By Bob Katzen

The Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee held a hearing on a bill, known as the “Maggie Hubbard Rental Safety Act, that would require that all short-term rentals in Massachusetts be inspected for working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors within one year prior to rental. It also mandates that rental platforms and agents verify this certification before listing a property, ensuring consistent, statewide fire safety protections for renters.

“Shannon Hubbard and her one-year-old daughter Maggie were tragically killed in a short-term rental that lacked working smoke and carbon monoxide detector,” said sponsor Sen. Julian Cyr (D-Truro). “It was an entirely preventable and unacceptable loss … By requiring annual safety inspections and ensuring that rental platforms verify compliance before listing a unit, the bill puts in place the basic, common-sense protections every renter deserves and strengthens public safety in communities across Massachusetts.”

Rep. Hadley Luddy (D-Orleans), a co-sponsor of the proposal, did not respond to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll Call, asking her why she co-sponsored the bill.