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 creates a tax exemption for older adults and people with disabilities who make modifications to their homes to improve accessibility or allow them to live independently. To qualify, the homeowner must be at least 65 years old, use the home as their main residence, meet specific income limits, and have a property assessed at no more than $600,000. The exemption covers the increased property taxes caused by the value of these modifications and is available in any city or town that chooses to adopt the law. Additionally, the bill requires local boards to update rules ensuring that parking areas and multi-unit buildings provide adequate accessible spaces and units for people with disabilities.
Maddy summaryThis bill aims to protect warehouse workers by establishing new definitions and rules regarding how employers collect and use performance data. It specifically targets nonexempt employees at distribution centers who are subject to work quotas, defining these quotas as specific productivity speeds or task counts within a shift. The legislation clarifies what constitutes "employee work speed data" and "aggregated data" while setting thresholds for which employers must comply, covering those with at least 100 employees at a single center or 500 across multiple centers in the state. Additionally, the bill holds companies and their related corporate groups jointly responsible for ensuring compliance with these new data and employment standards.
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.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to limit the upfront costs landlords can charge tenants when starting a lease. It directly affects both property owners and renters by restricting the total amount a tenant must pay before moving in. Specifically, the law allows landlords to collect only one month's rent as a security deposit, one month's rent as the first month's payment, and the cost of a new key and lock. This change aims to make renting more affordable by preventing landlords from requiring excessive initial payments beyond these specific limits.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to require that housing developments receiving state incentives include at least 20 percent affordable units. Specifically, the affordable portion must consist of rental units for households earning no more than 50 percent of the area median income or owner-occupied units for households earning no more than 80 percent of the area median income. The legislation also updates the legal text to ensure the term "affordable" is consistently applied when describing these subsidized housing units. These changes directly affect developers seeking state housing incentives and the state agencies that administer the program.
Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to allow Massachusetts taxpayers to deduct 50% of their tuition payments for public colleges and universities from their state income taxes. The deduction applies only to costs paid by the taxpayer or their dependents and excludes any money already received through scholarships, grants, or financial aid. It specifically restricts the benefit to public institutions of higher education and prevents individuals from claiming both this new deduction and another existing education-related deduction.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to update the Housing Development Incentive Program, which provides tax benefits to developers building new or renovated multi-unit housing. The changes require that eligible projects include at least 20 percent permanently affordable units for low- and moderate-income residents, while limiting the number of market-rate units to no more than 80 percent. Additionally, the program will now specifically target distressed neighborhoods or areas lacking mixed-income housing, and it adds language to ensure benefits reach lower-income residents without causing rent hikes or displacement. By redefining key terms like "mixed income development" and adjusting eligibility criteria, the legislation aims to reshape how state incentives are applied to future housing projects.
Maddy summaryThis bill allows Massachusetts cities and towns to pass local laws that limit how much landlords can raise rents and restrict when they can evict tenants. Municipalities would adopt these rules by voting to accept the chapter and then creating specific ordinances that cap annual rent increases at the lower of the Consumer Price Index or 5 percent. The protections apply to most rental units but exclude small owner-occupied buildings, dormitories, elderly care facilities, and new buildings with a recent occupancy certificate. Additionally, the bill requires that evictions or lease non-renewals only happen for specific reasons such as unpaid rent, lease violations, criminal activity, or the owner converting the unit to a cooperative.
Maddy summaryThis bill aims to support housing cooperatives by establishing a legislative framework to promote their development. It directly affects individuals and organizations seeking to create or manage community-owned housing units. The key provision involves authorizing a study to examine ways to encourage the growth of these cooperative housing models. Once the study is completed, the bill may lead to specific policies or funding mechanisms to assist residents in forming such groups.
