Sen. Mike Rush

By Mr. Rush, a petition (accompanied by bill) (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Michael F. Rush for legislation to authorize the University of Massachusetts Building Authority to purchase, construct, and operate a hospital in the town of Norwood. State Administration and Regulatory Oversight.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts tax laws to set specific spending limits for community investment tax credits. It caps the total value of these credits at $12 million for the years 2023 and 2024, and increases the cap to $15 million starting in 2025. The changes apply to two separate tax credit programs, ensuring that the combined amount of credits issued does not exceed these annual thresholds. Directly affecting businesses and investors eligible for these credits, the legislation provides a clear financial ceiling for state support over the next several years.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Massachusetts housing laws to exclude certain veteran benefits from rent calculations for public housing. Specifically, it ensures that benefits veterans or their spouses receive under Chapter 115, such as disability compensation, are not counted when determining their eligibility or rent amount in public housing. The change directly affects veterans and their families who rely on these specific benefits, aiming to prevent them from being penalized in housing affordability assessments. By amending Section 32 of Chapter 121B, the legislation clarifies that these particular financial supports should not be treated as income for rent purposes.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows the City of Boston to set rent limits for specific apartments that were previously owned, insured, or subsidized by the government. It directly affects low-income residents, particularly the elderly and disabled, living in these units by protecting them from displacement due to rising rents or expiring subsidies. The law authorizes the city to create an ordinance regulating these rents whenever federal or state preemption rules no longer block such action. Essentially, it gives Boston the power to maintain affordability in government-linked housing stock to address the local housing crisis.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires various health insurance plans in Massachusetts to cover dental procedures when they are directly related to or caused by a medical condition already covered by the plan. It directly affects employees of the Commonwealth, members of the Division of Retirement and Benefits, and individuals or groups holding medical insurance policies issued within the state. The law mandates that if a plan pays for a specific medical treatment, it must also pay for any necessary dental work that results from that treatment. By amending multiple chapters of the General Laws, the bill ensures consistent coverage rules across different types of insurance contracts and health maintenance agreements.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to require all low and moderate income housing built under a comprehensive permit to remain affordable forever. It directly affects developers and housing authorities by mandating that these specific properties cannot be sold or converted to market-rate units at any point in the future. The legislation establishes a permanent legal barrier to ensure that affordable housing units created through this specific permitting process stay accessible to qualifying residents indefinitely. The changes would take effect on July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill adjusts the salaries of various clerks and registers within the Massachusetts Judicial Branch to ensure they are paid at a consistent rate relative to the Chief Justice. Specifically, it sets the pay for these administrative staff members at 84.57 percent of the Chief Justice's salary, overriding previous laws that established different pay scales. The legislation also updates specific dollar amounts in state statutes to reflect these new salary figures, with the changes taking effect on July 1, 2023.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to specifically include public transit workers as protected employees under assault and battery statutes. It expands the definition of assault to cover attacks using bodily substances, such as blood, saliva, or urine, when directed at these workers. By updating the legal text, the legislation ensures that harming transit staff with such substances is treated as a distinct offense. The changes directly affect law enforcement, prosecutors, and public transit employees by clarifying the scope of protected conduct.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates salary figures for various positions within the Massachusetts judicial branch and related state agencies. It directly affects judges, court staff, and other employees by increasing their base pay and pension contributions from 81.57% to 84.57% of their salary. Additionally, the legislation raises specific annual salary caps for certain roles from $232,101 to $242,101 and adjusts other compensation limits by $10,000. These changes are designed to improve financial equity for judicial workers and will take effect on July 1, 2025.

By Representative Consalvo of Boston, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Rob Consalvo that the Department of Conservation and Recreation be authorized to erect a bench in the Hyde Park neighborhood of the city of Boston in honor of Rita Walsh. Environment and Natural Resources.