By Representatives Khan of Newton and Sousa of Framingham, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2349) of Kay Khan, Priscila S. Sousa and others relative to health education in women's correctional institutions. Public Safety and Homeland Security.
By Representatives Khan of Newton and Sousa of Framingham, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2350) of Kay Khan, Priscila S. Sousa and others for legislation to further amend the anti-shackling statute for incarcerated pregnant women. Public Safety and Homeland Security.
By Representative Kerans of Danvers, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2858) of Sally P. Kerans for legislation to allow cities and towns to increase the local tax rate on meals. Revenue.
By Representative Connolly of Cambridge, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2747) of Mike Connolly and others for legislation to support affordable housing with a local option for a fee to be applied to certain real estate transactions. Revenue.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 1% real estate transfer fee in the town of Concord for the sale of residential properties where the purchase price exceeds $1 million. The fee is paid by the buyer and applies to direct property sales as well as transfers involving entities that hold controlling interests in residential real property. Several exemptions are included, such as transfers to government bodies, charitable organizations, family members, and properties already designated for affordable housing. All collected funds must be deposited into a specific trust to support affordable housing programs within the town. To enforce this, the town will require buyers to submit proof of payment or exemption before a deed can be officially recorded.
Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the Town of Concord to collect a special fee on building permits for new construction projects that exceed a specific value set by local officials. The collected funds must be placed into a designated trust to support affordable housing initiatives within the town. To qualify for the fee, a project must be intended for affordable housing, defined as units where initial rents or sale prices are capped at 150% of the area's median income. The town must vote to approve this surcharge at a Town Meeting before the fee can be implemented.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to expand access to medical parole for incarcerated individuals by updating the definitions of permanent incapacitation and terminal illness. It requires correctional facilities to consider parole requests from prisoners, attorneys, family members, or medical providers, with a strict timeline for reviewing these petitions. The legislation also mandates that the Department of Correction identify cognitively incapacitated prisoners through annual standardized assessments and allows them to choose a surrogate decision-maker to advocate on their behalf. Additionally, the bill ensures that risk assessments for violent recidivism account for a prisoner's medical condition and considers whether community-based treatment could reduce that risk.
Maddy summaryThis bill allows Massachusetts cities and towns to pass local laws that limit how much landlords can raise rents and restrict when they can evict tenants. Municipalities would adopt these rules by voting to accept the chapter and then creating specific ordinances that cap annual rent increases at the lower of the Consumer Price Index or 5 percent. The protections apply to most rental units but exclude small owner-occupied buildings, dormitories, elderly care facilities, and new buildings with a recent occupancy certificate. Additionally, the bill requires that evictions or lease non-renewals only happen for specific reasons such as unpaid rent, lease violations, criminal activity, or the owner converting the unit to a cooperative.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts zoning laws to allow municipalities to create special zoning districts that mandate a minimum number of affordable housing units. By adding a specific provision to existing regulations, the legislation ensures that local rules cannot restrict the requirement for developers to include affordable homes in these designated areas. The change directly affects local governments and housing developers by clarifying that affordable housing quotas must be maintained within these new zoning zones. Ultimately, the bill aims to reduce regulatory obstacles that might otherwise prevent the creation of more affordable housing options.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Massachusetts Center for Housing Cooperatives within the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation to support low- and moderate-income residents. The center will be tasked with educating the public, preserving existing cooperative properties, conducting research, and distributing grants to expand resident ownership. To fund these efforts, the legislation appropriates $100 million in fiscal year 2024 for acquiring real estate, rehabilitating properties, and meeting capital needs through various housing agencies. Additionally, the center's director must submit an annual report detailing the state's inventory of cooperatives and the activities undertaken to promote this housing model.
