperwork burdens for individuals and businesses.

By Ms. Edwards, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2374) of Lydia Edwards (with approval of the mayor and city council) for legislation relative to the promulgation of zoning rules and regulations in the city of Boston. Municipalities and Regional Government. [Local approval received]