By Bob Katzen

“Office to housing conversions are transformative for our main streets and downtowns. Building new housing from vacant buildings is a long-term investment in the community, providing more living options for residents, a renewed tax base and more customers for local businesses.”
—Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll on the Healey Continue reading This Week’s QUOTABLE QUOTES On Beacon Hill →

By Bob Katzen

Another proposal before the Housing Committee would prohibit any condominium association from denying a unit owner the right to fly or display the flag of the United States, the official flag of the United States Armed Forces or a Prisoner of War/Missing in Action flag in a window of the unit. Continue reading FLY FLAG OUTSIDE CONDOS (H 1555) →

By Bob Katzen

A bill heard by the Housing Committee would reinstate the elderly state-aided housing pet program which was inadvertently eliminated when the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities was established in 2023. The program allows elderly residents of public housing to have pets. Continue reading ALLOW PETS IN PUBLIC STATE-FUNDED HOUSING (H 1476) →

By Bob Katzen

The Judiciary Committee held a hearing on a bill that would restrict the ability of criminal offenders to profit financially by undertaking any ventures that capitalize on the infamy of their crime. Continue reading RESTRICT ABILITY OF CRIMINAL OFFENDERS TO PROFIT FROM THEIR CRIME →

By Bob Katzen

The Health Care Financing Committee held a hearing on a legislation that would require that in any hospital which accepts state funding, if the CEO’s annual compensation is greater than 50 times the lowest paid employee, the facility will be subject to a civil penalty equal to the amount by which the Chief Executive Officer’s annual compensation exceeds 50 times the value of the lowest paid employee. Continue reading CAP HOSPITAL PROFITS AND SALARY OF HOSPITAL CEOS (H 1398) →

By Bob Katzen

The Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy held a hearing on a measure that would prohibit the Department of Public Utilities from approving any rate request that would result in a utility earning a higher profit than what is allowed in five neighboring states.

“Massachusetts ratepayers are experiencing some of the highest costs in the nation,” said sponsor Sen. Jo Comerford (D-Northampton). “Now is the time for an all-hands on deck effort focused on reducing costs to ratepayers. Continue reading ELECTRIC AND GAS RATES (S 2238) →

By Bob Katzen

“DONUT SPARE TIRES (H 3694) – The Transportation Committee held a hearing on legislation that would prohibit vehicles operating on a “donut” spare tire from driving in the high-speed lane nearest to the left side of the road. A “donut” spare is a tire that is smaller than a conventional tire and takes up less room in the trunk of the car.
Continue reading “DONUT SPARE TIRES (H 3694) →

By Bob Katzen

House 154-0, approved an amendment to a section of the cannabis bill which requires out-of-state testing laboratories used by Massachusetts to meet certain standards, including being licensed in its home state to test hemp and cannabis. The amendment would add an additional provision that the testing laboratory must also be certified and in good standing with the Massachusetts CCC.
Continue reading OUT-OF-STATE TESTING LABORATORIES (H 4187 →

By Bob Katzen

House 153-0, approved and sent to the Senate a bill that makes several changes to the state’s cannabis laws that supporters say would allow the cannabis industry to continue growing responsibly. The bill makes changes to the structure of the Cannabis Control Commission (CCC), increases the number of retail licenses that an entity may have, lowers the barrier to entry for medical marijuana retail, increases purchase limits for consumers and patients and addresses the selling of hemp products. Continue reading REGULATE CANNABIS (H 4187) →