Rep. Pat Duffy

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Massachusetts election laws to use gender-neutral language, replacing specific male pronouns like "him," "his," and "he" with neutral terms such as "them," "their," and "they." It directly affects the official text of the state's election statutes by amending multiple sections to ensure descriptions of candidates, officials, and roles are inclusive of all genders. The legislation removes gendered terms like "chairmen" and "alderman," substituting them with "chairpersons" and "alderperson" to reflect modern standards of inclusivity. By making these specific word-for-word changes, the bill ensures that election records and legal documents do not assume a male gender for any position or individual.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends state laws to streamline emergency housing assistance for children and families facing homelessness in Massachusetts. It allows families to declare their own immediate need for housing, requiring the department to offer shelter placement on the same business day if that need is confirmed. The legislation also prohibits denying assistance while waiting for further verification and mandates that staff use existing data from other agencies to minimize the paperwork families must provide. Additionally, the bill requires the department to create specific rules to support these faster processing times and ensure timely access to necessary information.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program to clarify how the state distributes rental assistance to low-income households. It establishes that the program will use both mobile vouchers, which allow families to choose their own housing, and project-based vouchers tied to specific buildings. The legislation sets income limits for eligibility at 80 percent of the area median income and requires that at least 75 percent of vouchers go to families earning no more than 30 percent of that median. Additionally, the bill defines how much rent the program will cover, generally allowing subsidies up to 110 percent of the fair market rent, with specific exceptions for people with disabilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows movable tiny houses to be used as permanent homes or secondary living spaces in Massachusetts. It defines these structures as transportable units under 400 square feet that must be built to state safety standards but with lower insulation requirements than traditional homes. The legislation creates a new registration category for these homes, requiring them to be permanently attached to a vehicle chassis and establishing a process for issuing titles and certificates of occupancy after 180 days of residence. Local towns are permitted to set their own rules as long as they do not use design criteria to ban these units, and they may offer tax incentives to encourage their use.

Maddy summaryThis bill aims to increase monthly cash assistance payments for families in Massachusetts who are struggling with deep poverty. Starting in July 2023, the law mandates that benefit amounts rise by 25 percent each year until they reach a level equal to 50 percent of the federal poverty line for the household size. Once that threshold is met, payments will continue to increase annually to ensure they do not fall below that 50 percent standard. The legislation specifically applies to recipients of state aid programs, excluding rental allowances, and also includes additional adjustments for clothing and housing costs for eligible households.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows married spouses to work as paid caregivers for their partners under the MassHealth program, which provides home-based care and services. By amending state law, the legislation removes the current restriction that prevents spouses from receiving payment for this role, provided it does not violate federal regulations. The state's health and human services office is required to submit the necessary paperwork to federal authorities within six months to make these changes official. This policy change directly affects families in Massachusetts who rely on MassHealth for assistance with daily living activities.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new Massachusetts Flexible Housing Pool Program designed to help homeless individuals with complex medical, mental health, or substance use needs secure permanent supportive housing. The program creates a centralized funding pool that combines federal emergency assistance with state resources to provide flexible financial support for housing and related services. Eligible applicants, including cities and local care organizations, can access these funds to move people out of shelters and into stable living arrangements. By creating a coordinated system for distributing money, the legislation aims to improve the efficiency of ending chronic homelessness across the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a state-run program to help formerly incarcerated individuals secure housing upon release from prison. The Department of Housing and Community Development would lead this effort by working with correctional agencies to educate people about housing options and connect them with financial support like housing vouchers. The law requires the department to partner with community organizations that have experience in reentry and to include formerly incarcerated people in the leadership of these groups. Additionally, the bill mandates annual reviews of how state housing funds are used for this purpose and requires the department to report its findings to the legislature.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Massachusetts law to formally codify the rules and administration of the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program, which provides rental assistance to low-income households. The legislation establishes that the state Department of Housing and Urban Development must manage the program using mobile and project-based vouchers to help families secure affordable housing, with a requirement that at least 75% of vouchers go to those earning less than 30% of the area median income. It also sets specific guidelines for subsidy amounts, ensuring payments generally range between 100% and 110% of fair market rent while allowing for exceptions to accommodate individuals with disabilities. Additionally, the bill clarifies that the number of vouchers issued will be based on available funding and outlines how payment standards are calculated and approved.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Massachusetts Healthy Homes Program to help property owners address health and safety issues in their residential buildings. It directly affects owner-occupants and landlords who own properties with problems such as mold, lead, pests, or conditions that block energy efficiency upgrades. The program would allow eligible applicants to receive financial assistance for necessary repairs, with specific income limits and property size definitions determining who qualifies. By amending existing housing laws, the legislation establishes a formal framework for distributing funds to improve living conditions and reduce utility costs for residents.