BEACON | FROM PAGE 18 BAN CORPORAL PUNISHMENT IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS (H 625) – Another measure before the Education Committee would ban private schools from using corporal punishment on any students. It also would require private schools to submit reports to Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education of physical restraint in instances where it was necessary to protect students. Current law only prohibits the use of corporal punishment in public schools. “I was horrified to learn, through the advocacy of a constituent, that corporal punishment was still permitted in private educational institutions,” said sponsor Rep. Mike Kushmerek (D-Fitchburg). “As a recent father, I shudder to think of any educator or staff member disciplining students through the use of force. I strongly believe, and ample data and research validate, that corporal punishment is both ineff ective and cruel and should be banned from all educational settings in the commonwealth.” VIRTUAL DRIVER ED (H 3661/S 2411) - Legislation heard by the Transportation Committee would authorize the Registry of Motor Vehicle (RMV) to allow some driver education schools to teach aspiring drivers virtually online rather than in person. The law would only apply to driving schools that own or lease a physical offi ce or classroom within the state; have been in business for at least three consecutive years; and are in good standing with the RMV. THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, JUly 18, 2025 “Massachusetts law rePage 19 quires young drivers under 18 years old to complete 30 hours of classroom instruction, and parents must complete a two-hour workshop,” said Senate sponsor Sen. Joan Lovely (D-Salem). “Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, these classes were only offered in person, creating barriers for students who had after-school jobs, participated in school sports or had no transportation to the classes. During the pandemic, driving schools were permitted to off er driver ed classes in an online format, which has proven to be eff ective and successful.” “I fi led this bill in collaboration with the American Automobile Association (AAA) to expand accessibility to driving school,” said House sponBEACON | SEE PAGE 20 Sa nr Sa a y Senior Seni by Jim Miller Nifty Golf Gadgets That Can Help Older Golfers Dear Savvy Senior, Can you recommend some good golf gadgets that can help older golfers? I like to walk the course when I play but I have some back problems that make stooping over to tee-up or retrieve the ball diffi - cult, and some hand arthritis that make gripping the club painful. Fragile Golfer Dear Fragile, There are actually a wide variety of adaptive golf equipment that can help older golfers who struggle with arthritis, injuries or mobility problems. Here’s a rundown of some of the different types of golf equipment you can purchase that can help with many diff erent needs. Upright Golf Products For golfers with back, hip or THE NEW BONUS TAX DEDUCTION W ithin the most recent legislation signed off on by President Trump on July 4, 2025 was a tax provision providing a $6,000 bonus deduction for anyone age 65 or older. For a married couple, this bonus deduction can be worth $12,000 if both spouses are age 65 or older. This tax deduction will be able to be taken on your 2025 federal income tax return. This new tax deduction is in lieu of the “no tax on social security benefi ts” proposal. There are income limits in order to take advantage of this new deduction. In order to obtain 100% of this deduction, your modifi ed adjusted gross income (MAGI) cannot exceed $75,000 if you are fi ling as single. It cannot exceed $150,000 if you are married fi ling jointly. Once your MAGI exceeds these thresholds, the deduction begins to be phased out. Furthermore, this deduction will only apply for calendar years 2025 through 2028. This is a deduction in addition to the standard deduction of $17,750 for a single person, ($15,750 standard deduction plus $2,000 extra for being age 65 or older), $25,625 for a head of household ($23,625 standard deduction plus $2,000 extra for being age 65 or older) and $33,200 for a married couple ($31,500 standard deduction plus $3,200 extra for both spouses being age 65 or older). This new bonus deduction is available to taxpayers whether the standard deduction is taken or itemized deductions are claimed. The value of the bonus deduction is reduced by 6% of the MAGI above the income limits. A single individual age 65 with MAGI of $100,000 will only be able to claim a bonus deduction of $4,500. He or she would lose $1,500 of the tax deduction ($100,000-75,000) x 6% = $1,500. The Tax Policy Institute estimated that not taxing social security benefi ts at all would cost the federal government $1.5 trillion over a 10 year period. This new tax deduction will serve to help lower income taxpayers than would a no tax on social security benefits tax provision if it were passed. A single taxpayer begins to pay taxes on social security benefi ts once MAGI exceeds $25,000. For married couples, that fi gure is $32,000. The no tax on social security benefi ts was just too good to be true. Up to 85% of social security benefi ts are taxable once your income exceeds a certain amount. For a single taxpayer receiving $36,000 in social security benefits with 85% being subject to tax due to the income threshold being exceeded, if in a 22% tax bracket, that would cost $6,732 in federal income taxes. The $6,000 deduction will now save $1,320 in federal income taxes, still resulting in $5,512 in federal income taxes paid on the social security benefi ts. Joseph D. Cataldo is an estate planning/elder law attorney,Certifi ed Public Accountant, Certifi ed Financial Planner, AICPA Personal Financial Specialist and holds a masters degree in taxation. knee problems, there are several diff erent products on the market that will allow you to tee up the ball (and retrieve the tee) from an upright position without having to bend or stoop over. To fi nd these stoop-proof devices see Zero Bend Golf (ZeroBendGolf. com, $80), Reacher Golf (ReacherGolf.com, $65), Tee Pal Pro (TeePalLLC.com, $79), Joe’s Original Backtee (UprightGolf.com, $20) and Toss Tees (TossTee.com, $15.50). Many of these same companies also off er accessory products for retrieving the ball from the ground or cup, repairing divots, marking the ball on the green, or picking up a club, sand rake or fl ag stick off the ground, all without bending over. Gripping Solutions Gripping a golf club can also be challenging for golfers with hand arthritis or those who have hand or elbow injuries. To help alleviate this problem there are specially designed golf gloves and grips that can make a big diff erence. Some good gloves to consider include the Bionic Golf Glove (BionicGloves.com, $18 to $33) that has extra padding in the palm and fi nger joints to improve grip. And the Eagle Claw (The-EagleClaw.com, $50), which includes a golf glove and a plastic claw that fi ts over you thumb and index fi nger to lock the club to your hand. Another gripping solution is to get oversized grips installed on your clubs. These can make gripping the club easier and more comfortable and are also very good at absorbing shock. Oversized grips are usually either onesixteenth-inch or one-eighthinch larger in diameter than a standard grip, and cost around $10 per grip. You can fi nd these grips and have them installed at your local golf store or pro shop. Low Vision Golf Balls If diminished vision from cataracts or eye problems makes locating the ball diffi cult, Chromax golf balls (ChromaxGolf.com) can help. These are refl ective colored golf balls that make them appear larger and brighter. Cost: $11 for a three-pack. Age-Friendly Golf Carts For older golfers who like to walk the course, there are ergonomically designed golf carts that are lightweight and easy to push or pull. Brands like Sun Mountain (SunMountain.com), Bag Boy and Clicgear (Clicgearusa.com) off er a variety of three and four-wheeled push/pull carts that are highly rated for function and foldability. Costs typically range between $280 and $350. There are also remote electric caddies that will transport your clubs around the course for you as you walk. Some top brands include Stewart Golf (StewartGolfusa.com), Motocaddy (Motocaddy. us) and MGI (MGIgolf.com). These run anywhere between $1,000 and $3,500. Or, for people with severe mobility loss, there’s a specialized electric golf cart called the SoloRider (SoloRider.com). This provides mobility challenged golfers the ability to play from a seated or standing-but-supported position. Retailing for $16,500, plus a $600 shipping fee, this cart is lightweight and precisely balanced so it can be driven on tee boxes and greens without causing any damage. Federal ADA laws require that all public golf courses allow them. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. nior ior
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