Rep. Ryan Hamilton

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a Massachusetts Center for Housing Cooperatives within CEDAC to support cooperative housing ownership, primarily for low-to-moderate income residents. The center will provide education, outreach, research, and grants to expand resident-owned housing, preserve existing cooperative properties, and promote cooperative models to policymakers. It allocates $100 million in fiscal year 2026 for acquiring, rehabilitating, and supporting housing cooperatives through state agencies like the Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency. The center must annually report on housing cooperative activities and submit recommendations for improving cooperative housing access.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how Methuen city departments handle layoffs and rehiring for permanent, tenured employees under state civil service rules. It requires that when positions are cut due to lack of work or funding, employees must be separated based on seniority within their job rank, and those laid off must be reinstated before new hires. Employees can choose to accept a demotion to a lower rank (if vacancies exist) as an alternative to separation, with the option to return to their original rank if funding returns. The policy specifically applies to Methuen city employees and overrides certain standard state civil service provisions for this city.