Sen. Anne M. Gobi

Senate, January 29, 2024 --The committee on Agriculture, to whom was referred the petitions (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 491) of Anne M. Gobi and Kimberly N. Ferguson for legislation relative to creating an animal advisory board to the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2569).

Senate, January 29, 2024 --The committee on Public Service, to whom was referred the petitions (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1685) of Anne M. Gobi for legislation to allow Wayne Estes, a retired member of the Massachusetts DDS, an accidental disability retirement option, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2574).

Senate, January 29, 2024 --The committee on Agriculture, to whom was referred the petitions (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 42) of Joanne M. Comerford, Susannah M. Whipps, Hannah Kane, Susan Williams Gifford and other members of the General Court for legislation to strengthen local food systems, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2570).

Senate, January 29, 2024 --The committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure, to whom was referred the petitions (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 178) of Anne M. Gobi for legislation relative to transparency in credit card fees; (accompanied by bill, House, No. 260) of Gerard J. Cassidy relative to credit card surcharges; and (accompanied by bill, House, No. 306) of Colleen M. Garry relative to credit card surcharges, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2565).

Senate, January 29, 2024 --The committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure, to whom was referred the petitions (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 213) of Michael F. Rush for legislation relative to the licensure of appraisers; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 214) of Michael F. Rush and Paul McMurtry for legislation relative to the licensure of appraisers; and (accompanied by bill, House, No. 262) of Tackey Chan, Paul R. Feeney and others relative to the licensure of appraisers, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2568).

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes an Animal Advisory Board to provide guidance to the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture on animal welfare issues. The board consists of nine members appointed by the Governor, including representatives from various rescue organizations, veterinarians, animal control officers, and legal experts, with the department's shelter coordinator serving as chair. Members will meet quarterly to advise the department on topics such as shelter management, training, and best practices, and they must submit an annual report to the Joint Committee on the Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture. All board members will serve without pay.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to require businesses that charge extra fees for credit card use to display these surcharges on a sign at their location. The rule applies to any seller who imposes a fee when a customer chooses to pay with a credit card instead of cash, check, or similar methods. By mandating clear signage, the legislation aims to ensure customers are informed about additional costs before completing a transaction. The change focuses solely on the requirement for visible notification and does not alter the ability of merchants to charge such fees.

Maddy summaryThis bill grants retired Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services employee Wayne Estes the option to receive accidental disability retirement benefits. It presumes that his severe physical and psychological injuries, including post-traumatic stress disorder, occurred while he was working, even though he has already retired. If Estes chooses this option within 90 days of the law's passage, the retirement board will pay him benefits retroactively from the effective date. The legislation overrides standard retirement rules to provide this specific relief for his unique circumstances.

Maddy summaryThis bill strengthens local food systems in Massachusetts by requiring emergency plans to support agriculture and food production during supply chain disruptions. It creates a new full-time food system coordinator to manage state programs, track progress, and ensure underserved communities receive support. The legislation also establishes a non-enforcement circuit rider program to help farmers navigate regulations and access funding, while updating property tax rules to include the value of agricultural infrastructure. Finally, the bill authorizes the state to acquire land and easements to protect agricultural and horticultural areas for future use.