By Representative Montaño of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2894) of Samantha Montaño and others for legislation to increase the deeds excise to fund emergency assistance needs of certain low income tenants and homeowners. Revenue.
By Representative Livingstone of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2876) of Jay D. Livingstone and others relative to the community investment tax credit. 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 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 choose whether to implement local rent control and eviction protections for multi-family housing. Under the new Tenant Protection Act, municipalities that opt in can regulate rents and require landlords to provide specific reasons, such as non-payment or lease violations, before evicting tenants. The law includes exemptions for owner-occupied homes with three or fewer units, newly constructed buildings, and certain specialized facilities like dormitories and hospitals. Additionally, the bill permits local governments to set fair return standards for landlords and establish administrative bodies to oversee these regulations and assist small property owners.
By Ms. Jehlen, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2545) of Patricia D. Jehlen, Christine P. Barber, Erika Uyterhoeven and Mike Connolly (with approval of the mayor and city council) for legislation to authorize the city of Somerville to regulate rent in residential dwelling units. Housing. [Local Approval Received.]
Maddy summaryThis bill addresses the housing emergency in Massachusetts by requiring municipalities to allow specific types of multi-family housing, known as "middle housing," to be built without needing special approval. It defines these new housing types, including duplexes, triplexes, quadplexes, townhouses, and cottage clusters, and mandates that cities with populations over 2,500 permit accessory dwelling units, while larger cities must allow duplexes or middle housing as of right. The law also prohibits local zoning rules from banning multi-family housing or imposing stricter standards on government-assisted housing than those applied to regular housing. Additionally, the bill allows cities to regulate the design and placement of these homes to protect infrastructure, provided such rules do not unreasonably discourage development or cause significant delays.
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 allows Massachusetts cities and towns to choose whether to implement rent control and eviction protections for residents in their communities. If a municipality opts in, it must pass local rules that cap how much landlords can raise rents each year and ensure evictions only happen for specific, justified reasons like non-payment or lease violations. The protections apply to most rental units but exclude small owner-occupied buildings with four or fewer units, properties already regulated by other agencies, college dorms, and elderly care facilities. Local governments would have the option to adopt these measures through various methods, including ordinances or binding votes by their residents.
Maddy summaryThis bill expands health insurance coverage for opioid use disorder treatment in Massachusetts, specifically ensuring that state employees and Medicaid recipients receive medications like naloxone and buprenorphine without deductibles or prior authorization. It mandates that hospitals and substance use disorder treatment facilities provide at least two doses of opioid antagonists to patients upon discharge to prevent overdose. Additionally, the legislation requires the state to purchase and distribute these medications to hospitals and treatment centers at no cost to the facilities. By removing financial barriers and establishing clear protocols for medication distribution, the bill aims to improve access to critical life-saving treatments for individuals recovering from opioid addiction.
