MAR Online Blog

Lawmakers enacted a supplemental budget on March 30th with both funding and policy provisions that benefit real estate.  

Notable funding pieces includes: 

• $1 million to assist municipalities in community development and housing production many have spent decades blocking. 
• $8 million for the Smart Growth Housing Trust Fund to incentivize cities and towns to adopt smart growth zoning policies. 
• $9.3 million for broadband repairs and improvements to assure everyone has online access that is essential for today’s workforce. 
• $34 million to rehabilitate or redevelop blighted, abandoned, vacant, or underutilized properties in order to eliminate blight, increase housing production, and support economic development. 
• $104 million for the states Clean Water Trust to assist homeowners with Title V compliance. 
• $400 million for the MassWorks infrastructure program which provides grants to communities for public infrastructure projects that support and accelerate housing production, spur private development, and create jobs. 

The bill also has a couple important policy provisions: 

• Makes permanent remote online notarization, a policy that was successfully piloted during the pandemic. The final version contains several improvements including the ability for parties outside the state to use this technology. 
• Extends the ability of municipalities to hold remote town meetings until March 31, 2025. 

MAR testified on both the House and Senate versions of this bill.