Rep. Todd Smola

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a special commission to identify, preserve, and commemorate historic roadways across Massachusetts. The commission includes 10 members: legislative leaders, transportation and historical agency representatives, municipal and planning organization advocates, and a Governor-appointed history expert. It will study historic roadways and develop preservation and commemoration strategies, reporting its findings and any legislative recommendations to the Senate and House clerks by December 31, 2026. The bill directly affects Massachusetts' historical preservation efforts and roadways, but does not enact new laws or funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts housing law to allow MBTA communities to count housing units built within the past three years toward their compliance with the MBTA Communities Act. It requires state housing guidelines to include criteria for considering these recently completed units when determining if a community meets its housing requirements. The change directly affects municipalities located near MBTA transit lines that must comply with state housing mandates. This provision retroactively includes qualifying housing construction completed up to three years before the law's effective date in compliance calculations.

Maddy summaryThis bill prevents cities and towns from losing public safety grant funding if they don't comply with certain requirements in Chapter 40A. It specifically adds a provision stating that eligibility for grants - like the Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant program - cannot be withheld based on compliance with Section 3A of Chapter 40A. The change directly affects all municipalities receiving public safety-related grants under current law. It ensures funding remains accessible regardless of adherence to the specific provisions being amended.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HD 3730) creates a new appeal process for municipalities facing challenges when implementing housing development rules under the MBTA Communities Act. It requires the Department of Housing and Community Development to establish regulations allowing towns to seek relief if they cannot meet specific infrastructure or environmental requirements, such as water supply, wastewater treatment, transportation capacity, environmental impacts, or historical property protection. The appeal would apply to zoning provisions mandating housing development near transit hubs. This directly affects municipalities seeking to build housing in MBTA communities while addressing practical local constraints.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends a Massachusetts law to clarify the definition of "MBTA community." It specifically excludes cities or towns without direct bus, subway, or transit service from being classified as MBTA communities for legal purposes. The change directly affects municipalities lacking direct MBTA transit access, removing them from the scope of this definition. This is a procedural adjustment to existing law, not a new policy or funding measure.

Maddy summaryHD 3807 requires Massachusetts' Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities to submit a report every three years to the state legislature on the effects of multi-family zoning in communities served by the MBTA. The report must track housing units built under current zoning rules, assess impacts on infrastructure (water, sewer, transit), and analyze changes in school enrollment and funding needs. It also mandates recommendations for improving the zoning system. This bill directly affects MBTA-area communities implementing multi-family zoning and the state legislature, which will receive the findings. The report must be filed with the House, Senate, and relevant committees.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the definition of "MBTA community" in Massachusetts law to include every city and town in the Commonwealth. It extends the requirements of the MBTA Communities Act - currently applying to specific municipalities near transit - to all 351 cities and towns. The change is purely definitional, meaning all municipalities would now be subject to the Act's housing and development provisions. The bill does not alter the specific requirements themselves, only who they apply to. (1 sentence summary)

Maddy summaryThis bill allows municipalities to voluntarily participate in a program giving them the first right to purchase certain properties for affordable housing. It directly affects property owners of buildings with three or fewer units or mid-size multifamily buildings who receive an offer to sell. Municipalities must be notified by the owner when a sale offer is received, then have 120 days to inspect, match the sale price, and buy the property to maintain as permanently deed-restricted affordable housing. Owners of qualifying properties receive up to $500 per unit (capped at $10,000 per property) plus recording costs, with total program payments limited to $5 million. The program is administered by the Department of Housing and Community Development under new regulations.

Maddy summaryHD 3650 allows Massachusetts municipalities to request exemptions from state housing mandates, such as those in Chapter 40A. A town or city can petition the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities if compliance would cause an undue financial burden, exceed local capacity for housing or infrastructure, or conflict with existing zoning. The bill requires petitioners to provide evidence supporting one of these three specific grounds. The Department of Housing and Community Development must create rules for reviewing these exemption requests, including timelines and approval criteria.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows communities designated as "adjacent" under the MBTA Communities Act to request a review of their status. Specifically, it permits these communities to submit written petitions to the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, providing evidence that their designation creates undue burdens due to insufficient infrastructure or resources. The state office must then develop regulations outlining how to assess these petitions and decide whether to modify a community's designation. This creates a formal process for communities to seek relief from MBTA community requirements they argue are impractical to meet. The bill directly affects municipalities currently classified as "adjacent" under the MBTA Communities Act.