By Representative Capano of Lynn, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2725) of Peter Capano and others relative to requiring public disclosures by publicly-traded corporate taxpayers. Revenue.
Maddy summaryThis bill modifies existing agricultural preservation laws in Massachusetts to help farmers diversify their income by allowing short-term trials for non-farming activities on protected land. It reduces the maximum duration of these special permits from five years to one year, enabling landowners to test new ventures like agritourism or events without long-term commitments. Additionally, the law requires the state department to notify farmers within a year whether their trial permit will be renewed, revoked, or changed, and if the department fails to respond in time, the permit automatically renews for five years. These changes aim to provide greater flexibility and security for farmers seeking to expand beyond traditional agriculture while maintaining land protection goals.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts corporate tax laws to increase the state excise tax rate from 9.0% to 10.5% for tax years starting on or after January 1, 2023. The legislation directly affects corporations subject to the state excise tax by raising the rate on their taxable net income. Additionally, the bill adjusts the corresponding income tax rate for corporations from 8.0% to 9.5% effective the same date. These changes reverse previous reductions in tax rates that were in place since 2012.
Maddy summaryThis Massachusetts bill establishes a tiered corporate minimum tax that requires businesses to pay a set fee based on their annual sales within the state. Companies with less than one million dollars in sales pay $456, while those with over one billion dollars in sales pay $150,000, with specific amounts set for every sales bracket in between. The tax applies to corporations operating in Massachusetts starting with tax years that begin on or after January 1, 2023.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new Local Roads Improvement Program within the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to provide grants to municipalities for public road projects. The funds are specifically designated for activities such as repairing and resurfacing roadways, maintaining traffic signs and guardrails, and updating road markings. Distribution of these grants will be calculated based on each municipality's proportion of total road mileage, ensuring a standardized allocation method. Additionally, the bill requires the department to submit an annual report to state committees detailing which towns received funding, the specific amounts awarded, and descriptions of the completed projects.
Maddy summaryThis bill proposes allowing local cities and towns in Massachusetts to offer certain Registry of Motor Vehicles services directly to residents. Under the plan, local governments would partner with the RMV through formal agreements to handle tasks like traffic enforcement and parking management, either in person or online. The RMV would retain oversight to set rules and determine how revenue from these services is shared between the state and the local municipality. Existing private providers of these services would continue to operate as usual while the new local options become available.
Maddy summaryThis bill allows battery electric vehicles, also known as electric cars, to drive in high-occupancy lanes that are typically reserved for vehicles with multiple passengers. The law applies to any electric vehicle officially designated as such by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration. To put this rule into practice, the state secretary of transportation will create and issue specific regulations. This change directly affects drivers of qualifying electric vehicles and the management of traffic lanes in Massachusetts.
By Representatives Stanley of Waltham and Farley-Bouvier of Pittsfield, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3428) of Thomas M. Stanley, Tricia Farley-Bouvier and others relative to establishing a vehicle mileage user fee task force to explore alternative funding sources to ensure safe and reliable transportation. Transportation.
By Representative Williams of Springfield, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3130) of Bud L. Williams relative to housing, economic, education and equity in recovery and reconstruction in the Commonwealth. State Administration and Regulatory Oversight.
Maddy summaryThis bill mandates that new residential and commercial buildings in Massachusetts be constructed with solar energy systems to meet specific electricity needs. It requires single-family homes to generate at least 80% of their average annual electricity usage, while multi-family and commercial buildings must install solar systems with battery storage based on factors like roof size and building type. The legislation also directs state officials to create rules ensuring new buildings have the structural capacity and electrical infrastructure necessary to support rooftop solar installations. Additionally, the bill allows for exemptions if a building lacks sufficient solar potential or if alternative renewable energy systems are used instead.
