Rep. Norm Orrall

Maddy summaryThis bill allows seniors aged 60 and older in Taunton to postpone paying their real estate property taxes if they meet specific income and residency requirements. To qualify, applicants must own and live in the property for at least five years, or be a surviving spouse inheriting the home, while also keeping their combined annual income below a limit set by the city's board of assessors. If approved, homeowners sign an agreement that records a lien on their property, ensuring that deferred taxes plus interest must be paid before the home can be sold or transferred, and heirs must settle these debts to inherit the property.

Maddy summaryThis bill grants property tax exemptions to disabled veterans in Massachusetts who have a service-connected disability rating of 100 percent from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. To qualify, the veteran must be at least 65 years old, a legal resident of the state, and have served under honorable conditions, while the property must be their primary residence. The exemption covers a percentage of the home's value equal to the veteran's disability rating, with the state covering the resulting tax loss by reimbursing local municipalities. Additionally, the benefit extends to the surviving spouse if they continue to own and occupy the home after the veteran passes away.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to increase the number of members on the select board of the town of Lakeville from three to five. It establishes a specific process for the initial election of these five members, where the top three vote-getters serve staggered terms of three, two, and one year respectively, while future elections will fill vacancies with three-year terms. The legislation also mandates that the select board annually elect a chairperson from among its members.

Maddy summaryThis bill aims to strengthen domestic violence protections in Massachusetts by formally defining "coercive control" as a specific pattern of behavior. It directly affects individuals experiencing abuse by legally recognizing actions such as isolating a partner from support networks, monitoring their finances or movements, and using threats to restrict their safety or autonomy. The legislation clarifies that these behaviors constitute abuse even if they do not involve physical violence, while explicitly stating that defensive actions taken to protect oneself or children do not count as coercive control. By adding this definition to state law, the bill seeks to ensure that courts and law enforcement can identify and address these non-physical forms of abuse more effectively.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the legal definition of domestic violence in Massachusetts to include specific behaviors like coercive control and technological abuse. It clarifies that coercive control involves patterns of intimidation, isolation, or financial monitoring, while technological abuse covers actions such as cyberstalking, nonconsensual sharing of images, and electronic surveillance. The legislation also explicitly lists examples such as threatening deportation based on immigration status or forcing someone into criminal activity as forms of abuse. By updating these definitions, the law aims to provide clearer grounds for victims to seek protection orders against a wider range of harmful behaviors.

By Representative Durant of Spencer, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Peter J. Durant and others relative to eligibility for the emergency housing assistance program. Housing.

Senate, December 19, 2022 -- Substituted as a new draft (Senator Pacheco) for the Senate Bill providing for a revised charter for the city of Taunton (Senate, No. 2939).

By Mr. Pacheco, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2870) of Marc R. Pacheco, Carol A. Doherty, Patricia A. Haddad and Norman J. Orrall (with approval of the mayor and city council) for legislation relative to the maximum age requirement for police officers for the city of Taunton. Public Service. [Local approval received]

Senate, June 16, 2022 -- The committee on Municipalities and Regional Government, to whom was referred the petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2798) of Marc R. Pacheco, Carol A. Doherty, Patricia A. Haddad and Norman J. Orrall (with approval of the mayor and city council) for legislation to provide for a revised charter for the city of Taunton, reports the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2939).