Rep. John Gaskey

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits Massachusetts public schools from requiring student athletes on single-sex sports teams (girls' or boys' teams, not co-ed) to compete against opposing teams with athletes of the opposite sex. It also bans schools from penalizing students who refuse such matches or coaches who forfeit matches under these circumstances. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and athletic associations like the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association cannot penalize schools, coaches, or athletes for forfeiting these matches, though forfeits may be recorded as losses. The law directly affects student athletes, coaches, and athletic organizations in public high schools and middle schools.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Chapter 135 of the Acts of 2024 by removing two specific features from the legal definition of "assault-style firearm." Section 1 deletes subsection 121(a)(v), and Section 2 deletes subsection 121(b)(iv), which previously listed certain firearm characteristics. The change directly affects firearms that were previously classified under this definition due to those specific features. This is a procedural adjustment to the definition, not a new restriction or allowance.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Massachusetts municipalities to meet state and federal drinking water standards to qualify for state funding or grants. To comply, towns and cities must annually test water for contaminants like lead and PFAS, obtain MassDEP certification, and submit remediation plans if noncompliant (with funding suspended until fixed). The state will provide technical support and prioritize funding for infrastructure upgrades addressing water quality issues. MassDEP must publish annual reports tracking municipal compliance, with the law taking effect January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHD 4246 repeals Chapter 166 of the Acts of 2024, which was a specific family law statute. This bill directly affects any legal matters governed by that repealed chapter. The sole provision is the removal of the statute from law, with no new provisions or mechanisms added. As a procedural repeal, it does not create new policy or alter existing legal frameworks beyond the removal of the specified chapter.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HD 3687) requires Massachusetts municipalities to get prior approval from the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) before adopting local wetlands ordinances that are stricter than state law. It specifies that DEP must approve such local rules only if they have a scientific basis, align with best practices, protect unique local resources, and don’t conflict with existing wetlands protections. The bill directly affects towns and cities that create local wetlands rules, as well as developers and landowners working in wetland areas. It clarifies that appeals of local wetlands decisions must go to the DEP under current state law.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits state agencies from funding advertisements that discourage pregnant women from using pregnancy resource centers. It defines pregnancy resource centers as organizations offering services like counseling, prenatal education, and baby supplies to support expectant mothers. The law requires state agencies to stop negative advertising against these centers and to equally promote all facilities serving pregnant women, including both pregnancy resource centers and licensed medical providers. The policy takes effect 90 days after passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Massachusetts property tax exemptions for veterans with service-connected disabilities. It replaces a flat $2000 or $400 exemption with an incremental scale: veterans rated 10% or more disabled by the VA or military receive $400 for 10% disability up to $1,000 for 100% disability, in 10% increments. The exemption applies to primary residences occupied by qualifying veterans or their spouses (if also veterans) and continues annually unless the disability rating drops below 10%. The Department of Revenue must establish this scale by January 1, 2027, to implement the changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new property tax classification for "Urban Public Access Land" in Massachusetts cities, defined as at least 5,000 square feet of land maintained in natural, agricultural, or recreational use open to the public (e.g., community gardens, nature trails, or specific recreational areas like walking paths or picnicking). Landowners who qualify can have this land taxed at 25% of its fair market value, with the tax rate set at either commercial property rates or, for recreational land, open space rates. To qualify, landowners must apply annually by October 1st, provide documentation from a qualifying entity (like a Parks Commission), and maintain the land's public use. This directly affects landowners and municipalities by altering tax assessments for qualifying properties while preserving public access to natural or community spaces.

Maddy summaryHD 4321 raises the maximum retirement age for special police officers in Kingston to 70 years old. The bill directly affects certified special police officers appointed by the Town of Kingston's Board of Selectmen for traffic details, allowing them to serve until age 70 or until retirement/resignation/non-reappointment. Key provisions include setting 70 as the new maximum age limit (replacing previous restrictions) and granting the Board of Selectmen discretion to non-reappoint officers for any lawful reason. This change modifies the town's existing rules for special police officer appointments without altering other employment conditions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires water suppliers to add specific health warnings to annual Consumer Confidence Reports when fluoride levels in drinking water reach or exceed 0.3 ppm. The warnings state that pregnant people and bottle-fed infants may face developmental neurotoxicity and dental issues, and individuals with diabetes, kidney, thyroid, or inflammatory conditions may experience worsened health outcomes. It directly affects public water systems that must include this language in their annual water quality reports. The provision amends existing law to mandate these disclosures, not to change fluoride concentration limits.