Rep. Dan Hunt

Maddy summaryHD 1065 transfers authority over outdoor billboard advertising from the outdoor advertising board to the state Department of Conservation and Recreation. It requires local approval for billboards within 500 feet of public parks/reservations or if they obstruct views of nationally registered historic sites. The bill also explicitly allows the department to sell, lease, or contract for advertising space on its facilities. These provisions directly affect billboard advertisers, local governments (through approval requirements), and the state department managing outdoor advertising rules. The key changes take effect from November 1, 2009, and align billboard regulations with local zoning rules.

Maddy summaryH 5059, the Massachusetts Judicial Security Act, creates a confidential database to protect the personal information of judges and their immediate family members (spouses, children, or parents living with them). It requires the Office of Court Management to maintain this database and mandates that government agencies, data brokers, and other entities remove judicial officers' home addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses from public access within 24-72 hours after receiving notice. The law prohibits selling or sharing this information without consent, with limited exceptions for court orders, law enforcement, or financial institutions. This directly affects all Massachusetts state judges, federal judges in Massachusetts, and court clerks, ensuring their personal details remain private from public disclosure.

Maddy summaryThis bill, the Massachusetts Judicial Security Act (HD 1050), protects judges and their immediate family members (spouses, children, or parents living with them) by restricting the public sharing of their personal information, such as home addresses, phone numbers, and Social Security numbers. It requires state, county, and municipal agencies to remove such information from public internet posts within 72 hours of a written request from a judge or family member. The bill also prohibits data brokers and other entities from selling, sharing, or displaying this information online without explicit permission, mandating removal within 72 hours of a request and banning transfers to third parties. Violators face lawsuits seeking court orders to stop the disclosure and must cover the affected person’s legal costs and attorney fees.

Maddy summaryThis bill names the University of Massachusetts at Boston student center the "George V. Kenneally, Jr. Student Center" to honor his service to the Commonwealth. It requires the university chancellor to install appropriate signage bearing this name, consistent with university standards. The bill is purely ceremonial and does not create new policies or affect any individuals or groups beyond this naming designation.

Maddy summaryHD 1063 requires health insurance plans and Medicaid to approve non-emergency medical transportation for specific care (dialysis, behavioral health, and post-acute services) with a minimum 3-business-day authorization period. It also mandates that insurers pay providers at least 2.5 times standard rates for these services, including wheelchair van transport. The bill directly affects patients needing these medical trips and ambulance/wheelchair service providers who receive reimbursement. Additionally, it directs the health policy commission to study reimbursement rates for non-emergency transport, including workforce impacts.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires employers planning large layoffs to give 60 days' written notice to the state commissioner before implementing a "mass layoff" (defined as cutting 25% of a site's workforce or at least 200 workers within 30 days). It directly affects employers who must notify the state before such layoffs, and employees who may lose benefits if notice is not provided. Key provisions include mandating notice that includes details required by federal law, adding penalties for non-compliance (back pay and benefits for up to 60 days), and creating exemptions for physical calamities or employers actively seeking capital. The law aims to give workers time to seek new jobs or benefits by ensuring advance notice of significant workforce reductions.

Maddy summaryH 4980 modernizes rules governing relationships between motor vehicle dealers, manufacturers, and distributors in Massachusetts to strengthen consumer protections. It directly affects dealers by limiting manufacturers’ ability to force facility relocations, remodels, or vendor choices without written agreements and fair notice. Key provisions include requiring 60 days’ advance notice for territory changes (with dealer appeal options), prohibiting misuse of dealer customer data (including mandatory indemnification for data breaches), and restricting manufacturers from unreasonably altering dealer facilities or vendor requirements. The law aims to prevent unfair business practices while ensuring dealers can operate without undue pressure from manufacturers.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HD 1463) directly affects motor vehicle dealers by restricting how manufacturers and distributors can dictate business practices. It prohibits requiring dealers to relocate, make major facility changes, or purchase goods/services from manufacturer-selected vendors without allowing dealer alternatives. The law also restricts sharing of dealer customer data without consent, mandates indemnification for data breaches, and requires advance notice and justification for altering a dealer's geographic sales territory. These provisions aim to prevent unfair pressure on dealers while clarifying manufacturer obligations.

Maddy summaryThis procedural bill (H 4967) extends the deadline for the House Committee on Election Laws to complete its report on House Document 848. Specifically, it grants the committee until Wednesday, March 18, 2026, to finalize its report - bypassing standard House Rule 27 deadlines. The bill was adopted on January 20, 2026, making this extension effective immediately. It directly affects the committee’s workflow but does not change election laws or impact voters.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts' prevailing wage law to require that approved apprenticeship and training programs pay the same prevailing wages as other covered entities, such as pension and health funds. It specifically adds these programs to the list of initiatives subject to prevailing wage requirements under Chapter 149 of the General Laws. The change applies to all state-approved apprenticeship programs that meet standards outlined in Chapter 23, ensuring they comply with existing wage rules for public works projects. This policy update extends current wage protections to apprenticeship participants without creating new programs.