Sen. Susan Moran

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies how Massachusetts calculates income limits for affordable housing programs by allowing applicants to deduct certain expenses before determining eligibility. Specifically, it permits a $10,000 annual deduction for combined student loan payments and licensed child care costs, along with allowances for dependents and medical expenses. These changes directly affect individuals and families applying for housing assistance in the state, including those living in Nantucket and Dukes counties, which have unique income thresholds. By reducing the income counted against applicants, the legislation aims to expand the pool of people who qualify as low or moderate income for subsidized housing.

Maddy summaryThis bill grants a specific retirement benefit adjustment to Felicia O'Connor, the surviving spouse of retired state police officer John Bernard O'Connor, who died after being injured in the line of duty. It requires her current survivor allowance to be recalculated so it matches the exact amount her husband received during his lifetime. The change applies retroactively to the date of his death, ensuring she receives the full benefit immediately without waiting for standard administrative processes.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Massachusetts tax laws to protect agricultural land that is divided to create space for renewable energy projects. Specifically, it prevents owners from being charged roll-back taxes if they separate a portion of their farmland to generate renewable energy, such as solar or wind power. The measure aims to encourage the development of clean energy on farms by ensuring that the remaining agricultural land retains its favorable tax status. This change directly affects landowners in Massachusetts who wish to repurpose parts of their property for energy production without facing increased property taxes.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires businesses that sell personal information about Massachusetts residents to register with the state Department of Revenue and report details about their data sales. Companies must disclose what types of data they sell, who they sell to, how they obtained the information, and the portion of their income derived from selling data from state residents. The legislation also prohibits selling personal data to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or any entity planning to share that data with ICE. Additionally, the bill mandates that a social media company with users in Massachusetts be treated as an entity engaging within the state for these reporting requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes creating a new state tax on large for-profit companies that collect data from millions of Massachusetts residents and operate social media platforms. The legislation defines these entities as "commercial data collectors" and imposes monthly fees that increase based on the number of state consumers whose data they gather, ranging from a small per-person charge to hundreds of thousands of dollars for the largest users. Companies collecting data on over one million residents would begin paying taxes, with rates scaling up significantly as the number of affected users grows beyond two, three, and four million. To enforce this, affected businesses would be required to keep detailed records and submit monthly statements to the Department of Revenue, facing monetary penalties if they fail to file on time.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new 5% annual assessment on businesses that operate short-term rentals in Massachusetts, excluding those who live in the properties they rent out. The revenue collected from this fee and from fines for operating without a registration certificate must be used exclusively to fund affordable housing projects in the specific towns where the rentals are located. Additionally, the law establishes a penalty structure that increases by 1% each year for unregistered operators, capping the fine at 15% of their annual revenue, while also allowing the state to negotiate agreements with unregistered operators to get them registered before penalties apply.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies how unemployment insurance costs are calculated for employers in Massachusetts who hire replacement workers. Specifically, it applies to situations where an employee is hired to fill a position while another worker takes leave under the state's family and medical leave law. If the replacement worker is later let go when the original employee returns to their job, the bill requires that the unemployment insurance charges for that separation be paid from the state's solvency fund instead of increasing the employer's experience rating. This change aims to prevent these specific separations from raising the insurance premiums that employers pay for their workforce.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Massachusetts workers' compensation rules to allow small business groups that have existed for at least five years to use custom premium payment plans. Under the proposed change, these established groups would be exempt from the standard payment schedule requirements that currently apply to newer or smaller entities. The legislation requires that any alternative payment plan be approved by the state insurance commissioner before it can be used. By creating this exception, the bill aims to provide more flexibility for long-standing small businesses in managing their insurance costs.