Rep. Aaron Saunders

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the Town of Petersham to extend the employment of two specific police officers, Richard D. Cooley Jr. and David A. Shoemaker, beyond standard retirement age. It allows them to remain employed until age 70, retirement, or removal, provided they pass medical exams at the town’s expense to confirm fitness for duty. Upon retirement, they will receive benefits calculated as if they had retired at age 65, per existing retirement rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the town of Ludlow to issue three additional licenses allowing businesses to serve alcohol for on-premises consumption. It permits the town to transfer these new licenses to different locations or grant them to new applicants, provided they meet specific financial standing requirements with state departments. The law also outlines procedures for handling licenses that are cancelled or no longer in use, ensuring they are returned to the town for reassignment.

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 directs the governor to limit civil immigration enforcement activities within nonpublic areas of state-owned buildings and properties, unless required by federal law or specific state programs. It requires the creation of multilingual guidelines for state agencies, private organizations, and schools on how to verify the authority of immigration officers and handle related interactions. Additionally, the bill empowers the attorney general to file civil lawsuits against any law enforcement officer who violates specific federal statutes regarding immigration enforcement.

Maddy summaryThis bill validates the May 5, 2025, annual town election in New Salem, confirming all votes cast despite any defects in how the election was called. It directly affects New Salem voters by retroactively confirming the election's results as legally valid. The bill’s sole provision (Section 1) explicitly states that all votes from this election are "ratified, validated and confirmed in all respects," with no further changes to election procedures. It takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis Massachusetts bill restricts civil immigration enforcement activities in nonpublic areas of state facilities unless required by law or necessary for federally funded programs. It requires the governor to create multilingual guidelines for state agencies, private organizations, law enforcement, and schools on how to handle immigration-related interactions, including verifying officer credentials and warrants. The legislation also mandates that correctional facilities provide detained individuals with written notices about their legal rights in their primary language. These provisions apply to a wide range of entities including police departments, universities, hospitals, and private organizations that employ ten or more people or receive state funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill reorganizes the Town of Ludlow by moving its Recreation Department into the Department of Public Works as a new Parks & Recreation Division. The change places the division under the direct supervision of the Public Works Director and gives the town's Select Board full authority to appoint and manage both the division's staff and the Recreation Commission. Currently elected Recreation Commissioners will finish their terms before being replaced by new members appointed by the Select Board for three-year terms. All existing contracts, records, and equipment from the former department will automatically transfer to the new division without interruption.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a physical therapy licensure compact, allowing physical therapists licensed in one member state to practice in other participating states without obtaining separate licenses. It directly affects licensed physical therapists seeking to provide care across state lines and patients in states with participating licenses. Key mechanisms include mutual recognition of licenses, requiring therapists to hold an unencumbered home-state license, pass background checks, pay fees, and meet any remote state's jurisprudence requirements. The compact also mandates states to share disciplinary information and maintain data systems for oversight, while preserving each state's authority to regulate practice within its borders.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a PFAS Remediation Trust Fund to address contamination in Massachusetts drinking water, groundwater, soil, and other environmental media. It directly affects communities with PFAS pollution, including vulnerable environmental justice areas, private well owners, and public water systems. The fund provides grants for PFAS treatment, remediation, and outreach programs, prioritizing communities with limited resources. Money comes from settlements with PFAS manufacturers, other grants, and interest, with strict rules requiring repayment if responsible parties are later identified.

Maddy summaryHD 2540 creates a legal process for terminally ill Massachusetts residents to request medication for a peaceful death. It requires patients to be mentally capable adults with a terminal diagnosis (expected death within 6 months), prove Massachusetts residency, and complete a 15-day waiting period after an initial oral request. The process involves two physicians confirming the diagnosis and mental capacity, plus two non-family witnesses verifying the patient’s voluntary participation. Patients with legal guardians are excluded, and the bill explicitly does not affect existing hospice or palliative care options.