Rep. Tom Walsh

Maddy summaryThis bill allows cities and towns that permit alcohol sales to issue special temporary licenses for nonprofit charities to hold on-premises alcohol auctions. It also creates a new license for professional auctioneers to sell alcohol at events where the drinks are not consumed on site. Under the new rules, charities can receive donated alcohol at no cost, and all money raised from these sales must go directly to their charitable causes. The legislation sets limits on how long these licenses are valid, caps the number of licenses a group can hold in a year, and establishes a fee structure that does not exceed standard minimum licensing fees.

Text of an amendment, offered by Mr. Walsh of Peabody, to the Senate Bill providing equal opportunity for residents to vote on establishment of the Great River Regional School District (Senate, No. 3181). August 20, 2026.

Text on an amendment, offered by Mr. Walsh of Peabody, to the Senate Bill authorizing the town of Topsfield to convert 4 licenses for sale of wine and malt beverages not to be drunk on the premises to 4 licenses for the sale of all alcoholic beverages not to be drunk on the premises and to prohibit the sale of alcoholic beverages in the containers less than 200 milliliters (Senate, No. 2526). August 6, 2026.

Substituted by the House, on motion of Mr. Walsh of Peabody, for a bill with the same title (House, No. 4614) [Local Approval Received]. June 24, 2026.

Substituted by the House, on motion of Mr. Walsh of Peabody, for a bill with the same title (House, No. 2939) [Local Approval Received]. April 30, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the town administrator as the chief executive officer of Carlisle, appointed and removable by the select board, with primary responsibility for managing daily municipal operations. The administrator cannot create policy independently and must implement directives approved by the select board, while retaining authority to hire, discipline, and remove most town employees except key officials like police chiefs, fire chiefs, and the town clerk. The role includes supervising all town departments except the school, fire, library, and health departments, which remain under their respective boards, and the administrator may appoint interim staff for vacancies lasting more than 30 days.

Substituted by the House, on motion of Mr. Walsh of Peabody, for a bill with the same title (House, No. 4924) [Local Approval Received]. July 16, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill ensures teachers who move from classroom roles to positions at the Executive Office of Education or the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education retain their status in the teacher retirement system (or Boston retirement system), avoiding a switch to the state employees' retirement system. It requires such employees to pay makeup contributions for the difference in retirement payments between systems during their time in state education roles. Additionally, it creates a one-time 180-day opportunity for eligible teachers (who began contributing before July 2001 and didn’t choose an alternative retirement program) to join a specific retirement benefit program. The bill directly affects current and future educators transitioning to state education agency jobs, focusing on maintaining retirement benefits and contribution continuity.

Maddy summaryH 5046 ("Freddy’s Law") requires all Massachusetts high school athletes participating in MIAA sports to undergo one electrocardiogram (EKG) screening before competing, starting in the 2026-2027 school year. The bill mandates that all health insurance plans sold in Massachusetts - including state employee coverage, employer group plans, and individual policies - must cover this screening at no cost to families. It also directs the state to work with the MIAA to create policies covering athlete compliance, handling abnormal results, religious exemptions, and sharing screening results across schools. The law directly affects all high school athletes in MIAA sports and their insurance providers, ensuring EKG screenings are accessible without out-of-pocket costs.

Maddy summaryH 5015 requires Massachusetts health insurers and health plans to reimburse community health centers at rates equivalent to MassHealth payments for the same services. It applies to all entities paying for Federally Qualified Health Center services, including private insurers, HMOs, and dental corporations. The law mandates that reimbursement must match MassHealth's payment methodology as of January 1, 2025, ensuring community health centers receive the same revenue they would get through Medicaid. Insurers must annually report compliance with this standard to the state insurance division.