Rep. Bridget Plouffe

Maddy summaryThis bill allows the town of East Bridgewater to issue up to four additional licenses for businesses to sell alcohol for take-out (not for on-premises consumption), increasing the town's current limit under state law. It requires new applicants to prove their license is in good standing with the state tax and unemployment departments, and prohibits transferring these new licenses to new owners at the same location. All new licenses must still follow existing state rules for alcohol sales under Chapter 138. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends an existing law by updating a date from "2018" to "2021" in the first sentence of subsection (e) of section 17. It does not create new programs or alter policy for dairy farms, but rather adjusts the effective date of a prior provision. The change is purely administrative, affecting the timing reference within the law without introducing new requirements or benefits. This procedural update has no direct impact on dairy farm operations or regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Massachusetts' veterans' bonus program by defining specific conflict periods (like World War II, the Korean Emergency, and the Persian Gulf War) and revising eligibility rules. It removes a requirement that veterans must have lived in Massachusetts for six months before service, instead requiring the veteran to reside in the state. The bill also expands eligibility to include veterans currently serving and those discharged under less than honorable conditions due to sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or HIV status. Additionally, it repeals outdated laws related to veterans' bonuses that were no longer in use.

Maddy summaryHD 3890 requires healthcare practitioners in Massachusetts to clearly disclose their specific license type and expiration date to patients. It mandates two specific disclosures: a visible photo ID name tag during all patient interactions and a clear office sign showing license details. This applies to all practitioners with direct patient care, including those working in multiple offices, but excludes non-patient care roles. Violations would be enforced under state consumer protection law (Chapter 93A), with medical doctors supervising others also required to post their office hours.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all public safety vehicles - including police cars, fire trucks, ambulances, and disaster response vehicles - to carry emergency thermal blankets. The law mandates that these blankets be standard equipment, overriding any existing laws that might conflict. The blankets are intended to prevent hypothermia in emergency situations where individuals may be exposed to cold temperatures. The requirement applies immediately to all new vehicles and must be implemented for existing vehicles within a specified timeframe.

Maddy summaryThis bill defines and establishes "Communication, Apology and Resolution programs" (CARe/CRP) for healthcare providers. It requires physicians or healthcare organizations to investigate unanticipated adverse outcomes, provide full disclosure to patients/families, and offer sincere apologies or fair compensation for avoidable injuries without litigation. The bill exempts settlements or resolutions through these programs from being reported as claims to the medical board, unless substandard care is determined. Insurers must still report other claims within 30 days, including details like physician information, claim nature, and settlement amounts.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HD 3967) amends Massachusetts retirement law to ensure state employees who are members of the Massachusetts National Guard receive credit for their active service toward retirement benefits. It directly affects National Guard members employed by the state and enrolled in the state employees’ retirement system. The key change removes a previous exclusion, now requiring retirement systems to count National Guard service time as equivalent to active duty in the U.S. armed forces for creditable service purposes. This provides equal retirement credit for National Guard service that was previously not automatically included.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a technical amendment to Chapter 32 of Massachusetts General Laws. It adds "Brockton School Police" as a defined term after "Authority" in Section 3. The change solely updates the legal reference to formally recognize Brockton's school police unit within existing law, with no new policies, funding, or operational changes. It directly affects how the Brockton School Police is referenced in state statutes.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HD 3966) allows certain public safety workers to seek court-ordered HIV testing of individuals who exposed them to blood or bodily fluids during their duties. It directly affects law enforcement officers, healthcare providers, firefighters, EMS personnel, and paramedics. The key provision lets these workers petition a court for an order compelling the testing of the person who caused the exposure; results are shared only with the affected worker and their medical provider. The bill does not change existing HIV testing rules but creates a specific legal process for these workers after exposure incidents.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to update eligibility for veterans' bonus payments. It defines specific conflict periods (e.g., Korean Emergency: June 25, 1950-January 31, 1955) and removes the requirement that veterans must have resided in Massachusetts for six months before service. The bill expands eligibility to include veterans discharged under non-honorable conditions due to sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or HIV status (based on DD-214 documentation). It also repeals outdated historical laws related to veterans' bonuses, effective July 1, 2026.