For this upcoming two-year session, I have filed key pieces of legislation in various policy areas. Some of the legislation is cutting-edge and filed for the first time this session. Others are “re-files” from previous years, meaning they are the same or similar to previous bills. Below, I have highlighted some of my priority bills, organizing others by policy area.
HOUSING ACCESS AND EXPANSION
HD.3920, An Act setting a housing production goal for the Commonwealth – The legislation would establish a goal of creating about 25,000 new homes in Massachusetts every year through 2040. This would help meet the demand for housing based on projected population growth. The bill also sets a goal of having 20% of the housing produced is affordable. The legislation would not set any mandate requiring us to build this much housing. Rather, it only sets a goal that we can measure our progress towards. Supported by the Citizens’ Housing & Planning Association.
HD.1811, An Act relative to senior property tax deferral (filed with Rep. Vitolo) — The senior property tax deferral program allows seniors to delay or defer their property taxes until their home is sold or conveyed. This legislation makes adjustments to the senior property tax deferral program to allow for broader participation and enhanced benefits. The bill does so by (1) eliminating the 10-year Massachusetts residency and 5-year occupancy requirements for the program, (2) raising the income requirement for the program to be the same as the Senior Circuit Breaker, as it is currently lower, (3) tying relevant interest rates to the current bonding rate of the municipality, and (4) delaying the accrual of interest until 1 year after death.
H.2501, An Act enabling cities and towns to stabilize rents and protect tenants (filed with Rep. Montaño) – This legislation creates a local option for rent stabilization with just-cause eviction protections. Such a local option will allow cities and towns to slow the rampant displacement of their residents due to unprecedented rent increases. Rent stabilization is a means to address our affordable housing crisis. The bill sets certain clear and limited parameters to address concerns with rent stabilization among landlords and tenants, including exemptions for certain types of properties, predictable levels for annual rent increases, and protections from arbitrary eviction. Supported by SEIU and Homes for All.
HD.1706 An Act to maintain stable housing for families with pets (Filed with Rep. Montaño) – This bill will accomplish four things: 1) requires hotels to allow pets during an emergency 2) prohibit some housing providers from arbitrarily refusing responsible owners with good dogs; 3) fixes the rate of additional rent charged per household pet to not exceed 1 percent of the first full month’s rent; and 4) prevent homeowners’ and renters’ insurance companies from discriminating (canceling, refusing to renew or charging a higher premium) against people based solely on the breed of dog they own. The bill permits insurance companies to refuse coverage for dogs deemed dangerous by law or with a bite history. Supported by the MSPCA.
HD.3912, An Act promoting access to counsel and housing stability in Massachusetts (Access to Counsel, filed with Rep. Day) –Massachusetts is facing a crisis of housing instability. In 2020, approximately 22,000 households were served eviction papers, and 91.5% of those tenants were not represented by counsel in court, while the vast majority of landlords are represented. This bill creates a statewide program that will provide legal assistance and representation to indigent individuals involved in eviction proceedings. The program will be administered by the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation (MLAC) with support from an advisory committee. In addition to providing legal representation, this bill requires that landlords attach a form approved by the Chief Justice of the SJC which will notify eligible tenants of their right to representation when they are served with an eviction notice. Filed with a coalition of 240 organizations.
ENVIRONMENT, ENERGY, AND RECYCLING
HD.2878, An Act restricting distribution of single-use plastic straws – This bill would prevent restaurants and other food establishments from giving straws to customers, unless requested. Supported by the Conservation Law Foundation.
HD.3168, An Act to incentivize the reduction of residential waste disposal – This bill says that municipalities are required to report waste disposal numbers per capita for all residential services every year and if they are disposing of more than 500 pounds per capita they are required to adopt a Zero Waste International Alliance (ZWIA) compliant program to reduce or divert waste from disposal. If within three years the state as a whole has not met this goal (on average) then the Department is authorized to promulgate regulations putting a ZWIA compliant program in place as needed. And in the future waste disposal increases above 500 pounds per capita, then the State is required to promulgate regulations putting a ZWIA compliant program in place as needed. Supported by the Conservation Law Foundation.
H.3189, An Act relative to sales tax exemption – The intent of the bill is exempt the first $50,000 of electric vehicles from the sales tax. Currently, DOER has a rebate program for electric vehicles that offer up to $2,500 or $1,500 depending on the car. This change will help to further incentivize EV adoption in the Commonwealth and allow the state to achieve its GHG reduction goals.
HD.2893, An Act to improve plastic bottles and their recycling – This legislation provides that the lids on plastic bottles should be made from the same plastic resin as the rest of the bottle. Further, it requires that plastic bottle lids would not be fully detachable from the bottle itself. Supported by the Conservation Law Foundation.
HD.2793, An Act relative to greenwashing in recycling — Bans the use of deceptive or misleading claims about the recyclability of a product or packaging. If a product or packaging has the “chasing arrow symbol” or uses other terms to show the product is recyclable/compostable/biodegradable, the company must prove the product is recyclable in MA, describe any significant adverse environmental impacts associated with the product, and disclose if the product conforms with the standards of the FTC’s Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims.
HD.638 An Act reducing packaging waste (filed with Rep. Connolly) — This legislation would require all retail food establishments to use only biodegradable, compostable, recyclable, or reusable products for packaging any food which is prepared or packaged on site. Making this change would significantly reduce packaging waste in the restaurant and fast-food industry.
HD.1037, An Act to require producer responsibility for collection, reuse and recycling of discarded electronic products (filed with Rep. Owens) — This legislation works to address the growing problem of electronic waste by making producers responsible for collecting and recycling electronic products. The goal of this is to lessen burdens on local governments while incentivizing producers to manufacture more durable, less toxic, and more easily recyclable products.
HD.2758, An Act relative to combined sewer overflows (filed with Rep. Garballey) — A “combined sewer overflow (CSO)” is a type of sewer system that discharges raw, untreated sewage-contaminated water into our streams and rivers during storms and heavy rain. This bill calls for the sewage to be treated before being discharged into the waterways OR that the CSO outfalls be engineered only to activate in 25-year storms or larger. Filed with Save the Alewife Brook.
HD.2388, An Act to eliminate combined sewer overflows in Massachusetts waterways (filed with Rep. Schwartz)- This bill sets December 31, 2050, as deadline for all publicly or privately owned or operated combined sewer systems to eliminate all combined sewer overflows into Massachusetts waterways. It also requires Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs to develop interim metrics to monitor progress within 6 months of enactment and provide annual reports to General Court and public on progress.
HD.4204 An Act achieving a green future with infrastructure and workforce investments – Addressing the existential threat of our lifetime, climate change, this bill would unlock $10 billion through carbon pricing for investments in state and local green infrastructure projects. The bill, also known as the Green Future Act, requires that a minimum of 60 percent of infrastructure funding benefit environmental justice communities, meaning that no one in Massachusetts is left behind in the green transition.
HD. 2830, An Act to prohibit the use of polystyrene foam food containers — This bill would ban stores and food distributors from selling or packing food in polystyrene foam (Styrofoam). Supported by the Conservation Law Foundation.
HD.4220, An Act to establish environmental accountability in the fashion industry (filed with Rep Nguyen) — The apparel and footwear industry is responsible for between 4-9% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Under this bill (based on legislation filed in New York), any apparel or footwear company doing business in Massachusetts that has annual global revenue of $100 million will be required to take responsibility for the environmental impact on their supply chains, by setting and achieving climate reductions in line with the Paris Agreement, responsibly managing their chemical use. Filed with the New Standard Institute.
HD. 3036, An Act Relative to Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Administrative Fees – This bill changes the structure of the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Administrative licensing fee so that all of the revenue goes towards natural heritage and endangered species protection efforts. Supported by the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game.
HD. 1432, An Act relative to maintaining adequate water supplies through effective drought management (Filed with Rep. Meschino) – Massachusetts has experienced increasingly severe drought conditions over the last decade; however, the state does not have the authority to require water conservation until the Governor declares a drought emergency. This bill would give the EEA Secretary the authority to require uniform nonessential outdoor watering restrictions across a drought region during severe droughts. It would also require cities and towns to enforce water conservation restrictions issued by the Secretary to the fullest extent permitted by law. This bill would lead to a much more impactful, coordinated, proactive, and consistent response across the Commonwealth. Supported by MassRivers and The Nature Conservancy of Massachusetts.
HD.2828, An Act responding to the threat of invasive species – Aquatic and terrestrial invasive species pose expensive challenges for most communities, conservation organizations, and private landowners across the state. This legislation would establish an Invasive Species Office with a dedicated Statewide Invasive Species Coordinator that would be tasked with creating a Statewide Invasive Species Management Plan. It would also establish a grant program to help combat the spread of invasive species. Supported by MassRivers.
PUBLIC HEALTH, HEALTHCARE, CAREGIVING
HD.915, An Act to Improve Sickle Cell Care (filed with Rep. Bud Williams) – This bill seeks to improve care for sickle cell patients by creating a steering committee housed within the Department of Public Health, establishing a Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) Registry to provide the community with better data, creating a sickle cell disease quality program at MassHealth, and ensuring access to fertility preservation services for patients undergoing certain treatments.
HD.2862, An Act to ensure equitable health coverage for children – This will expand comprehensive MassHealth coverage to children who would be eligible for MassHealth if not for their immigration status. Allowing over 20,000 children in the Commonwealth access to MassHealth. Supported by Health Care for All and MIRA.
HD.623, An Act relative to requiring insurance providers cover a minimum of 30 days for in-patient substance abuse treatment (filed with Rep. Howard) – The opioid epidemic affects every community in Massachusetts, and it grows more difficult to combat every day. Between 2016 and 2021, the opioid overdose-related death rate rose by 8% in Massachusetts. While there are many steps we can and must take in response to this public health crisis, one of the most important is expanding access to treatment. To help do so, this bill would require health insurance providers to cover a minimum of 30 days of in-patient substance abuse treatment. Currently, insurance providers are required to cover just 14 days of such treatment. Extending this period will assure those seeking treatment have adequate time to receive it, without facing heavy financial burdens.
HD.2820, An Act relative to fentanyl test strips (filed with Rep. Schwartz)— In 2021, fentanyl was found in 93% of toxicology reports from overdose deaths in Massachusetts. The drug is extremely deadly, and those struggling with substance abuse — often unknowingly — are exposed to it. A simple solution to these unnecessary overdoses and deaths is for drug users to test their products for fentanyl. This bill would decriminalize all testing products that are used to determine whether a controlled substance contains chemicals, toxic substances, or hazardous compounds in quantities that can cause physical harm or death. In doing so, it specifically decriminalizes fentanyl test strips, as to encourage proper drug testing to avoid fentanyl-related overdoses.
HD.2880, An Act relative to cosmetic labeling – According to the CDC, at least 60% of the substances applied to the skin, the body’s largest organ, enter the bloodstream in thirty minutes or less. Currently, only retail cosmetics manufacturers are required to list product ingredients. This same transparency is not required of professional cosmetics, even if products contain ingredients proven to be linked to severe health conditions like cancer, birth defects, and respiratory issues. This bill will require the listing of all ingredients.
HD.2763, An Act relative to overdose mapping — Massachusetts currently tracks overdoses in various ways, and the data is stored and published in multiple spaces. This bill, which is based on a Colorado program (which the Colorado Legislature approved just this year), would direct the state to publish, in a cohesive online format, where overdoses are occurring in real-time. The program would enable both private citizens and government agencies to track and monitor the progression of the opioid epidemic through overdose data. Doing so will better the state’s ability to alter and enhance its response to the crisis.
HD.2890, An Act relative to improving asthma in schools (filed with Representative Owens) – The COVID crisis revealed glaring health inequities, among them poor health outcomes due to higher rates of asthma in communities of color. This bill requires schools with high levels of asthma to create an indoor air quality plan and recommends that such schools form environmental health committees. Additionally, the bill requires public schools to use cleaning products that meet certain environmental standards.
HD.2892, An Act to establish a division of indoor environments within the Department of Public Health – The Covid crisis highlighted the importance of indoor air quality. This bill creates the Division of Indoor Environments within the Center for Environmental Health. A division with this mission will administer and enforce existing laws and regulations relating to indoor air quality.
HD.2959 An Act promoting radon testing – This bill requires (subject to appropriation) that all schools and childcare centers undergo periodic radon testing and, in the case of dangerous levels, mitigation.
HD.2973, An Act to increase the safety of individuals with disabilities relying on life-support equipment (Tommy’s Bill) – The purpose of Tommy’s Bill is to increase the safety of persons living in a residential setting who rely on medical equipment. It will require residential nurses to speak to the discharge nurse when clients are in the Emergency Room or being discharged from the hospital regarding any changes in clients’ medications. The RN will educate staff as well as make any changes in Individualized Support Plans or Individualized Education Plans. Supported by the Arc.
HD.2554, An Act establishing a fund to further educational opportunities for caregivers to adults with disabilities — This bill creates a pilot program to provide free community college to caregivers of adults with disabilities, so long as they have two years of service. Supported by the Arc.
HD.2788, An Act to Expand Equity and Access to Patient Centered Care for Substance Abuse Disorder (filed with Rep. Schwartz) — Sets standards for expanding medication addiction treatment options, incentivizes professional training, development, and general treatment of addiction care, and creates a professional mentorship program for addiction treatment providers, among other things.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND PRISON REFORM
HD.2756, An Act establishing reasonable limitations on the solitary confinement of inmates 21 years of age or younger – This bill puts reasonable limitations on solitary confinement for those 21 and under. To make the implementation of this measure feasible, if a young individual poses an immediate and substantial threat to the safety of others, corrections personnel may use isolation briefly (48 hours), after which time isolation will end unless there is adequate evidence that the individual continues to be an immediate and substantial risk in which case isolation may continue for an additional limited period of time.
HD.3933, An Act establishing presumptive parole – This bill amends the parole release standard to require the Parole Board to rely on structured, actuarially-based parole guidelines and the findings of a validated risk and needs assessment tool. Under the bill, prisoners are to be released at the time of parole eligibility unless clear and convincing evidence shows that the prisoner would violate the law if released under appropriate conditions and community supervision. If a prisoner’s disability could impair their parole success, the Board must schedule a psychological or medical examination to ascertain and evaluate the nature of the risk that the disability poses and to identify any support, services, or programs that might mitigate the risk. Supported by Prisoners Legal Services.
HD.2971, An Act relative to civil asset forfeiture (Filed with Rep. Gonzalez) — In Massachusetts, prosecutors and police can take money and property they believe is part of a drug crime. The money can be held indefinitely, even after any charges have been dismissed. Trying to get money and property back is extremely difficult, and some legal experts have said our system may violate the Constitutional rights of due process. This legislation will amend our forfeiture laws by raising the burden of proof, improving reporting requirements, establishing a minimum threshold value of property subject to seizure, and diverting seized funds away from law enforcement and DA offices, as to avoid corruption.
HD.3934, An Act relative to life without parole – More than one in ten prisoners in Massachusetts are serving a Life Without Parole sentence. Denying prisoners the opportunity to ever apply for parole not only robs them of hope and denies their capacity to rehabilitate, it wastes public resources and does little to promote public safety. This bill seeks to address this issue by banning mandatory life without parole, returning discretion to the judiciary to determine on an individual basis that a person eligible for a life without parole sentence may instead be permitted to see the parole board after serving 35 years in prison. This bill will not apply retroactively.
HD.1711, An Act to define inducing a minor into prostitution (filed on behalf of Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan) – This bill provides clarification to this criminal statute by broadening the circumstances under which someone can be prosecuted for inducing a minor into prostitution. The bill would eliminate this “defense” by amending the statute. The bill replaces “induce a minor to become a prostitute” with “induce a minor to engage in or to agree to engage in or offer to engage in prostitution or in sexual conduct with another person in return for a fee.”
HD.1712, An Act to ensure the ability to prosecute repeat OUI offenses (on behalf of Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan) – This will allow prosecutors to use previously sealed OUI convictions ONLY in subsequent OUI trials.
HD.3301, An Act relative to clarity and consistency for the Justice Reinvestment Oversight Board (filed with Rep. Day) — This bill builds on and modifies data collection requirements in the 2018 Criminal Justice reform law. It harmonizes language in two places in statute, the authorizing language for the new Justice Reinvestment Oversight Board (JROB) and the language outlining the responsibilities of the Secretary of Public Safety regarding data collection and reporting. It also includes the DAs in the list of entities required to collect and report data.
HD. 3034 An Act relative to police interactions with persons on the autism spectrum – The Autism Police Training Expansion aims to improve law enforcement training on appropriate interactions with individuals with autism and other intellectual and developmental disabilities. This initiative will extend the required cadet training to include veteran officers and correctional officers through in-service training. Filed with The Arc.
HD. 4072 An Act ensuring access to equitable representation in immigration proceedings – The Immigrant Legal Defense Act proposes a publicly and privately funded program to aims to create a fund to coordinate legal services for those who lack representation and face removal proceedings from the United States. Filed with MIRA.
HD.3087, An Act to improve transparency and accountability in correctional facilities (filed with Rep. Decker) – This legislation allows news media representatives to have unimpeded, confidential access to prisoners at correctional facilities, similar to the current regulations for attorneys. This legislation establishes a phone line for news media representatives to communicate with incarcerated persons and allows attorneys to bring news media representatives along to any legal in-person and video visits with incarcerated people. This bill also bans retaliation against incarcerated persons for communicating with news media representatives in all of the jails and prisons in the state. Supported by Prisoners Legal Services.
CIVIL RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES (TECHNOLOGY, PRIVACY, ETC.)
HD.2835, An Act relative to internet privacy rights for children (Eraser Bill) — Children use social media at younger ages and with greater frequency every year. Surveys have shown children between 8 and 12 years old average five hours of screen time per day. Due to the under-regulated nature of the internet, this high level of usage means that actions are tracked, mistakes saved, and personal data purchased earlier and earlier. Modeled after a Californian Law, the Eraser Bill aims to protect privacy rights for children by allowing them to wipe their internet and social media contents upon request. It would also restrict certain product advertising and marketing on sites or platforms that minors use.
HD.4038, An Act relative to protecting Massachusetts residents against federal government surveillance — Fusion centers are intelligence-sharing centers designed, in theory, to facilitate communication between law enforcement agencies. In practice, fusion centers are unaccountable to the people and potentially violate Americans’ First and Fourth Amendment rights. This bill establishes oversight procedures such as an annual audit of internal records, establishes procedures for citizens to redress privacy concerns, and forbids the collection of personal information of people who are not suspected of a crime.
HD.2110, An Act establishing the Massachusetts Data Privacy Act – This bill regulates how companies collect, process, and transfer our personal data in a variety of ways, as to protect and enhance users’ privacy rights. Specifically, the bill will set limitations on how and when sensitive data can be sold to third parties, prevent pay-for-privacy schemes and retaliation against users exercising their privacy rights, and provide individuals with rights of data access, correction, and deletion, as well as targeted advertising opt-out rights.
HD.4053 An Act protecting consumers in interactions with artificial intelligence systems – As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes ubiquitous in everyday life, the need for legislation is all the more apparent. This comprehensive bill aims to prevent the use of AI in a way that results in discrimination against protected identities in important decisions, including those surrounding education, employment, a financial or lending service, an essential government service, health-care services, housing, insurance, or a legal service. This bill is inspired by a similar law recently passed in Colorado, the first comprehensive AI bill of its kind in the country.
HD.794 An Act to implement the recommendations of the special commission on facial recognition technology (Filed with Rep. Ramos) — In 2020, sweeping police reform was introduced into law and while the changes made were significant, the final language left room for improvement. Facial recognition technology is a powerful tool used by law enforcement in the investigation and prevention of crimes, but the technology is often inaccurate and its use is somewhat unregulated. This bill prohibits the use of face surveillance to track and monitor people in public places, creates a centralized system for all law enforcement agencies to access the technology, requires that law enforcement officers obtain a search warrant before conducting a facial recognition search except in emergency situations, and establishes due process protections for people who are ultimately identified using face surveillance technology.
HD. 4192 An Act reducing emissions from artificial intelligence – Search engines are now utilizing AI as a core search feature for their services that use up a lot more energy (10 times more!) than typical search queries. This bill requires companies operating a search engine to give an option for affirmative consent consumers to choose whether they would like an AI overview for each search query. The bill also instructs a study of the environmental effects of AI, like energy and water usage, stresses on the energy grid and the lifecycle of AI hardware. Following this report, the secretaries will set up a reporting system for companies operating AI systems and have them disclose emissions or other environmental impacts coming from powering their AI systems.
HD.3523 An Act to provide accountability in the use of biometric recognition technology and comprehensive enforcement – The bill aims to prevent unfair, deceptive or abusive use of their Massachusetts residents’ biometric information. This extends to information such as fingerprints, retina and iris patterns, voiceprints, D.N.A. sequences, facial characteristics and face geometry, gait, handwriting, keystroke dynamics, and mouse movements.
EDUCATION, ARTS, CULTURE
HD.2963, An Act to protect Native American heritage (filed with Rep. Biele) – The legislation protects Native American funerary objects, human remains, sacred objects, or objects of cultural patrimony from being sold. Supported by Artists under the Dome and the North American Indian Center.
HD. 2489, An Act to establish an integrated cultural studies curriculum in our schools — The Integrated Cultural Studies Act will give Massachusetts students the educational foundation and tools needed to understand diverse cultural and racial perspectives and more effectively interact with people from different cultures and backgrounds. As the demographics in our schools, towns, and cities continue to evolve and become more diverse, so should our curriculum. This act will ensure students will be introduced to content, language, events, and prominent figures of major underrepresented racial groups in the United States, such as African-Americans, Asian-Americans, Indigenous-Americans, and Latin-Americans. Comprehensive cultural studies would expound upon the traditional Eurocentric-based history of the World and the United States and will modify the curriculum to include a more diverse array of cultural narratives.
HD. 3008 An Act to modernize the endowment match program for community colleges – This bill makes community colleges eligible to receive a $1 state match to every $2 received, regardless of whether the funds are endowed or contributed to a capital outlay program.
HD.3688, An Act excluding student loan forgiveness from taxable income for permanently and totally disabled veterans – This bill follows the Federal Government 2018 Tax Law,
exempt any amount of tax liability associated with the Federal Student Loan Forgiveness Program to be exempt from consideration as income. This bill aims to ease the financial burden of education for veterans.
CANNABIS
HD.3088, An Act relative to research by independent testing laboratories – Currently, an entity that is licensed by the Cannabis Control Commission as an independent testing laboratory cannot also have a financial interest in a marijuana research establishment. This prevents those labs from conducting important cannabis research. This bill would allow independent testing laboratories or employees thereof to hold a marijuana research establishment license.
HD.3397, An Act to Modernize the Massachusetts Medical Marijuana Program — This legislation would reform the Massachusetts medical marijuana program by: (1) establishing reciprocity to allow individuals with an active out-of-state medical marijuana card to purchase medical cannabis in Massachusetts, (2) preventing the state from requiring vertical integration as a condition to operate a medical marijuana business, (3) prohibiting burdensome capital requirements, (4) capping application and license fees at $1,000 while providing exemptions for social equity businesses, and (5) streamlining governance by removing outdated revenue neutrality requirements and clarifying that program costs are funded through legislative appropriation.
HD.2866, An Act relative to accurate impairment testing – This legislation states that no driver shall have their driver’s license suspended, or be sanctioned in any other way, for refusing to take a road impairment test that has not been scientifically proven.
HD. 3357 An Act relative to cannabis for Medicare eligible patients – This bill would allow patients over 65 who are eligible for Medicare to receive reimbursement for cannabis prescribed for medical use.
HD.3740 Host community agreement retroactivity – The bill aims to ease the current Host Community Agreements which restrict the sale or transfer of businesses. This would facilitate cannabis business owners selling of transferring businesses.
VOTING
HD.2967, An Act enabling cities and towns to extend voting rights in municipal elections to certain noncitizens of the Commonwealth — This bill would give discretion to cities and towns to allow their non-citizen residents to vote in local elections by lifting the requirement of home rule petitions and allowing approval of such initiatives by local governments and local referenda instead.
H.2760, An Act relative to the qualification of voters – While the Massachusetts Constitution precludes imprisoned felons from voting in some state elections, this bill restores one of our most basic civil rights to those incarcerated for low-level, non-violent felonies.
INDUSTRY AND EMPLOYMENT LAW
HD.2797, An Act relative to bereavement leave (filed with Rep. Garballey) — An Act Relative to Bereavement Leave will allow those who suffer the death of a loved one to take time to grieve without the additional worry that it will result in job loss. Grief is a process that is different for each of us and this bill recognizes that and allows flexibility by allowing Bereavement leave on an intermittent basis. The death of a family member is a life-altering event, and this legislation would allow those suffering a loss the time and support to heal.
HD.2504, An Act An act relative to advertising for justices of the peace — This legislation updates the legal text which regulates how justices of the peace may advertise their services. The bill does so by expanding the framework, which currently focuses on news and business cards, to include digital marketing tools.
H.3138, An Act establishing a tax for online advertising — This bill would create a tax for those providing digital advertising services in the Commonwealth. The tax would be 6.25% of an individual’s gross digital advertising revenue and would only kick in for revenue above $1 million. As digital advertising revenue continues to skyrocket, growing to $189.3 billion in 2021, it is essential we enact this legislation to assure those operating in this industry pay their fair share.
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