Rep. Mike Kushmerek

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all schools (including public, charter, and non-public) and child care centers serving pre-K through 12th grade to annually test every drinking water outlet for lead. If lead levels exceed one part per billion, schools must immediately shut off affected outlets, install certified point-of-use filters within 18 months, replace water fountains with filtered stations (one per 75 students), and maintain ongoing testing. Schools must also publicly report test results, remediation plans, and notify parents and staff of any elevated lead findings. The law directly affects all K-12 schools and child care centers in the state, mandating concrete actions to ensure safe drinking water.

Maddy summaryHD 3467 updates how Chapter 90 funds - used by Massachusetts municipalities for road and bridge projects - are distributed. It bases allocations on the cost to resurface 2% of non-state roads and 3.3% of state-numbered roads in each municipality. The bill also revises matching requirements, setting the state's contribution (between 12.5% and 200% of a municipality's share) using equal weight on property values and personal income. This directly affects all Massachusetts towns and cities receiving Chapter 90 funding for infrastructure maintenance.

Maddy summaryHD 3165 establishes a $25 per hour minimum wage for care workers in home care agencies and social service programs, with annual inflation adjustments based on the U.S. Department of Labor's CPI index. The bill directly affects home care workers and social service program providers by requiring agencies to pay this enhanced wage. Key provisions mandate that state payment rates for these services must fully cover the cost of this higher wage, adjusted annually for inflation. This policy change ensures care workers' compensation keeps pace with living costs while requiring rate adjustments to providers' reimbursement.

Maddy summaryHD 3984 creates new opportunities for students with severe intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, and other developmental disabilities to access public higher education in Massachusetts. The bill allows these students to enroll in credit and noncredit courses at public colleges alongside typically developing peers, without needing standardized tests, high school diplomas, or meeting academic prerequisites. It mandates state-funded tuition and fee waivers (not institution-funded) and requires schools to provide necessary supports for inclusion in academic courses, activities, and dorm life. The law also establishes new guidelines for inclusive programming and ensures these students receive a free public education within higher education settings.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HD 1237) prohibits cities, towns, and landlords from imposing unreasonable restrictions on family child care homes operating in residential properties. It bans zoning rules that block such homes, prevents landlords from refusing to rent to providers based on their use, and invalidates lease clauses restricting home-based child care. The law requires cities to document costs related to these homes and treats family child care as a residential use for zoning purposes. It directly affects family child care providers, landlords, and local governments, aiming to make it easier to operate these homes in residential areas.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the sale in Massachusetts of cosmetics (including products like shampoo and deodorant) if the manufacturer knew or should have known that animal testing was conducted on the product or its ingredients after the law takes effect. It directly affects manufacturers and suppliers selling cosmetics within Massachusetts, requiring them to ensure their products were not tested on animals after the effective date. Key exceptions include cosmetics required by federal/state agencies for safety (with strict justification), products tested before the law, and ingredients already sold in the state prior to the effective date. The Attorney General can enforce the law by seeking injunctions or fines up to $5,000 for first violations, while protecting trade secrets during investigations. The law takes effect six months after passage.

Maddy summaryHD 507 extends Massachusetts' prevailing wage requirements to offsite fabrication work for public construction projects. It requires contractors to pay prevailing wages for prefabricated items like pipes, electrical systems, or modular units made offsite, and to include specific payroll details in weekly reports (e.g., facility location, worker names, hours, and wages). This applies to all public projects covered by existing wage laws, ensuring offsite manufacturing work meets the same labor standards as on-site construction. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance plans sold in Massachusetts to provide clear, standardized information about prescription drug coverage to consumers. It directly affects all health insurance plan members (enrollees) and potential enrollees by mandating that plans: 1) explain what a formulary is and how drugs are included/excluded, 2) post searchable formularies online with real-time updates within 72 hours of changes, and 3) disclose specific cost-sharing details (like co-pays or cost ranges) for each drug. Plans must also list prior authorization rules and show how drugs are covered under deductibles. These requirements apply to all individual and group health plans issued in Massachusetts on or after January 1, 2018.

By Representative Kushmerek of Fitchburg and Senator Cronin, a joint petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Michael P. Kushmerek relative to Hispanic-serving institutions in higher education. Higher Education.

Maddy summaryHD 1706 prevents landlords from evicting tenants solely due to having a pet during a state of emergency (unless the pet causes harm), and bans breed-based restrictions in housing rules, condo bylaws, and tenant screening. It limits additional rent for common household pets to 1% of monthly rent per dog or cumulatively for other pets, while exempting service animals. The bill also prohibits insurance companies from denying coverage or increasing premiums based on dog breed, except for designated dangerous dogs. These changes apply to residential landlords, housing authorities, and insurers, aiming to reduce pet-related housing barriers.