An Act building a more accessible Massachusetts

This legislation updates state disability regulations that have fallen behind federal standards in the past decade. The key action this bill takes to make Massachusetts more accessible is by making changes to the Architectural Access Board (AAB), a state-level board that develops and enforces regulations designed to make public buildings accessible to, functional for, and safe for use by persons with disabilities.

If passed, this bill will add an additional member of the disability advocacy community to the AAB. It also extends the AAB’s regulatory authority to employee areas of public buildings, expands its authority to spaces around buildings like parking lots and sidewalks, and aligns the body’s definition of “public building” with ADA regulations.

Previously, much of the language of this bill was included in the House version of the 2022 Economic Development bill, but was later dropped as part of the process to pass a narrow bill during informal session.

An Act establishing an Internal Special Audit Unit within the Cannabis Control Commission

This legislation would ensure the quality, efficiency, and integrity of the CCC’s operational and regulatory functions through the establishment of an Inspector General Special Audit Unit. The unit will exist within, but will not be subject to the control of the CCC, and mirrors special audit units within the State Police and the Department of Transportation. The unit would be authorized to receive funds from the Marijuana Regulation Fund. The bill also requires a memorandum of understanding between the CCC, the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, and the Department of Public Utilities to promote communication and collaboration between the agencies.

Resolve establishing a commission to study energy rate procurement related to investor-owned utilities and consumer relief

Bay Staters deserve more transparency in how utilities set their gas and electricity rates — especially after this winter’s rate hikes.

This legislation would create a commission, comprised of legislative leaders, consumer advocates, and industry representatives, that would study and draft legislation to:

  • Reform regulations and policies that govern how energy rates are set by investor-owned utilities in Massachusetts

  • Establish an emergency interest-free payment plan program for Bay Staters who receive service through an investor-owned utility

An Act establishing a PFAS Research and Development Public Safety Fund

This legislation would create a dedicated fund to support programs and grants related to researching, developing, and purchasing PFAS-free firefighter gear.

PFAS, or Polyfluoroalkyl substances, is a class designation that includes nearly 10,000 chemicals used to make everyday items waterproof, fire-resistant, or non-stick. These chemicals have become ubiquitous in products ranging from cookware to firefighting equipment to children’s toys, despite posing dangerous health risks. Even at low levels, the toxicity of PFAS chemicals can be devastating — increasing the risk of cancer, immunosuppression, birth defects, colitis, and other diseases. Compounding these dangers is the persistent nature of PFAS chemicals, known as “forever chemicals” for their resistance to breaking down in the environment.

An Act reforming auto body labor rates

In Massachusetts, the current average reimbursable hourly labor rate is approximately $38, which is considerably lower than all other New England states and is the lowest in the country by at least $3, with the national average at almost $50 per hour. Our rate here is unilaterally set by each individual insurance company. As a result, the rate has seen a minimal increase over the last 20 years.

This legislation creates a regulatory process through which the Commissioner of the Division of Insurance may increase the hourly labor rates for which a repairer is reimbursed by insurance companies for automobile body repairs.

An Act establishing a board of hoisting machinery regulations

This bill establishes a board of regulations specific to hoisting machinery. Hoisting licenses are the most common form of license provided by the Department of Public Safety, and they cover an enormous range of machinery and skill levels. Despite this, hoisting licenses are still overseen by the Construction Supervisor licensing process. This result is that both the testing for licenses, and the oversight of existing licenses or incidents is entirely unsuited for the realities of hoisting machinery.  

An Act establishing a Cybersecurity Control and Review Commission

Our world looks a lot different than it did last century – our lives are now built around software and computers rather than the analog methods of communication and control of days gone by. While this technological revolution has improved our quality of life and created entire new industries around the world, it has also created vulnerabilities that pose structural risks to the basic way of life in our communities. From the computers that keep clean water flowing to our homes to the software that makes sure paychecks reliably deposit in our bank accounts, our societal systems are not prepared for the disruption and chaos that a major cyberattack could cause.

This legislation would take steps toward making sure we are better prepared for the uncertainties of the future by creating a statewide standing commission of cybersecurity experts to do four primary things:

  • Develop a comprehensive recommended cybersecurity standard for governments and businesses operating in the Bay State

  • Create a process of accreditation for private businesses that meet the commission’s standards

  • Require any private businesses who contract with state or local governments to comply with the commission’s standards

  • Require the commission to write an annual report to be shared with the state legislature and the public on the status of the Commonwealth’s critical infrastructure and recommendations on how to maintain the resiliency of our protections

An Act protecting consumer rights in purchasing safe and habitable homes

In the hot housing market of the past few years, many buyers are pressured to waive their right to a home inspection to make their offers more attractive to sellers — risking financial disaster with no recourse if a critical flaw is found after the purchase.

This legislation will establish the basic right of the consumer to have a home inspection done of the home they are about to purchase by removing the home inspection contingency clause from the Offer to Purchase form.

Once the offer is accepted, the buyer can state whether they want an inspection or not and agree on a timeframe with the seller.

An Act relative to equalizing the Department of Revenue interest rates

Under current law, a taxpayer that fails to make a timely payment is required to pay interest after the statutory due date. The interest for such delinquent tax liability is the federal short-term rate, plus 4%, compounded daily. In contrast, when the Department of Revenue owes a taxpayer a refund, the rate of interest is the federal short-term rate, plus two percentage points, computed as simple interest. Moreover, the Department of Revenue gets 120 days from the last date for filing the tax return before interest applies. If the refund is mailed within 120 days, the Department of Revenue pays no interest.

This legislation would restore equity to our tax code by subjecting the taxpayer and the Commonwealth to the same interest rate at the federal short-term rate, plus two percentage points, computed as simple interest.      

An Act granting property tax exemptions to disabled Veterans

This legislation provides a property tax exemption to veterans 65 or older who are partially or totally permanently disabled. The exemption is equal to the percentage of the veteran’s permanent, service-connected disability as determined by the United States Department of Veteran’s Affairs. The costs of the exemption will be paid by the Commonwealth, not individual towns and cities.

An Act relative to small business health insurance incentives

This legislation will help lower premium costs for small businesses in pooled markets through two incentives:

  • Allowing carriers to award participants who seek more efficient administration of coverage and influence member utilization through education and use of transparency tool

  • Authorizing insurers to offer year-end incentives for small employers and their employees based on the number of subscribers in the group

An Act improving the tax administrative laws of the Commonwealth

This legislation changes the administrative provisions of our tax laws and improves the tax code by:

  • Encouraging settlement of cases instead of litigation

  • Allowing for an expeditious collection of revenues by providing a one month extension for combined filers

  • Making the sham transaction doctrine equitable and more aligned with the Internal Revenue Code

  • Restoring equal estimated quarterly payments of taxes

  • Establishing a broad tax amnesty program

An Act allowing for the deduction of business interest

The legislation decouples Massachusetts from the new limitations on interest expense deductibility under IRC §163(j). This action maintains the status quo for this particular corporate tax policy and does not represent a tax break. Decoupling reestablishes the tax treatment of interest expense that existed prior to the enactment of federal tax reform. It enables Massachusetts to continue to compete with other states that have already chosen to decouple or have more favorable tax regimes than Massachusetts. Decoupling would prevent a corporate tax increase, stop a hike in the cost of capital and ensure that Massachusetts remains competitive for investment.

An Act relative to the alignment of the University of Massachusetts police

This bill moves the University of Massachusetts police officers into Group 4 for purposes of the retirement system. These officers are expected to perform at the same level as municipal police across the Commonwealth. They receive the same training and wield the same powers, rights, and responsibilities, yet are entitled to a fraction of the retirement benefits. This has lasting detrimental effects on the University’s police force, which experiences a high rate of turnover, with many citing the lack of benefits as a primary reason for departure.  

An Act to promote safety, efficiency, and accountability in transportation projects through public inspections

This legislation requires that public employees perform construction inspections on all surface transportation projects receiving state or federal funding. This will save the Commonwealth money as private sector engineers are paid at a much higher rate than public construction inspectors. This bill also provides much-needed checks and balances on private construction projects.