Sen. Susan Moran

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Massachusetts Department of Revenue to study how state lottery money is currently shared among towns and cities. The study will examine factors like how much revenue each area generates, the income levels of residents, and the financial needs of local schools. A team will work with other state agencies to gather this data and look for ways to make the distribution more fair. The department must submit a report with its findings and suggestions by December 1, 2024, for review by lawmakers and the public.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to exclude the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award from taxable income for residents of Massachusetts. It directly affects individuals who have completed service in the AmeriCorps program and receive the associated education award. The key provision amends state tax law to treat these funds as non-taxable, regardless of whether they are used for tuition, training, or student loan repayment. The change would take effect 180 days after the bill is passed into law.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs to launch a Wetlands Restoration Streamlining Initiative aimed at speeding up the approval process for nature-based wetland projects in Massachusetts. A designated coordinator will lead efforts to align various state agencies and federal partners to expedite permitting, clarify regulations, and provide technical support to municipalities, nonprofits, and other project proponents. The initiative specifically targets nature-based solutions and includes a goal to create a unified permitting process that allows for state approvals within three months of a complete application submission. Additionally, the coordinator must address delays in pending salt marsh restoration permits within 90 days and submit final recommendations for regulatory reforms within 12 months.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a refundable tax credit program to help seasonal businesses in Massachusetts cover housing costs for their temporary workers. It defines a "seasonal employer" as a company that operates for more than 70 percent of its business during a period of less than 20 weeks due to weather or product cycles. Under the new rules, these employers can claim a tax credit equal to the rent paid for housing employees during their short work season, with a maximum annual credit value of $10,000. If the calculated credit is larger than the employer's tax bill, the state will issue a check for the difference. The Department of Revenue is tasked with writing specific regulations to manage and enforce this program.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Human Service Transportation Consumer Advisory Board within the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to improve nonemergency medical and community transport for people with disabilities. The board will consist of 13 voting members representing various disability organizations, along with two non-voting officials, and will meet at least six times a year to gather feedback from service users and providers. Its main duties include holding public meetings, conducting annual listening sessions, and submitting a yearly report with recommendations to state officials to ensure transportation services are safe and reliable.

Senate, March 14, 2024 -- Text of the Senate Bill ensuring affordability, readiness and learning for our youth and driving economic development (Senate, No. 2707) (being the text of Senate, No. 2697, printed as amended)

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new student loan repayment program in Massachusetts designed to support human services workers who have earned degrees or certificates. To qualify, employees of designated community-based organizations must work at least 35 hours per week and have completed 12 consecutive months of employment in the field. The program prioritizes applicants with lower salaries, bilingual skills, or experience in direct care, offering up to $30,000 in loan repayment assistance depending on the applicant's highest degree. The executive office of health and human services will manage the program using guidelines set by the department of higher education.

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 updates "Nicky's Law" to broaden the definition of an employer for MassHealth day habilitation programs. It directly affects entities that provide services or treatment to individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities under specific contracts, funding, or licenses with the state. By expanding who qualifies as an employer, the law aims to ensure these service providers adhere to existing protections for people with disabilities. The change clarifies that any organization operating under these state agreements is subject to the same employment standards as traditional employers.