Who is a member?
Our members are the local governments of Massachusetts and their elected and appointed leadership.
The House and Senate have each passed versions of the wide-ranging “municipal modernization” bill that was filed by Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito late last year.
The two bills now go to a House-Senate conference committee that is charged with reconciling the differences. The bills include a large number of reforms to state law related to municipal finance, human resources practices, administration, and procurement.
On June 15, The House unanimously passed its version, H. 4419, which retained many key provisions, such as updates to statutes regarding procurement and stabilization funds, but changed language relating to doubled-up utility poles.
The House kept provisions that would allow expedited competitive bidding for contracts worth up $50,000, up from $10,000 – a change long-sought by procurement officials. Also included was language allowing municipal governments to enter into joint-powers agreements.
The House added provisions that would allow local governments to create workforce housing special tax assessment zones, meant to encourage housing for middle-income families and individuals, which the MMA supported.
The bill, however, was stripped of several key provisions that were popular with local officials, such as provisions granting local control of liquor licenses and allowing direct deposit for municipal payroll. The House also removed MMA-supported provisions that would have reformed unemployment insurance.
The House failed to pass an amendment adding an MMA appointee to the State Retiree Benefits Trust Fund Board of Directors, as well as amendments allowing municipal officials to set speed limits of 20 or 25 miles per hour in certain areas.
The Senate version, S. 4419, passed on July 13, is similar to the House version but has some important differences.
The Senate re-inserted provisions that would allow local control of liquor licenses and removed the workforce housing provisions.
The Senate considered a number of amendments, including changes to the liquor license sections and provisions granting municipalities the ability to set certain special speed limit zones.
The Senate approved a compromise amendment granting municipalities the authority to assign fees to utility companies that leave double poles in place for more than 30 days, and rejected several amendments that would have limited local control of liquor licenses.
The MMA and local officials across the state have shown strong support for the package, which, they said, would benefit nearly every aspect of local government.
Early this year, the Legislature broke the governor’s bill into five pieces, which were referred to various legislative committees. Committee hearings concluded in February, and the House Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government completed its work on the bill in late May.
In early June, the House Committee on Ways and Means reassembled the individual components into one package for a vote by the full House.
A compromise bill was expected shortly, so that it can pass both chambers and be sent to the governor before the end of formal legislative sessions on July 31.