Senate, July 16, 2026 -- Substituted as a new draft (Senator Comerford) for the Senate Bill providing equal opportunity for residents to vote on establishment of the Great River Regional School District (Senate, No. 3026).
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.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a legal framework for supported decision-making agreements (SDMAs), allowing adults (18+) with disabilities to voluntarily choose supporters (like family or friends) to help them make life decisions - such as housing, healthcare, or finances - without replacing guardianship. It requires the state to create a training program for supporters on rights, obligations, and dispute resolution, and updates education and legal processes to recognize SDMAs (e.g., informing students about SDMAs during IEP meetings). The bill directly affects adults needing decision support, their chosen supporters, and state agencies like the Department of Developmental Services. Key provisions define "supported decision-making," set rules for agreement execution/termination, and prohibit supporters who have abused the decision-maker or been removed as conservators.
By Ms. Comerford and Ms. Whipps of Athol, a joint petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 3261) of Joanne M. Comerford and Susannah M. Whipps (with approval of the mayor and city council) for legislation to authorize the city of Greenfield to grant an additional liquor license for the sale of all alcoholic beverages to be drunk on the premises. Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure. [Local Approval Received.]
Maddy summaryThis bill allows the town of Athol to issue five extra licenses for businesses that sell alcoholic beverages for consumption off-site. It overrides a state law that normally caps the number of such licenses a municipality can grant. The new licenses must still follow all other existing state alcohol regulations. The measure takes effect immediately upon its passage.
Maddy summaryThis bill allows the Town of Athol in Massachusetts to issue five extra permits for businesses that sell wine and beer for customers to take home. It overrides a state law that normally limits how many such licenses a town can grant. The new permits must still follow all other state alcohol regulations, but they are exempt from the specific numerical cap set by the existing statute.
Maddy summaryHD 2501 allows cities and towns to adopt local rent stabilization and tenant protection measures. It enables municipalities to limit annual rent increases to the lower of the local Consumer Price Index or 5%, and requires landlords to have "just cause" (like nonpayment, lease violations, or property conversion) to evict tenants. The bill directly affects renters in participating municipalities, excluding owner-occupied buildings with four or fewer units, new construction (for five years), college dorms, senior facilities, and units subject to public housing regulation. Municipalities must adopt local ordinances within 180 days of acceptance and report annually to the state housing office. The law does not override existing state or federal tenant protections.
Maddy summaryThis bill proposes designating the Jurassic Armored Mud Ball as Massachusetts' official sedimentary structure. Introduced by Rep. Susannah Whipps and colleagues, it is a symbolic measure with no regulatory, administrative, or policy impact. The legislation serves purely as a ceremonial recognition without altering laws or affecting any stakeholders. It falls under procedural designation, not substantive policy change.
Maddy summaryThis bill, titled "An Act prioritizing patient access to care," amends Massachusetts state law to change how abortions are regulated. It removes the requirement that abortions must be performed only to preserve a patient's life or health or due to specific fetal diagnoses, replacing those criteria with a standard based solely on a physician's professional judgment. Additionally, the bill prevents any medical review process from overriding a doctor's decision to perform an abortion when a patient or their health care proxy requests it. These changes directly affect physicians, patients, and healthcare facilities by expanding the circumstances under which abortions can be legally provided.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new licensing system for private businesses that provide home care services, such as assistance with bathing, dressing, and housekeeping, to help ensure these providers are responsible and suitable. To obtain a license, agencies must meet specific requirements that include conducting thorough background checks on all workers, verifying driving records for those who transport clients, and maintaining clear contracts that detail service costs and plans. The law also mandates that agencies carry workers' compensation and liability insurance, follow labor laws regarding payroll, and provide ongoing training for their staff. The executive office of health and human services is tasked with issuing licenses, enforcing rules, and conducting investigations to monitor compliance, while also ensuring these new requirements do not duplicate existing oversight for other types of long-term care providers.
