By Mr. Tarr, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2089) of Bruce E. Tarr for legislation relative to first-time home buyers savings accounts. Revenue.
By Mr. Fattman, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1981) of Ryan C. Fattman and Bruce E. Tarr for legislation relative to graduate student loan deductions. Revenue.
By Mr. Fattman, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1983) of Ryan C. Fattman and Bruce E. Tarr for legislation to promote student loan repayment. Revenue.
Senate, July 13, 2026 -- The committee on The Judiciary to whom was referred the petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1205) of Michael O. Moore, Joanne M. Comerford, Jacob R. Oliveira, Joan B. Lovely and other members of the Senate for legislation relative to controlling and abusive litigation, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 3158).
Maddy summarySD 94 creates new legal protections for victims of abuse in family or household disputes by defining and addressing "controlling and abusive litigation." It allows courts to issue restraining orders against parties who file lawsuits primarily to harass, intimidate, or maintain contact with an abuse victim - after verifying the parties' relationship and prior abuse findings. If found guilty, the court can dismiss the case with prejudice, award the victim court costs and attorney fees, and impose 48-72 months of prefiling restrictions on the offending party. This bill directly affects individuals in domestic disputes where lawsuits are weaponized as tools of abuse, not the broader public.
By Mr. Fattman, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 3031) (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Ryan C. Fattman and John J. Marsi for legislation to establish a sick leave bank for Stephanie Rivera, an employee of the Worcester County Sheriff's Office. Public Service.
By Mr. Fattman, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1985) of Ryan C. Fattman and Bruce E. Tarr for legislation relative to 100% disabled veteran excise tax exemptions. Revenue.
By Mr. Fattman, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1988) of Ryan C. Fattman, Alyson M. Sullivan-Almeida, Steven George Xiarhos and Bruce E. Tarr for legislation relative to property tax relief for 100% disabled veterans. Revenue.
Maddy summaryThis bill updates Massachusetts' legal definition of "veteran" to expand eligibility for state benefits. It adds two key categories: (1) members of the American Merchant Marine who served during WWII (1941-1946) with honorable discharge, and (2) veterans awarded service-connected disabilities by the U.S. Veterans Administration. The revised definition also clarifies that "active duty" includes training periods where service members were disabled. This change directly affects veterans seeking state benefits who previously may not have qualified under the older definition, while maintaining existing exclusions like dishonorable discharges.
Maddy summaryThis bill (H 5096) extends the deadline for the town of Southbridge to issue additional licenses allowing on-premises sales of all alcoholic beverages. It amends a 2022 law by changing the expiration date from December 31, 2025, to January 2, 2029. The change directly affects Southbridge town officials, giving them an additional three years to grant new licenses for bars and restaurants. The bill only modifies the existing deadline without altering licensing rules or creating new requirements.
