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AG Frey Joins Coalition Condemning DOJ Coercion Against Minnesota

Maine Attorney General Aaron M. Frey joined a coalition of 22 state attorneys general in condemning the Department of Justice's use of armed federal agents to coerce Minnesota officials into turning over protected resident data including Medicaid, SNAP, and voter information. The coalition, led by New York AG Letitia James, sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem on January 29, 2026, asserting the demands intrude on state sovereignty and conflict with ongoing court-ordered protections. The attorneys general warned they will continue to defend state sovereignty and resident rights against unlawful federal interference.

University of Massachusetts Contoured Surgical Forceps US Patent 12605175

The USPTO granted US Patent 12,605,175 B2 to the University of Massachusetts on April 21, 2026, covering a contoured forceps handle designed with contoured surfaces on both arms to facilitate rotation in the user's hand. The patent, invented by Raymond Dunn and filed on January 22, 2019 (Application No. 16/254,290), contains 26 claims and CPC classifications spanning A61B (surgery) and B25G (handle configurations).

Illegal Alien Charged with Healthcare Fraud, Aggravated Identity Theft

Amaurys Arias Arias, 44, a Dominican national unlawfully residing in Brockton, Massachusetts, was arrested and charged with one count of making false statements relating to health care matters and one count of aggravated identity theft. The defendant allegedly used the stolen identity of a U.S. citizen to obtain MassHealth benefits, falsely representing himself as a U.S. citizen in applications and sworn affidavits. Arias is alleged to have obtained tens of thousands of dollars in government healthcare benefits through the stolen identity, and also used the stolen identity in connection with prior arrests leading to convictions in the victim's name.

S149 Enhances Autism and Developmental Disability Care Standards

Massachusetts Senate Bill S149 has passed the legislature, sponsored by Senator Jason Lewis. The bill aims to increase medical providers' knowledge about autism and intellectual and developmental disabilities to improve treatment. It was referred to the Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities on February 27, 2025, and reported favorably by the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing before being recommended ought to pass by the Senate Ways and Means Committee on April 2, 2026.

David Breen, 54, Pleads Guilty to $1.2M COVID Relief Fraud

David Breen, 54, of Mount Pleasant, S.C., pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government property in federal court in Worcester, Massachusetts, for misappropriating $1.2 million in Economic Injury and Disaster Loan (EIDL) funds. The SBA provided these loans to small businesses harmed by the COVID-19 pandemic, but Breen used the money to build a home and purchase motor vehicles. U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman scheduled sentencing for June 25, 2026.

UMass RPGR Gene Therapy Patent US12606825B2

The USPTO granted patent US12606825B2 to University of Massachusetts covering compositions and methods for modulating RPGR (retinitis pigmentosa GTPase regulator) expression for treating retinitis pigmentosa. The patent includes expression vectors encoding RPGR proteins and inhibitory nucleic acids targeting RPGRCONST isoforms. The application was filed on March 4, 2021, with 16 claims granted.

272 ALRs Surveyed, Safety Improvements Announced After Gabriel House Fire

The Healey-Driscoll Administration released results from a Fire and Life Safety survey of all 272 Assisted Living Residences (ALRs) in Massachusetts, achieving a 100 percent response rate. The survey found that 69 percent (189 residences) self-identified at least one area of opportunity to align with best practices for fire or building safety, and 13 percent (36 residences) indicated opportunities to strengthen fire drills, mutual aid plans, or emergency coordination protocols. AGE will require the 36 underperforming ALRs to submit Corrective Action Plans within 45 days, and is launching a new Compliance Verification Form requiring all ALRs to secure annual sign-off from their municipal fire department.

Governor Healey Announces ALR Safety Reforms After Gabriel House Fire

Governor Maura Healey and Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll announced comprehensive safety reforms for Massachusetts assisted living residences (ALRs) following the ALR Commission's unanimous vote on January 12, 2026 to approve its final report. The reforms address fire safety and emergency preparedness standards, creation of a statewide online database for compliance records, standardized disclosures, staffing requirements, and consumer protections. The Healey-Driscoll Administration will begin immediate implementation of regulatory and administrative recommendations. The Commission also recommends legislative action including a dedicated funding mechanism, authorization for certified medication aides, and creation of a statewide registry for ALR executive directors.

OIG Finds MassDOT Service Plaza Procurement Not a Model

The Massachusetts Office of Inspector General issued findings that the Massachusetts Department of Transportation's (MassDOT) service plaza operator procurement was "not a model procurement" due to multiple procedural flaws including inadequate conflict disclosures, violations of contact rules during procurement, use of live in-person scoring without sufficient documentation, and insufficient time or information provided to Board subcommittee members. The OIG reviewed procurement procedures, solicitation documents, internal communications, evaluation documents, and conducted staff interviews. The OIG cannot confirm whether the flaws were ultimately fatal to the signed agreement with the apparent successful bidder.

Former WRRS CEO Michael Sacco Abused Public Funds

The Massachusetts Office of the Inspector General released an investigation finding that former Worcester Regional Retirement System (WRRS) CEO Michael Sacco expanded his private law practice while being paid a full-time public salary. The OIG found that Sacco only worked 20 to 30 hours per week for WRRS while attending 350 outside board meetings, court hearings, and other engagements on behalf of private clients during WRRS business hours, without using leave time. The OIG made 28 recommendations, including that the WRRS Board pursue recovery of funds for allegedly unused vacation time and that the Legislature prevent passage of House Bill 2931 which would exempt Sacco from post-retiree earnings caps.

2024 COLA, Maximum and Minimum Compensation Rates, and Attorneys' Fee Schedules

The Massachusetts Department of Industrial Accidents (DIA) announces the 2024 Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) payment, reimbursement rates, and maximum and minimum weekly workers' compensation rates effective October 1, 2024. Circular Letter 361 contains the corresponding rate tables and attorneys' fee schedules. The DIA oversees the Massachusetts workers' compensation system, which affects injured workers, employers, insurers, attorneys, and healthcare providers.

Workers' Compensation Assessment Rates Effective July 1, 2025

The Massachusetts Department of Industrial Accidents has established workers' compensation insured assessment rates for policies effective July 1, 2025, pursuant to M.G.L. c. 152, § 65 (4) & (5). The rates set for private employers range from 0.0203 to 0.0591 depending on category (Private Employer 0.0482, Private Insured 0.0591, Self-Insured Private 0.0549, Group SI 0.0549; private opt-out options 0.0218 and 0.0203). Public Self-Insured employers are set at 0.0000. The DIA has requested review of the circular letter announcing the new rates before it is issued.

MA DIA 2025 COLA Rates, Max & Min Comp Effective October 1

The Massachusetts Department of Industrial Accidents (DIA) announces updated 2025 Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) payment rates, reimbursement schedules, and maximum and minimum weekly workers' compensation rates, effective October 1, 2025. The announcement is published via Circular Letter 362 and includes corresponding rate tables and attorneys' fee schedules. Employers, insurers, and injured workers in the Massachusetts workers' compensation system should apply the new rates to all eligible payments from the effective date forward.

Massachusetts Bill S1073 Relative to Capacity Determination by Health Care Provider

Massachusetts Senate Bill S1073, concerning capacity determination by healthcare providers, passed the Senate Ways and Means Committee on April 2, 2026, advancing from its referral to the committee following a favorable report. The bill, sponsored by Senator William Driscoll, was introduced on February 27, 2025, and referred to the Joint Committee on the Judiciary before being redirected to the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing and subsequently to Senate Ways and Means. The legislation now awaits further action in the Senate chamber.

South Carolina AG Wilson Defends Trump Executive Order on Election Integrity

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson joined Missouri and 10 other states on April 21, 2026, in filing a Motion to Intervene to defend Executive Order No. 14399 ('Ensuring Citizenship Verification and Integrity in Federal Elections') in federal court cases pending in the District of Columbia and the District of Massachusetts. The executive order, issued March 31, 2026, directs federal agencies to compile a 'State Citizenship List' for state election officials and instructs the U.S. Postal Service to develop mail-in ballot security rules. Left-leaning activists and progressive states have challenged the order as federal intrusion on state election authority.

HHS-OIG Addresses Opioid Epidemic, Saving Lives

HHS-OIG published a press release on September 27, 2024, summarizing its ongoing efforts to address the opioid epidemic during National Recovery Month. The release references multiple audit and evaluation reports covering opioid treatment programs in Massachusetts, New Jersey, West Virginia, and Washington State, as well as nationwide evaluations of medication access for opioid use disorder under Medicare and Medicaid. The document does not create new compliance obligations but highlights findings regarding care gaps, grant oversight deficiencies, and data quality concerns affecting federal health program enrollees.

ICE Arrests Criminal Illegal Aliens for Sex Trafficking, Child Assault, Rape, Kidnapping

DHS released a press statement announcing that ICE arrested 14 criminal illegal aliens across the country over a weekend period for convictions including sexual assault on a child, human trafficking for sexual servitude, rape, kidnapping, and other violent crimes. The arrests occurred in multiple states including Colorado, Maryland, Michigan, Rhode Island, New York, Texas, Massachusetts, South Dakota, North Carolina, Nevada, Oklahoma, and Ecuadoran nationals among others.

NH DOJ Updates Suspicious Death Investigation in Haverhill

The New Hampshire Attorney General, in conjunction with New Hampshire State Police and the Haverhill Police Department, announced further details regarding a suspicious death at an apartment on Nelson Street in Haverhill. Officers responding to 911 calls discovered the body of Demetrius White (DOB: 12/29/2003) of Springfield, Massachusetts in the early morning of April 20, 2026. Jayden McClanahan (DOB: 02/03/2005) of Hartford, Connecticut was arrested the following evening on burglary charges related to the investigation and was held on preventative detention. An arraignment was scheduled for 1:00pm in Haverhill.

Missouri AG Hanaway Leads 12-State Coalition Defending Trump Executive Order on Election Integrity

Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway led a coalition of 12 states in filing a motion to intervene to defend President Trump's Executive Order No. 14399, 'Ensuring Citizenship Verification and Integrity in Federal Elections,' issued March 31, 2026. The motion was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts in response to lawsuits filed by left-leaning states and activists challenging the order. The coalition states—Alabama, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Texas—are advocating for access to federal resources including a State Citizenship List and improved absentee ballot security measures.

Federal Circuit Upholds Anti-CGRP Antibody Method Claims Against Eli Lilly

The Federal Circuit reversed a District of Massachusetts judgment as a matter of law and remanded Teva Pharmaceuticals' case against Eli Lilly, upholding method-of-treatment patents for anti-CGRP antagonist antibodies used to treat headache. The court held that method claims directed to using a broad genus of antibodies to treat headache may satisfy the written description and enablement requirements under 35 U.S.C. § 112, even though corresponding composition claims were invalidated in parallel IPR proceedings. A jury had previously awarded Teva $177 million for willful infringement of patents covering its migraine drug Ajovy®.

Attorney General Davenport Sues EPA Over Mercury Emissions Standards Repeal

Attorney General Jennifer Davenport joined a coalition of 18 states in filing a lawsuit challenging the EPA's repeal of standards limiting mercury and toxic pollutants from power plants. The states argue the repeal is unlawful because the EPA failed to provide a reasoned basis and did not adequately consider developments in pollution control technologies. The coalition is asking the court to determine the rule is unlawful and must be reversed.

16 States Enact AI Laws Covering Elections, Health, Labor

The NCSL AI Legislation Tracker has been updated with enacted state AI bills from 16 states: Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, and New Jersey. Notable enacted bills include Kentucky S 4 (Protection of Information), Maine H 1154a (Transparency in Consumer Transactions), Montana S 25 (Deepfakes in Elections), Maryland H 956 (AI Implementation Workgroup), and Minnesota H 2432 (Public Safety/Child Pornography).

Fraudulent veterans charity operators permanently barred from Massachusetts

Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell secured Suffolk Superior Court orders permanently barring Sean D. Murphy, Rikkile Brown, and their corporate entities (PPMA and Help Homeless Vets, Inc.) from soliciting charitable donations in Massachusetts. The court found the operators violated state charitable solicitations laws by using deceptive tactics to collect donations for veterans while misappropriating thousands of dollars—only approximately $343 reached legitimate veterans' charities.

Order to Cease and Desist ATG Credit, LLC

The Massachusetts Division of Banks has issued a Temporary Order to Cease and Desist against ATG Credit, LLC, a licensed debt collector. The order stems from ATG Credit's alleged failure to provide access to its books and records for examination, a violation of state regulations.

AG Campbell Secures $515,000 Settlement with Ambulance Billing Vendor Comstar for Data Breach

Massachusetts AG Andrea Joy Campbell, in partnership with the Connecticut AG's office, secured a $515,000 settlement with Comstar LLC, a Rowley-based ambulance billing vendor, for a March 2022 data breach affecting approximately 326,426 Massachusetts residents and 22,829 Connecticut residents. The breach exposed Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, financial account numbers, and medical assessment information. Comstar will pay $415,000 to Massachusetts and must implement comprehensive security measures including phishing protection, vulnerability management, multi-factor authentication, asset inventory, intrusion detection/prevention systems, and annual security assessments for three years.

States Challenge EPA Rollback of Mercury and Air Toxics Standards

Minnesota Attorney General Ellison co-led a coalition of 21 states and local governments in filing a federal lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's repeal of the 2024 Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) Rule, which had tightened emission limits on mercury, arsenic, lead, and other hazardous air pollutants from coal- and oil-fired power plants. The coalition argues the repeal is unlawful because EPA failed to provide a reasoned basis and did not adequately consider advances in pollution control technologies, while continuing to give lignite coal plants a free pass from emissions standards. The action seeks judicial reversal of the rollback, which the states contend will increase dangerous emissions and harm public health and the environment.

AG Rayfield, 20 States Sue Over Mercury Pollution Rule Rollback

Attorney General Dan Rayfield and 20 other states and local governments filed a lawsuit on March 31, 2026 challenging the Trump administration's rollback of the 2024 Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) Rule. The MATS Rule limits emissions of mercury, arsenic, lead, acid gases, and other toxic pollutants from coal and oil-fired power plants. The coalition argues the administration failed to provide a reasoned basis for the rollback and did not adequately consider developments in pollution control technologies. The lawsuit seeks a court determination that the rule reversal is unlawful and must be reversed. Mercury emissions from power plants contaminate waterways including the Columbia River and pose neurodevelopmental risks to pregnant women and children.

Division of Banks v. Marla Taher Abdulnoor - Consent Order

The Massachusetts Division of Banks has issued a consent order against Marla Taher Abdulnoor, a licensed mortgage loan originator. The order stems from alleged failure to disclose a material fact in connection with her NMLS disclosures, following a prior order from the FDIC. Abdulnoor has agreed to refrain from all mortgage loan originator activities in Massachusetts.

DPU Settlement with Direct Energy for Telemarketing Violations

The Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) reached a settlement with Direct Energy Services, LLC, requiring the company to donate over $100,000 and cease telemarketing activities for one year. This action stems from an investigation into Direct Energy's noncompliance with DPU requirements for competitive suppliers regarding marketing scripts.

Massachusetts Securities Division Charges Nantasket Trading and David Markiewicz with Fraud

The Massachusetts Securities Division has filed an administrative complaint against Nantasket Trading, LLC, and David Markiewicz for alleged violations of the Massachusetts Uniform Securities Act. The respondents are accused of misrepresenting the purpose and use of investor funds and diverting them for personal use.

Massachusetts Securities Division v. Jose Encarnacion - Securities Fraud

The Massachusetts Securities Division has filed an administrative complaint against Jose Encarnacion and Trinity Estate Investments & Development LLC for alleged violations of the Massachusetts Uniform Securities Act. The complaint alleges fraudulent misrepresentation in the offering and sale of unregistered securities, primarily targeting immigrant communities.