In the current 2023-2024 legislative session, John has filed more than 80 bills in different policy areas. Below you can learn about and track the bills that John has filed this session, listed by category.
To find bills from other legislators that John has co-sponsored this session, please click here.
Tax Relief and Economic Development
This bill builds upon the tax reform measures that were include in the Senate’s Economic Development bill last session but that ultimately did not make it into the final legislation signed by Governor Baker. The bill provides tax relief to residents by:
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- Increasing the Child and Dependent Tax Credits from $180 to $310 per child or dependent and removing the cap on the number of eligible children/dependents
- Increasing the Senior Circuit Breaker Tax Credit cap from $1,170 to $2,340 and directing the Department of Revenue to allow married individuals not filing jointly to receive the credit
- Exempting estates valued under $2,000,000 from the estate tax and eliminating the ‘tax cliff’ by establishing a uniform credit of $99,600
This bill, which John worked closely with the Massachusetts Retailers Association on, creates a allowance for businesses, capped at $750 annually, to cover the costs associated with submitting sales tax.
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- The allowance would be provided to all vendors collecting sales tax, including restaurants, but would not diminish or impact the taxes going to the municipalities through the local option meals tax.
- Whether a small business owner hires an accountant, or purchases the book-keeping software themselves, the cost of submitting sales tax is a burden.
This bill, which John worked closely with the Massachusetts Municipal Association on, requires that any rule or regulation issued by a state environmental agency must undergo a cost-benefit and cost impact analysis in order to consider whether compliance costs and environmental improvements are equitable.
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- As municipalities are asked to do more with limited funds, it is critical that local funds be applied where they will make the greatest effect.
This bill requires the Massachusetts Office of Business Development to establish the MassMade Program to promote business entities that are headquartered and produce consumer products in Massachusetts.
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- The program would feature a website offering an online directory, freely accessible to the public, of commonwealth businesses and consumer products.
- The website would serve as a marketing tool by providing business information, product descriptions, contact information, and website details; and as a resource for consumers by offering search capabilities for consumer products based on criteria including product type, retailers, business locations, and product price.
This bill, which John worked closely with the Massachusetts Restaurant Association on, allows establishments that are licensed to sell beer and wine on premise to also sell them for take-out.
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- This licensing extension was first introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic to support restaurants and bars. Currently extended through March 2023, this bill makes the extension permanent.
This bill directs the Governor to issue an annual proclamation declaring April 13th (4/13) as "413 Day".
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- The bill helps to promote tourism, economic development, and the unique culture of Western Massachusetts.
This bill exempts purchases of equipment related to the operations and maintenance of a qualified data center from the Massachusetts sales tax for a period of 30 years.
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- Qualified data centers are sprouting up across the country, and with them come new jobs and local economic investment opportunities. This bill helps incentivize these companies to come to Massachusetts and bring those benefits here.
This bill, which John worked closely with many senior centers on, clarifies that recreational card games taking place at municipal and town senior centers are allowed under the law.
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- Although stakes are often as low as a few cents a game, many senior centers have been stopping their card programs because they believe it to be illegal.
This bill, which John worked closely with the Westfield Flood Commission on, allows municipalities to use community preservation funds for flood control infrastructure and floodplain preservation.
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- Expanding the statute allows municipalities to use CPA funds for issues like the Little River Levee in Westfield.
Mental Health and Substance Use
This bill allows students to take excused school absences for mental health symptoms.
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- The legislation requires that absences are excused in the same manner as physical health symptoms and that schools shall accept documentation fro licensed mental health care professionals in the same manner as other health care professionals.
- The legislation also ensures students are offered the opportunity to meet with a certified school counselor upon return to school.
This bill requires Massachusetts State Universities to maintain opioid antagonists, such as naloxone, in all college-operated housing facilities and to train Resident Assistants (RAs) in how to administer the antagonist during an overdose.
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- The legislation is based off a similar bill previously filed in New York that is focused on combatting overdoses on college campuses.
This bill, upon local approval, requires school nurses of the local school district to be trained in administering Narcan and maintain a Narcan supply in their offices.
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- The bill requires acceptance by the local legislative body of a city or town, or by a majority vote of two-thirds of the member communities of a regional school district.
This bill would modify 51A (mandated reporting of alleged child abuse or neglect) protocols at birth by only requiring reporting should the birthing parent be suspected of substance use and if that substance use is expected to continue in a way that would affect their ability to care for an infant.
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- This legislation was filed after reviewing how current 51A protocols are being implemented for birthing parents who are receiving medication-assisted treatment for substance abuse. These changes to the protocol will help protect infants while also supporting parents in their sobriety.
- This legislation also requires a Plan of Safe Care to be developed for any infant born with prenatal substance exposure to ensure the well-being of the infant after being discharged from the hospital
This bill establishes a 19-member commission to study the availability of a continuum of care for persons with substance use disorders.
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- The legislation requires the Commission to file an annual report with the Legislature with policy recommendations for how to fix gaps in care.
This bill, which John worked closely with the Association of Behavioral Healthcare (ABH) on, requires the Department of Public Health to annually collect and report the demographic data of applicants for licensure in professions that provide mental health and addiction treatment.
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- Currently, comprehensive demographic information is not collected by DPH. As a result, the Commonwealth lacks an understanding of the full capacity and representativeness of licensed behavioral health professionals.
This bill creates a mental health and substance use disorder grant program within the Department of Mental Health for the purpose of addressing increased mental health and substance use needs.
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- John has consistently supported increasing funding for mental health and substance care and is committed to continuing that work with this legislation.
Public Safety and Criminal Justice
This bill amends the Commonwealth’s 58A statute to expand the list of crimes eligible for a dangerous hearing.
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- Dangerousness hearings allow the Commonwealth to detain individuals pending trial when there is clear and convincing evidence that the individual presents a danger to public safety, and no other condition could reasonably assure public safety.
- The current statute though, does not cover many heinous crimes. As a result, many dangerous individuals are not able to be detained and are released back into the community.
- This bill would add the following crimes to the Commonwealth’s 58A statute:
- Any sex offensive involving a child;
- Offenses involving bomb-making, or chemical, biological or nuclear weapons;
- Drugging for purpose of kidnapping;
- Child enticement;
- Civil rights violations;
- Indecent Assault and Battery on a person with an intellectual disability;
- Human trafficking for forced labor or for sexual servitude;
- Inducing a minor into prostitution;
- Posing a child in a state of nudity or distributing child pornography;
- Mutilation or torture of animals;
- Offenses involving illegal firearms;
- Threats to kill, rape, or cause serious bodily injury; or
- Attempting to hire or procure another person to commit these crimes.
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- The bill also requires that victims be notified before a defendant in a dangerous hearing is released from custody. The bill also makes it unlawful to obstruct justice by removing, destroying or intentionally impairing the functioning of a court-ordered GPS monitor or a breath-testing device.
This bill is a refile of the revenge porn and teen sexting legislation that was passed by the Senate before the end of the 2021-2022 legislative session. The bill makes revenge porn a crime in Massachusetts and creates a teen sexting diversion program for youth.
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- The legislation makes it a criminal offense to knowingly distribute visual material depicting another person in the nude, partially nude, or engaged in sexual conduct without their consent.
- The legislation creates an educational diversion program under the Office of the Child Advocate and other state agencies to provide adolescents with information about the legal and non-legal consequences of illegally sharing sexually explicit material.
John worked closely with the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA), Animal Rescue League (ARL), Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF), Massachusetts Humane Society, and other animal organizations on this omnibus animal welfare: The legislation:
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- Establishes an Animal Cruelty Misdemeanor Task Force. Massachusetts is the only state without an animal cruelty misdemeanor and this task force would review our laws.
- Prohibits the sale of puppies and kittens under 8 weeks old. Separating puppies and kittens from their mother and littermates early can result in health and behavioral problems.
- Prohibits the roadside sale of animals. Selling animals in such places by individuals often provides no recourse for consumers who may purchase a sick animal.
- Restricts the possession of animals after a cruelty conviction. The bill prevents a person convicted of certain animal cruelty crimes from possessing, adopting, fostering, or otherwise accessing an animal for a period of time determined by the court.
- Creates alternate pathways to ensure animals are safe without a felony charge. The bill would allow animals, when other resolutions have failed, to be removed for their health and safety – and without animal cruelty charges.
- Allows a phone call in detention to care for a pet (or dependent). The bill ensures a person arrested is able to arrange for the care of a pet or dependent person.
This bill, which John worked closely with the Massachusetts Trial Court on, prohibits all state, county, and municipal agencies from publicly posting the personal information of a judge on the internet without first obtaining the written permission of that individual.
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- The bill is in response to growing attacks and threats against judges and is based off of the federal Daniel Anderl Judicial Security and Privacy Act.
- Judges would also be allowed to request to have information pertaining to address, home phone, cell phone, taken down online and for there to be a limit to this information being handed out to data brokers.
This bill, which John co-presented alongside Representative Hannah Kane (R-Shrewsbury), establishes a commission to study and draft policies to combat the abuse of elders in Massachusetts.
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- The bill is in response to growing reports of scams and schemes specifically targeted at residents above the age of 60.
- The commission is required to file a report with the Legislature with policy recommendations to better protect elders from financial abuse.
This bill makes it a crime to knowingly file a false allegation of misconduct against a police officer.
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- The legislation requires law enforcement agencies to make all complainants aware that knowingly filing a false allegation is illegal.
This bill establishes a task force to complete a systematic review of the laws pertaining to domestic violence reports and confidentiality.
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- The task force is required to submit a report to the Legislature with policy recommendations focused on ensuring the confidentiality of domestic violence survivors without protecting perpetrators.
This bill extends the length of new and renewed wiretap warrants from 15 days to 30 days.
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- The current length of warrants has hindered investigations by law enforcement organizations in Massachusetts.
This bill, which John worked closely with the Massachusetts Trial Court on, ensures that warrants issued by probation court for violations are able to be entered into the Warrant Management System.
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- Currently, warrants issued by probation for violations are temporary in nature; that is, they are paper warrants that are faxed to police departments. The legislation would remove this temporary aspect to allow them to be entered into the Warrant Management System.
This bill gives an employee the right to take unpaid leave to comply with a Probate and Family Court order.
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- The legislation allows an employee to substitute any accrued paid vacation leave, personal leave, or medical/sick leave for the order.
- The legislation requires the employee, if possible, to provide the employer with seven days' notice.
This bill, which John worked closely with the Massachusetts Trial Court on, increases the number of associated justices on the Probate and Family court from 11 to 19.
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- The current number of justices has created backlogs of cases and hearings.
This bill, which John worked closely with the Hampden County Sheriff's Department on, allows Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs to access physical citation books from the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV).
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- Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs are currently already able to issue citations via e-citations, but not via physical books.
This bill, which John worked closely with the Hampden County Sheriff's Department on, clarifies that Deputy Sheriffs have the ability to enforce laws on the Commonwealth's waterways.
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- Deputy Sheriffs already patrol and help keep Massachusetts waterways safe. The legislation would clarify this responsibility in state law.
This bill, which John worked closely with the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts (PFFM) on, clarifies that firefighters served as call firefighters, and are later appointed as permanent firefighters, can receive creditable service for that time served as a call firefighter at any fire department.
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- Creditable service is already provided for time served as a call firefighter, if the firefighter becomes a permanent member of that same department. This legislation clarifies that time served as a call firefighter at any fire department is eligible.
This bill clarifies that any accidental disability retirement of a police officer or firefighter shall be treated as leave with pay.
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- The legislation allows for retroactive pay for those who were not previously granted leave with pay.
The bill establishes a career incentive pay program within the Massachusetts State Police to incentivize the furthering of education of current officers and to promote the recruitment of diverse candidates to the state police.
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- The incentives equal the already existing incentives offered by municipal police departments and do not apply to offices receiving career incentive pay for educational degrees under any other program.
This bill allows any public authority with law enforcement employees to vote to improve the retirement group classification for law enforcement employees.
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- Currently, public authorities with law enforcement employees, like the Massport Police, are unable to change their retirement group classification to make it in-line with other law enforcement employees.
This bill clarifies that any health condition caused by Post Traumatic Stress Disorder that results in disability or death to an employee of a correctional facility is presumed to have been suffered in the line of duty.
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- Currently, this presumption does not exist, and correctional employees and their families have struggled to receive appropriate disability/death benefits as a result.
This bill clarifies that campus police officers employed at Massachusetts State Colleges are members of Group 4 of the contributory retirement system for public employees.
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- Currently, college police officers are not eligible for the same retirement benefits as other police officers.
This bill, which John worked on as Chair of the Legislature's Aviation Caucus, clarifies the definition of drones in state law and restricts when they can be used.
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- The legislation prohibits a person from operating a drone more than 400 feet above ground level, within a restricted airspace, in a reckless manner, or with the intent to harass or annoy another individual.
This bill ensures that police officers have the resources necessary to make an accurate statement.
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- The legislation requires law enforcement to provide the necessary resources to officers.
Education and Workforce Development
This bill, which John worked closely with FIRST Robotics (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) on, creates a grant program within the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to increase robotics and STEM participation in public and charter schools.
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- The grants would be used to support robotics clubs and programs, disciplines that have been proven to help students achieve higher test scores, attend and graduate college with a major in science, technology, engineering and math, and be prepared for a workforce demanding knowledge in those areas.
- The legislation directs the grant program to prioritize schools located in Western Mass, Cape Cod, and communities without a sponsored robotics club or established robotics program.
This bill ensures that school districts in receivership are eligible for increased reimbursement for building projects from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA).
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- School districts in receivership, like Holyoke, have been determined to need additional aid. This legislation ensures that consideration is also applied to the financial costs of school building projects.
This bill expands the state's community college training incentive program to allow for-credit technical instruction to be counted in consideration for grants.
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- Currently, the community college training incentive program provides grants to community colleges for not-for-credit workforce development programs that they offer. This legislation would ensure that community colleges' for-credit workforce development programs are also being considered during the grant awarding.
This bill directs the Executive Office of Labor & Workforce Development, and the Department of Elementary & Secondary Education, to institute a certification award program to assist students in gaining access to industry-recognized credentials for in-demand occupations.
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- The legislation first directs the Executive Office of Labor & Workforce Development to provide the Department of Elementary & Secondary Education annually with a list of occupations in high need of additional skilled employees that either requires an industry-recognized certification, or for which such a certification will materially enhance a job applicant’s chances for employment and/or compensation
- The legislation then directs the Department of Elementary & Secondary Education to provide every school district with a certification award for each student who earns an industry-recognized certification. The school must use at least 80% of that award to support or maintain the program, including the payment of stipends for instructors and the subsidization of fees for low-income students to obtain the certification.
- The legislation also requires the Department of Elementary & Secondary Education to prepare an annual report on the certification program and its impact.
This bill establishes the Massachusetts Workforce Opportunity Scholarship under the Massachusetts Office of Student Financial Assistance to cover the cost of Community College tuition and fees for awardees.
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- The scholarship requires continuous enrollment in any of the Commonwealth's community colleges.
This bill requires the Department of Education to provide needs-based financial assistance to high school students eligible for the Commonwealth Dual Enrollment Partnership (CDEP).
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- The CDEP provides opportunities for Massachusetts high school students to take college-level courses at a discounted price and earn credit toward high school completion and their future college degrees. While these prices are indeed discounted, they present a burden for many low-income students and their families.
- This legislation ensures that low-income students eligible for this program can receive financial assistance to participate.
This bill clarifies that continuing insurance education hours can be awarded to a person holding membership in the National Association of Insurance and Financial Agents of Massachusetts, Inc.
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- Membership in the National Association of Insurance and Financial Agents of Massachusetts, Inc., includes education requirements and courses that are currently not considered for continuing insurance education hours.
This bill allows individuals who were previously Educational Administrators in approved private schools, and who are now Educational Administrators in public schools, to be eligible to purchase service for these years in the Massachusetts Teachers Retirement System (MTRS).
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- Currently, it is difficult for public schools to hire Educational Administrators from private schools because they will not be able to get retirement credit for their years of service.
This bill directs the Department of Education to establish an assistance program to ensure that municipalities that are experiencing sudden influxes of immigrant populations have the resources they need.
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- Many communities, like West Springfield, have seen sudden increases in immigrant student populations. This legislation aims to ensure those communities can get the resources they need to service and provide for all of these students.
Veteran Affairs
This bill creates the Women Veterans Network in statute under the Executive Office of Veterans' Services and expands the Network's outreach to women veterans in Massachusetts.
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- A 2022 report from the State Auditor's Office found that only 6% of women veterans in Massachusetts had been identified. This legislation implements the recommendations put forward in the Auditor's report for the Women Veterans Network, including:
- Expanding outreach to improve women veterans' awareness of their eligibility for benefits and services.
- Creating online resources and distributing information to women veterans.
- Employing a specific Women Veterans Coordinator under the Executive Office of Veterans' Services.
- Reviewing programs offered to women veterans and recommending improvements.
- A 2022 report from the State Auditor's Office found that only 6% of women veterans in Massachusetts had been identified. This legislation implements the recommendations put forward in the Auditor's report for the Women Veterans Network, including:
This bill, which John worked closely with Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) on, doubles all property tax exemption levels currently available under law for disabled veterans.
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- Property tax exemptions are a critical resource for veterans living on fixed incomes, but the exemption amounts currently provided have not been increased in many years.
This bill, which John worked closely with Massachusetts Fallen Heroes on, raises the annuity payment provided to Gold Star Families and Disabled families from $2,000 to $3,000 and repeals the archaic statute that has prohibited Gold Star Spouses who remarry from being eligible for the annuity.
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- The annuity provided to Gold Star Families and Disabled Veterans by the state has not been increased in over 16 years, and Gold Star Spouses remain ineligible for the annuity if they remarry.
- Senator Velis successfully got similar language included in the Senate's Economic Development Bill last session, but it did not make it into the final compromise bill that was ultimately signed by Governor Baker.
This bill, which John worked closely with veterans advocacy groups on, amends various provisions relating to the civil service laws to protect veterans' preference in municipal hiring practices. The bill:
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- Directs the civil service commission to hear and decide appeals alleging that a city or town has not provided a veterans’ preference.
- Requires municipalities who adopted civil service laws to provide preferences for veterans, widows or widowed mothers of veterans killed in the line of duty or from injuries sustained in the line of duty, or the children of firefighters or police officers.
- Entitles applicants for police officer and firefighter positions who allege that a city or town failed to provide the veterans preference in hiring to a hearing before the civil service commission.
- Requires cities and towns who are exempt from the civil service laws to also provide such veterans preferences in hiring of police officers or firefighters.
This bill requires each state-operated veterans' home to employ a full-time infection control specialist and a full-time emergency preparedness specialist. The bill also requires the Department of Public Health to inspect each facility no less than two times annually and make appropriate reporting.
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- This legislation builds off of the governance and oversight reforms for Massachusetts' Veterans' Homes that were signed into law last session.
This bill, which John worked closely with the State Treasurer's Office on, ensures that veterans' bonuses from the Treasurer's Office are distributed equitably.
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- The legislation would permit the Veterans’ Bonus Division to award bonuses to veterans discharged other than honorably due to sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or HIV status, based on such veteran’s DD-214 form or equivalent documentation.
This bill, which John worked closely with the Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission (PERAC) on, would ensure that veterans who enter public service have enough time to purchase their military service for retirement purposes.
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- Currently, veterans are allowed to buy up to four years of military service but only have 180 days upon entering public service to enter an agreement with their retirement board to make the purchase. This leads many veterans to miss out on this opportunity.
- The legislation would give veterans up to a year to enter into an agreement with their retirement. The legislation would also create a one-year grace period to allow veterans who missed their initial opportunity to purchase their military service the chance to do so.
This bill, which John worked closely with the Massachusetts National Guard on, makes it easier for veterans and military medics to become EMTs in Massachusetts.
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- The legislation establishes that the Department of Public Health will develop criteria for determining if veteran and military medic education and training requirements are substantially equivalent to the education and training requirements for EMTs in the Commonweal.
- The bill mandates that EMT licensing and certification can be waived, for veterans and military medics, if the education and training requirements are determined to be substantially equivalent.
This bill, which John worked closely with the Massachusetts National Guard on, clarifies that the Adjutant General has command of all of the Commonwealth's militias.
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- This technical fix clarifies current laws and keeps Massachusetts in line with other states.
This bill, which John worked closely with the Massachusetts National Guard on, clarifies that National Guard members who have met the requirements of the MA National Guard state retired are eligible to reside at the Commonwealth's Veterans' Homes.
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- Members of the Massachusetts National Guard state retired list must have at least 20 years of service.
This bill, which John worked closely with the Department of Defense, expands the recognition of Massachusetts military members and supports for military-connected students. The legislation:
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- Commemorates the founding of the US Space Force.
- Expands recognition of MA military members killed during active duty.
- Defines military-connected students in Massachusetts law and expands school supports for them.
- Establishes a military spouse liaison position, appointed by the adjutant general, to conduct outreach to and advocate on behalf of military spouses residing in the Commonwealth.
This bill designates the "Honor and Remember" flag as the symbol of the Commonewalth's concern and commitment to honoring and remembering all members of the US Armed Forces who have lost their lives.
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- The legislation describes the flag's design and directs which days the flag should be displayed and the protocols surrounding said display.
This bill, which John worked closely with the Military Order of the Purple Heart on, simplifies the process for issuing license plates to Purple Heart recipients.
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- The legislation eliminates language requiring license plates to bear specific language and instead requires them to display the emblem of the Purple Heart.
- The legislation also requires the issuance of the first set of plates without charge.
This bill, which John worked closely with MassRetirees on, extends the expanded definition of veteran to those who have the requisite non-wartime or National Guard duty and retired on a superannuation retirement before 8/26/04 for purposes of the veterans bonus only.
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- In 2004, the definition of veteran expanded for retirees to include those who served during non-wartime periods, as well as National Guard duty in very limited cases. Unfortunately, this law was only applied prospectively, from 8/26/04 forward.
- That meant the expanded definition of veteran did not apply to those, who retired on a superannuation (regular) retirement before 8/26/04 and had non-wartime military service (or National Guard duty in limited cases). These veterans were not eligible for the veterans bonus (up to $300 annually), despite their military service.
- If this legislation is enacted, veterans would then be eligible to receive the vets bonus prospectively from the effective date of the law. There is a local option provision for acceptance by local retirement systems.
- In 2004, the definition of veteran expanded for retirees to include those who served during non-wartime periods, as well as National Guard duty in very limited cases. Unfortunately, this law was only applied prospectively, from 8/26/04 forward.
This bill, which John worked closely with MassRetirees on, updates the bonus formula for public retirees who are veterans from $15 for each year of creditable service to $50.
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- The legislation would also increase the maximum from $300 annually to $1,000. There is a local option provision for acceptance by local retirement systems.
This bill, which John worked closely with the Massachusetts Veterans' Service Officers Association (MVSOA) on, simplifies and clarifies the process for veterans to apply for tax exemptions.
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- The legislation clarifies that any disability award letter from the VA is acceptable to be eligible for Veterans' tax exemptions and allows for a disability affidavit, signed by the respective VSO, to also be accepted in lieu of a VA award letter.
- The legislation also clarifies that once eligibility for exemption is established, the assessor is not authorized to require more information from that Veteran in subsequent years.
This bill, which John worked closely with the Massachusetts Veterans' Service Officers Association (MVSOA) on, ensures that veterans who are eligible for property tax exemptions are receiving them from the effective date of their award letter from the VA.
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- The legislation clarifies that Veterans' property tax exemptions shall be granted from the effective date of a Veterans' claim from the VA. The legislation directs the Division of Local Services to promulgate regulations to reimburse veterans who overpaid property taxes after their VA disability letter was awarded.
Public Health
This bill, which John worked closely with the American Heart Association on, creates a cardiac arrest awareness program for student-athletes and creates an incentive program for school districts to require CPR as a graduation requirement.
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- The bill ensures that school administrators, coaches, parent volunteers, and athletic officials are properly trained in identifying the warning signs of cardiac arrest.
- The bill also requires athletes to submit records relating to any cardiac medical history prior to the start of each season.
- The bill's incentive piece encourages school districts to implement CPR training programs as a graduation requirement.
This bill directs the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection to procure an external research organization to study the effect that PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) has on agricultural products and other food products.
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- Beyond contaminated water, the presence of PFAS in the overall environment, and more specifically our food chain, is still poorly understood.
- This bill commissions a study to ensure that we fully understand the levels of PFAS in mass-produced food supplies and the associated effects.
This bill creates a Lead Poisoning Prevention Trust Fund under the Department of Housing and Community Development to administer a program to provide grants to residents for the abatement of lead paint hazards in residential housing.
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- Program eligibility standards include (1) residential housing units or housing projects consisting of households with incomes up to 100% of the area median income as established by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development; and (2) housing that serves as a childcare location for children under 6 years of age.
- Priority of program funds will be given to abatement projects for housing in which a child who has been determined to have lead poisoning is residing within.
This bill requires health insurance plans to cover acupuncture services for pain and substance disorders.
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- Acupuncture is a growing treatment for many ailments and substance use disorders, but coverage by insurance plans has not been adjusted for this treatment for many patients.
This bill provides the families of all public-sector workers with a one-time $300,000 benefit should the worker be killed through and accident or injury sustained on the job.
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- Currently, this benefit is only provided to the families of public safety workers and is not extended to all public-sector workers.
This bill addresses the financial stability of the Massachusetts Health Safety Net.
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- The legislation reinforces the current statutory requirement that the Unemployment Assistance Trust Fund contribute at least $30 million annually to support the Health Safety Net with, which has not been fulfilled in recent years.
- The legislation also protects the federal revenue generated by Health Safety Net spending by dedicating it to the Health Safety Net Trust Fund.
- Finally, the bill allocates responsibility for any funding shortfall equally among hospitals and surcharge payers. While hospitals and surcharge payers are currently assessed an equal amount to fund the Health Safety Net, currently hospitals alone are solely responsible for any funding shortfall in the program.
This bill prohibits MassHealth, the Group Insurance Commission, and commercial carriers from entering into a contract with healthcare providers that allows them to make unilateral changes unless expressly required by law or unless the effective date of such unilateral change is the then-current contract.
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- Currently, carriers may unilaterally change the terms of the contract while it is in force, causing operational, financial, and medical consequences for both patients and providers.
Consumer and Market Protections
This bill requires the total price, including all fees, of tickets to be displayed at the outset of the purchasing process. It also prohibits price increases during the purchasing process.
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- This would apply to any theatrical exhibition, public show or public amusement or exhibition in Massachusetts.
This bill requires inspection facilities to provide notice of any open manufacture recalls as part of the vehicle inspection process.
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- The legislation requires that the notice specify that the vehicle has a non-remedied safety defect and a description of the defect, that the manufacturer will remedy the defect free of charge and that, with exceptions for the unavailability of replacement parts and for circumstances beyond the owner’s control, the vehicle registration will not be extended unless the defect is remedied.
This bill requires the Cannabis Control Commission to compile and make public information collected from independent cannabis testing laboratories.
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- The open data website must be updated and published on a quarterly basis and the commission must investigate and publicly report the reason for any discrepancy for individual laboratories that are statistically significant outliers in terms of their testing results.
This bill, which John worked closely with the Children's League of Massachusetts on, clarifies that insurers for foster care providers are only covering liability for actions by the provider, and are not responsible for negligence on the part of the state.
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- Currently, this issue has led many insurance carriers to drop out of the marketplace, which has led to costs raising as a result.
- This legislation will not provide the agencies with immunity for any type or class of claim that is due to their own negligence. Instead, each party (the state and the provider) will retain ownership of its own negligence.
The bill, which John worked closely with the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA), Animal Rescue League (ARL), Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF), Massachusetts Humane Society, and other animal organizations on, makes it unlawful to sell, offer for sale, display for sale, trade, donate or otherwise distribute a fur product in the state.
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- The bill exempts leather, cowhide, and shearling, as well as fur products used for tribal, cultural, or spiritual, purposes and previously owned fur products.
- The prohibition applies only to the sale of products including, but not limited to, clothing and fashion accessories like handbags, shoes, slippers, hats or key chains, that contain fur.
This bill raises the maximum storage charge per twenty-four-hour period of an involuntarily towed, non-commercial motor vehicle with a maximum capacity of nine persons from thirty-five dollars to forty-eight dollars.
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- The last rate adjustment was in 2010. The new rate adjustment will essentially compensate for inflation, and will ensure that the Commonwealth does not lose licensed towing businesses to other states.
This bill, which John worked closely with the Cooperative Credit Union Association on, supports credit unions in a number of different ways. The bill:
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- Authorizes in state banking law mergers and consolidations between mutual banks, subsidiary banking institutions, credit unions, with a credit union as the survivor. Currently, only a mutual bank or subsidiary banking institution may be the survivor in a merger with such credit union.
- Authorizes under state banking law charter conversions from a mutual bank to a state credit union charter. Currently, only a state credit union may convert its charter under state law to a mutual bank charter.
- Deletes an outdated provision requiring the automatic suspension of lending when the liquidity reserve falls below 5% of the total assets of a credit union.
- Adds Asset-Backed Securities, Core Data Processors and Fintechs, and Capital Growth Corporation into credit union law, subject to appropriate aggregate caps.
This bill, which John worked closely with the Massachusetts Municipal Association on, allows legal notices to be published in online-only newspapers to help smaller municipalities.
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- Currently, legal notices are still required to be published in print newspapers, making it difficult for many smaller municipalities that do not have frequent print newspapers.
- This bill also clarifies that website errors are not to be considered as publication errors.
This bill ensures that owners of recreation vehicles and off-highway vehicles are not forced to get double registrations.
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- The bill clarifies the definition of such vehicles and when these exemptions would come into place for owners.
This bill clarifies that a debt collector and consumer may consider other options of payment.
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- The current law restricts consumers from considering other options of payment.