Requires public notice and public engagement when a general hospital seeks to close entirely or a unit that provides maternity, mental health or substance use care.
Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Fashion Environmental Accountability Act, requires large fashion retailers to conduct standardized environmental due diligence on their supply chains and creates a remediation fund to address harms. It applies to businesses selling new clothing, shoes, or bags with over $100 million in annual revenue, excluding used clothing sellers and most multi-brand retailers. Companies must map their suppliers across four tiers, from raw material providers to finished goods manufacturers, and report on their efforts to prevent or mitigate environmental damage. The legislation mandates that these reports be independently verified and published using open data principles, while defining a "living wage" as a key standard for worker compensation.
Enacts the legislative oversight of automated decision-making in government act (LOADinG Act) to regulate the use of automated decision-making systems and artificial intelligence techniques by state agencies.
Relates to rechargeable battery recycling; adds a battery used as the principal electric power source for an electric scooter or bicycle with electric assist to the definition of "rechargeable battery"; provides that a battery manufacturer may not sell, offer for sale, or distribute rechargeable batteries in the state unless the battery manufacturer is implementing or participating under an approved plan; allows a city with a population of one million or more to enforce through its own agencies.
Enacts the "packaging reduction and recycling infrastructure act" to require companies selling, offering for sale, or distributing packaging materials and products to register with a packaging reduction organization to develop a packaging reduction and recycling plan.
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits employers, educational institutions, and other organizations from requiring individuals to submit copies of their own criminal history records obtained from the Division of Criminal Justice Services. By removing this requirement, the legislation aims to reduce barriers for people seeking licenses, jobs, or enrollment in schools who have already undergone the official background check process. The law also strengthens existing protections against discrimination based on criminal convictions by establishing a legal presumption that excludes prior incarceration records from evidence in negligence lawsuits. These changes take effect approximately 120 days after the bill becomes law, ensuring a transition period for affected entities to adjust their hiring and admission procedures.
Authorizes cities and towns, except a city with a population of one million or more, to establish community housing funds; authorizes such cities and towns to impose a real estate transfer tax with revenues to be deposited in such funds; makes related provisions.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires commercial landlords to take reasonable steps to re-rent vacant properties when tenants leave early or break their lease agreements. Under the new rules, landlords must act in good faith to find a new tenant at either the current agreed-upon rate or the current fair market price, whichever is lower. If a new lease is signed, it immediately ends the old tenant's lease and stops the landlord from charging them for the remaining time. The bill also states that any lease clause trying to remove this duty is invalid, and it places the responsibility on the landlord to prove they tried to mitigate losses if they want to collect unpaid rent.
Establishes an emergency heating energy assistance program benefit to provide emergency assistance to certain households where such household is threatened with shut-off or an energy emergency due to nonpayment.
Provides that an accusatory instrument or supporting deposition consisting of factual allegations by a deponent with limited English proficiency is not sufficient unless accompanied by a sworn statement from an interpreter affirming the accuracy of the English interpretation.
