HD 3106 proposes expanding Boston's senior homeowner property tax exemption to provide greater relief for residents aged 65 and older. The bill would increase the exemption amount from $500 to $1,500, adjust income limits to 50% of Area Median Income (based on HUD data), and raise asset limits from $28,000/$30,000 to $80,000/$110,000. These changes aim to make the exemption more accessible for seniors on fixed incomes, as current enrollment is far below the estimated eligible population. The bill seeks state legislative approval to modify Boston's local tax rules under Massachusetts' home-rule provisions.
HD 4207 imposes a 15% fee on nonresident purchasers (individuals not U.S. citizens/nationals) buying real estate in Massachusetts cities or towns that adopt the law. The fee, paid by the buyer at closing, must be accompanied by an affidavit and certificate to clear title registration. Exemptions apply if the property is used as the buyer’s principal residence, and collected fees fund local affordable housing trust funds. Failure to pay incurs 14% annual interest and a 5% monthly penalty (capped at 25% of the fee).
This bill adds protections against discrimination based on height and weight to Massachusetts' existing anti-discrimination laws. It amends multiple sections of the General Laws (including employment, housing, and public accommodations laws) to explicitly include "height or weight" as protected characteristics alongside other categories like race or sex. The law includes a key exception allowing height or weight requirements only when necessary for established safety standards, such as in aviation or industrial settings. This change directly affects employers, landlords, and service providers in Massachusetts, requiring them to avoid unfair treatment related to body size in covered areas.
HD 3648 allows cities and towns to offer a property tax exemption for senior citizens aged 70 or older who live in their primary residence. The exemption covers up to 35% of the average residential property value in the municipality, but the property's taxable value cannot drop below 10% of its full market value. Municipalities must first be certified to assess all property at full value and then adopt the program through local government approval. Seniors must apply to their local assessors to receive the exemption, which applies to their primary home and is in addition to other existing exemptions.
This bill, the CHEEERR ACT (Commonwealth Housing, Economic, Education and Equity in Recovery and Reconstruction Act), creates a new Massachusetts Bureau on Social and Economic Equity to address pandemic-related disparities disproportionately affecting Black and Latino communities. It establishes the bureau to manage a fund targeting "unmet community needs" in defined "disparately impacted communities" (including areas with higher Black/Latino COVID infection rates, medically underserved areas, or low/moderate income neighborhoods) and supports Black or Latino-owned small businesses in those areas. Key mechanisms include defining eligibility criteria for communities and businesses, creating an administrator position with specific appointment rules, and requiring the bureau to monitor state policies related to pandemic recovery. The bill directly affects residents in designated communities and small business owners meeting the defined criteria.
HD 979 creates a tax incentive for benefit corporations in Massachusetts that provide specific employee benefits. It offers a 1.5% lower corporate tax rate to qualifying benefit corporations that provide at least four of six listed benefits, including a "living wage" (defined as sufficient for essentials like housing and healthcare per the MIT calculator), paid parental leave, flexible spending accounts, a CEO-to-worker pay ratio under 25:1, employee cooperative governance, or profit sharing returning 10% of profits to staff. To qualify, corporations must maintain these benefits for 12 consecutive months and receive certification from the Department of Revenue. This directly affects benefit corporations operating under Chapter 156E that meet the eligibility criteria.
HD 703 creates a new legal mechanism allowing employee advocacy groups, labor unions, or affected employees to sue employers for unpaid wages on behalf of the public. If successful, lawsuits recover triple the unpaid wages for employees who respond within 90 days, plus attorney fees, with a 20% surcharge on the award funding a wage enforcement account. This account provides immediate relief for urgent needs like housing, heat, or food for workers owed wages. Employers must also pay $50 per violation per pay period and the full unpaid wages for non-responsive employees, with these funds added to the enforcement account.
This bill creates a property tax deferral program for Massachusetts homeowners aged 65+ who live in their primary residence. To qualify, applicants must meet income limits (based on state tax brackets) and enter a formal agreement with their town's board of assessors. The deferral allows seniors to postpone paying property taxes, with key rules including: a cap limiting deferred taxes to 50% of the home's value, requirements for heirs to pay deferred taxes upon the owner's death (with special provisions for surviving spouses), and a lien system that takes priority over most other claims. The program directly affects eligible seniors, their heirs, and local towns administering the agreements, with provisions taking effect for taxes assessed starting July 1, 2025.
This bill requires landlords of multi-unit rental properties to install and maintain free window guards on specified windows (over 6 feet high, opening wide enough for a 5-inch ball) at the request of tenants with children under age 10. Landlords must provide written notice in leases and oral notice at move-in about this right, and cannot charge extra fees or discriminate against tenants requesting guards. Window guards must be designed to prevent accidental removal without a key, with special provisions for fire escape windows. The Department of Public Safety will establish rules for installation, inspection, and training, and can impose $5,000 penalties for violations.
This bill amends Massachusetts zoning laws to streamline development processes and clarify local regulations. It allows construction under existing zoning rules for 24 months (or 3 years for special permits) if started within that timeframe, with specific rules for phased projects and site preparation. It also sets strict time limits for public hearings on permits (max 150 days) and requires automatic approval if authorities miss deadlines, while updating variance rules to prioritize housing production. The changes primarily affect developers, local zoning boards, and residents navigating land use approvals.
