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Page 18 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, NOVEmbER 14, 2025 BEACON | FROM PAGE 17 “Graduate students are workers, plain and simple, oftentimes with families, mortgage and the same health, economic and life challenges that most working people face,” said sponsor Sen. Paul Feeney (D-Foxborough). “They put in long hours and perform critical work. Despite the fact that they are working for educational institutions with abundant endowments, many don’t have the same paid family and medical leave and unemployment insurance benefits that are afforded other hard-working people in the commonwealth. This bill would rightfully close that loophole and allow them the same rights as everyone else.” LIFE INSURANCE (S 760) – Another bill heard by the Financial Services Committee would allow the holder of a life insurance policy to update their beneficiaries using an online tool if one is provided by the life insurance company, as long as the company takes reasonable steps to verify that the identity of the requester matches the holder of the policy. This bill would abolish a current law that requires all beneficiary changes to be made in person, with a “wet” signature and witness present. “Technology has significantly developed since life insurance beneficiary practices were set in the commonwealth,” said sponsor Sen. Barry Finegold (D-Andover). “Many life insurance companies are now able to accept requests to change designated beneficiaries under life or endowment insurance policies, and this bill brings our legislation up to speed with the industry. While we move toward more technologically advanced processes, we can maintain safety and identity verification in similarly advanced ways. This bill will help make this process more convenient and time-efficient for all parties.” DECEASED ANIMALS ON STATE HIGHWAYS (H 3678) – The Transportation Committee held a hearing on a proposal that would require any State Department of Transportation highway employees who find deceased dogs or cats with identification, to either attempt to directly contact the owner or to notify local animal control officers or the police department. “When a pet is hit on a highway and has a collar or microchip, the family should be notified,” said sponsor Rep. Richard Haggerty (D-Woburn). “Right now, there’s no requirement for that to happen, leaving families wondering what happened to their beloved pets. This bill would give them answers and closure.” BILL RUSSELL AND BOB COUSY HIGHWAY (H 3727) – Legislation that would name the portion of the Massachusetts Turnpike between Boston and Worcester, “The Bill Russell and Bob Cousy Highway,” was also before the Transportation Committee. “I believe we should pay homage to celebrated Boston Celtics teammates and NBA champions, Bob Cousy and the late Bill Russell, who were not only exceptional athletes who brought many championships home to Boston, but who were also two great pillars of our community here in the commonwealth,” said sponsor Rep. David Linsky (D-Natick). Linsky continued, “Bill Russell, as the first Black coach in the NBA, was a frequent target of racially motivated harassment and abuse. Even as he received death threats and hate crimes from his own fan base, he courageously continued to pioneer player activism. Russell marched alongside civil rights leaders such as Martin Luther King, Jr. and Medgar Evans, and continued to fight for civil rights his entire life. Bob Cousy was also much more than a basketball player. He played a tremendous role in organizing the first player’s union in the NBA which helped kickstart a new era of player empowerment in sports. Russell and Cousy both risked their careers and their lives to fight for what they believed in, and we should continue to honor them for their incredible work for our community.” PROHIBIT RECORDING OR BROADCASTING WHILE DRIVING (S 2349) – The Transportation Committee’s agenda also included a bill, known as Charlie’s Law, which would prohibit anyone from video recording or broadcasting live while driving a vehicle. “I filed this legislation to honor my constituent, Charlie Braun of Northampton - a beloved partner, father, grandfather and community member - who was struck and killed by a motor vehicle while riding his bicycle,” said sponsor Sen. Jo Comerford (D-Northampton). “Reports indicate that the driver of the vehicle was engaged in a FaceTime conversation while driving. Charlie’s tragic death underscored a gap that remains in our distracted driving laws, one that this bill seeks to close.” Comerford continued, “In recent years, there has been a rapid rise in what’s known as ‘vlogging,’ or video recording or live broadcasting, while behind the wheel. A 2021 report from State Farm’s Auto Insurance Research Department found that between 2015 and 2020, the number of drivers recording videos while driving more than doubled, from 10 percent to nearly one in four. The data are particularly troubling among younger drivers: 44 percent of drivers aged 18 to 29 and 37 percent of those aged 30 to 39, reported recording videos while driving. Other states, including Georgia, Arizona, Tennessee and Utah, have taken action to explicitly prohibit this behavior. Massachusetts should do the same.” BREASTFEEDING AND JURY DUTY (H 2021) – The Judiciary Committee held a hearing on legislation that would exempt breastfeeding mothers from jury duty. Supporters said that current law only allows breastfeeding mothers to delay jury duty up to one year with a medical exemption. “Jury duty is a civic responsibility that is a crucial component of our justice system and democracy,” said sponsor Rep. Steven Ultrino (D-Malden). “But breastfeeding parents should not have to jump through excessive administrative hoops simply to request an exemption or postponement. Currently, breastfeeding parents are not guaranteed opportunity for postponement or a hardship transfer to a more convenient location to complete their juror service. This bill will ensure that our court system becomes more family-friendly and does not pose an undue burden on new parents and their infants.” PROHIBIT REVOCATION OF, DENIAL OF OR REFUSAL TO RENEW A STATE-ISSUED PROFESSIONAL LICENSE AS A RESULT OF STUDENT LOAN PAYMENT DELINQUENCY (S 2139) – The State Administration and Regulatory Oversight Committee’s hearing included a proposed measure that would repeal the state’s current law that allows for professional licenses to be revoked from, denied to or refused to be renewed for individuals due to a delinquent student loan. Under the terms of the proposed measure, with the exception of the Division of Banks, no state board of registration or agency would be permitted to revoke, deny or refuse to renew any professional license. Under current state law, a borrower’s state-issued professional license cannot be revoked from, denied to or refuse to be renewed for only a borrower who is in default on an education loan. It does not exempt students who are delinquent but have not yet defaulted. Sole Benefit Trusts hese types of Trusts are typically utilized when a family member is going into a nursing home and there has been no advanced planning. An example would be if you owned your own home and had not placed it into an irrevocable Trust. Furthermore, you need to be admitted into a nursing home and have a disabled child, disabled grandchild or some other disabled individual that you would like to leave the house to. If you transferred your home T to this type of trust, you would still be able to qualify for MassHealth benefits. The transfer would not be subject to the five year look-back period due to this Trust solely benefitting the disabled child, grandchild or other disabled individual. Also, upon your death after MassHealth having paid for most of your nursing home level care, there would be no payback requirement to MassHealth from the assets in the Trust. The assets would be protected for the disabled beneficiary. The assets in this Trust must only benefit the disabled beneficiary and no one else. The Trust will not interfere with any governmental benefits the disabled individual may already be receiving. However, the terms of the Trust must provide for repayment of those benefits upon the death of the disabled beneficiary. If such a provision does not exist in the Trust, the Settlor of the Trust (for example, the parent) will not qualify for MassHealth benefits. If there are assets remaining in the Trust upon the death of the disabled child and upon repayment of all of the governmental benefits, distributions of those remaining assets can be made to family members. Transfers made to such a Trust would be considered a completed gift. There is no gift tax in Massachusetts and the federal exemption will be $15million per individual as of January 1, 2026. Therefore, even though technically a gift tax return would be required to be filed, no gift tax would have to be paid. If there are income producing assets in this type of Trust, the Trust would have to file for a new federal identification number and would have to file a Trust income tax return using Form 1041. If the Trustee were to make distributions of income to the disabled beneficiary, the Trustee would claim a distribution deduction on the tax return by issuing a Schedule K-1 form to the disabled beneficiary. The disabled beneficiary would then report the taxable income on his or her individual income tax return. Joseph D. Cataldo is an estate planning/elder law attorney, Certified Public Accountant, Certified Financial Planner, AICPA Personal Financial Specialist and holds a masters degree in taxation. Many professionals including electricians, plumbers, accountants, real estate appraisers, real estate brokers and massage therapists are required to be licensed by the state. “This is a commonsense bill that would extend those unemployment protections to individuals who are behind on their student loan payments,” said sponsor Sen. Ryan Fattman (R-Sutton). “It ensures they don’t fall further behind, or risk defaulting, if their professional license is at risk of being withheld.” BEACON | SEE PAGE 19

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