By Representative Flanagan of Dennis, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3967) of Christopher Richard Flanagan for legislation to further regulate surcharges on real property. Revenue.
By Representative Ferrante of Gloucester, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 362) of Ann-Margaret Ferrante for legislation to further regulate residential contracting agreements. Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure.
This bill amends the Community Preservation Act to require an additional surcharge on real property taxes in communities using the fund. The surcharge revenue must be specifically directed toward accessibility improvements for public facilities and housing. It directly affects property owners in participating communities and local governments managing Community Preservation funds. The change modifies how existing surcharge funds are allocated, prioritizing accessibility projects without altering the overall tax rate.
HD 4880 imposes a 0.5% fee on real property transfers in Chatham where the purchase price is $2 million or more, payable by the buyer at the time of transfer. The fee requires a certificate of payment for the transfer to be recorded by the registry of deeds, and all collected funds go directly into the Town's Housing Fund to support affordable housing (for households earning up to 100% of the area median income) and attainable housing (for households earning up to 200% of the area median income). The bill exempts certain transfers, such as those to government entities, and allows refunds within seven days if a transaction is canceled. This fee directly affects high-value property buyers in Chatham, with no impact on lower-priced transactions.
HD 2254 creates a new rent escrow system in Massachusetts for tenants who withhold rent due to landlord failure to maintain habitable housing. It requires banks to establish accounts payable only with signatures from both the tenant and landlord (or property owner), without additional verification for account setup. Tenants must deposit withheld rent into this escrow account (or court-controlled/attorney-controlled accounts) before withholding rent, and must meet specific conditions including health department inspections and written notice to the landlord. Landlords must fix violations within 15 days (or a reasonable time) after notice, and the escrow funds are paid to the landlord per court order after resolving the dispute. This directly affects tenants and landlords in housing code violation cases involving rent withholding.
By Representative Luddy of Orleans and Senator Cyr, a joint petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3962) of Hadley Luddy and Julian Cyr relative to inspections of buildings or structures occupied in whole or in part as a short-term rental. Public Safety and Homeland Security.
By Representative MacGregor of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3968) of William F. MacGregor relative to property tax exemptions for seniors and persons with disabilities. Revenue.
HD 4875 updates Medford's linkage exaction program, which requires developers to pay fees tied to new construction projects. The bill mandates that these fees be reviewed at least every 10 years, based on recommendations from the city's Office of Community Development and Mayor. Between reviews, the fees can be adjusted annually using the Consumer Price Index (CPI) from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to account for inflation. This directly affects developers and property owners in Medford who pay these development fees.
This bill is a supplemental appropriations measure for Massachusetts' fiscal year 2025, providing additional funding to existing state programs and agencies. It allocates specific sums including $2.05 billion for MassHealth fee-for-service payments, $12 million for school meals, $18.5 million for public health hospitals, $75 million to the Housing Stabilization Trust Fund, and $5 million to maintain reproductive health care access. The funds supplement current budgets and are available through June 2026, with some designated for specific purposes like World Cup costs or substance use disorder treatment facilities. This is a procedural budget bill that directs existing funds to priority areas without creating new laws or regulations.
This bill authorizes the town of Marblehead to create a property tax exemption for senior residents who meet specific income and residency requirements. It directly affects seniors aged 65+ (or 60+ with a spouse 65+) who own and live in Marblehead as their primary residence for at least 10 years and have household income below a locally set threshold. The exemption covers the full property tax plus 50% of annual water and sewer costs, minus a portion of the applicant's income, prior-year tax credits, and other relief, but cannot exceed a yearly cap set by the town's select board. Applications must be submitted annually, and the town may deny exemptions for applicants with excessive assets as defined by local regulations.
