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Page 20 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2024 Copyrighted material previously published in Banker & Tradesman/The Commercial Record, a weekly trade newspaper. It is reprinted with permission from the publisher, The Warren Group. For a searchable database of real estate transactions and property information visit: www.thewarrengroup.com Bent, John A BUYER1 Cas llo, Bryan Dass, Shiv C Lopez, Gilma L Valen m, L D BEACON | FROM Page 18 sociations, neighborhood conservation districts and historic district commissions, from prohibiting or unreasonably restricting owners from installing EV charging equipment in or near an owner’s parking space. Restrictions that significantly increase the cost of the equipment, decrease its effi ciency or eff ectively prohibit its installation would not be permitted. The bill would also require owners to pay the costs of installing and maintaining the charging equipment and for the costs of the electricity consumed during charging. “As the commonwealth moves away from gas powered vehicles, we are going to need increased access to electric vehicle charging stations,” said co-sponsor Rep. Michelle Ciccolo (D-Lexington). “With 40 percent of emissions coming out of our transportation systems, it is essential that we make operating an electric vehicle as seamless as owning a gas vehicle. For that reason, we can’t have local siting boards prioritize aesthetics over access to charging.” COVID-19 REMEMBRANCE DAY (H 2987) – The House gave initial approval to legislation that would designate March 10th as COVID-19 Remembrance Day to honor all the people, especially older adults and people with disabilities, who died or were stricken with COVID-19. The measure also expresses appreciation of fi rst responders, caregivers and researchers who cared for victims or developed treatments or vaccines in response to the virus. The measure would not take eff ect until March of 2025 since March 10th of this year has already passed. “I am very pleased to see action taken toward establishing COVID-19 Remembrance Day which would honor those who have been lost to or aff ected by COVID,” said co-sponsor Sen. Pat Jehlen (D-Somerville). “It also acknowledges the essential workers who helped us get through the hardest times and contributed to our commonwealth’s recovery.” “At the time of the pandemic, I was the House Chair of the Joint Committee on Elder Aff airs, and had an upfront seat, in a sense, to the tragedy that was unfolding especially in our nursing homes, REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS SELLER1 BUYER2 Miller, Mindy M Kaur, Sarbjit Ephesus LLC Marrone Ft Cynthia Irt Agd Rt Ephesus LLC and to aging adults, generally,” said co-sponsor Rep. Ruth Balser (D-Newton). “ I feel it is important to remember those we lost and to honor those who helped keep us safe.” REQUIRE BANKS AND OTHER MORTGAGE LENDERS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (H 933) – The House gave initial approval to a proposal that would require banks and other mortgage lenders to provide additional information on a monthly basis to their borrowers including the balance of principal remaining; a confi rmation of the most recent payment received; the balance of any escrow accounts; and a description of any payments from those escrow accounts. “The intent of this legislation is to provide mortgage customers with the tools they need to ensure knowledge of their fi nancial situation,” said sponsor Rep. Bruce Ayers (D-Quincy). “This bill is an easy measure that we can take to help residents achieve greater fi nancial stability and awareness.” MUST BE 21 TO ATTEND CANNABIS EVENT (H 112) – The House gave initial approval to legislation that would prohibit anyone under age 21 from attending any marijuana-related event, forum, convention or conference to promote or encourage marijuana use or to educate users or prospective users on marijuana use. The measure exempts prevention programs for youth, youth educational programs or substance abuse programs related to marijuana use. Any event organizer who violates this law would be fi ned $2,000 but the fi ne would not be imposed if the organizer reasonably relied on IDs that turned out to be phony. “This [existing] loophole contradicts laws that prohibit cannabis consumption for people younger than 21,” said sponsor Rep. Hannah Kane (R-Shrewsbury). “Closing this loophole will provide clarity and prevent youths from attending cannabisrelated events,” CHANGE LANGUAGE IN LAW THAT CREATED COUNCILS ON AGING (H 624) – The House gave initial approval to legislation that would change some language in the 50-year-old law that created Councils on Aging in local cities and towns. Changes include deleting language that refers to “problems of the aging” and replacing it with “the needs of older adults;” deleting language that calls workers “clerks” and replacing it with language that calls workers “staff ;” and adding “and delivering services” to the language in the bill which gives the council the authority to “carry out programs.” Supporters said the bill modernizes the language in a 50-yearold law that created Councils on Aging at a time when there were very few senior centers. They noted that the number of Councils on Aging and senior centers has grown to 350 and said the bill updates the statute to refl ect the modern functioning of these critical centers. Sponsor Rep. Kate Donaghue (D-Westborough) said she is thrilled that the bill received initial approval. “I fi led this bill because senior centers are integral parts of each community, serving as a resource for every older adult and providing comprehensive programming and services to support the needs of the growing number of older adults across the commonwealth,” said Donaghue. FREE MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS (H 563) – The House gave initial approval to a proposal that would require all public schools, with grades 6-12 students, to maintain free menstrual products, including sanitary napkins and tampons in restrooms and to make them available in a “convenient manner that does not stigmatize any persons seeking the products.” “Requiring schools to provide free menstrual products will not only reduce distractions throughout the day but will also reduce embarrassment by guaranteeing that essential health items are readily available when needed,” said sponsor Rep. Jeff Roy (DFranklin). “Such access ensures that students can attend classes and participate in extracurricular activities without interruption. Toilet paper and paper towels are available free of charge at high schools and middle schools and menstrual products are no less essential to a student’s wellbeing. No student should face any barrier, fi nancial or otherwise, to accessing basic health essentials.” QUOTABLE QUOTES “Things are diff erent than they were the last time I was here. Last time I was here, we had money. I could be a hero.” ---House Speaker Ron Mariano (D-Quincy) at the beginning of his SELLER2 ADDRESS 35 Hichborn St Marrone, Dennis J 175 Ward St #32 Biscon , Julia M Huang, Huili 123 Augustus St 7 Park Ave #11 106 As Ave speech to members of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce. “Now, I understand that the idea of a transfer fee is a cause for concern for some of you, but if you believe that the issue of housing aff ordability is a genuine crisis, then we must explore all options that have the potential to make a real diff erence. I look forward to having continued conversations with members, and with the business community, on how we can bolster the development of more aff ordable housing, while ensuring that Massachusetts remains competitive.” ---House Speaker Mariano commenting on being open to a local-option real estate transfer tax to boost the aff ordable housing supply. “The speaker is the latest politician fl oating the idea of further tax hikes that will only exacerbate the problem it is trying to fi x. If the speaker is concerned with the cost of housing, he should provide property tax relief. If the speaker wants to help make Massachusetts more economically competitive, he needs to change his mindset away from harmful tax hikes and spending sprees and look to what the top two destinations for people leaving Massachusetts—Florida and New Hampshire—are doing, namely cutting taxes to attract taxpayers.” ---Paul Craney, spokesman for the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance, on Mariano’s openness to a localoption real estate transfer tax. “It is my great pleasure to donate these men’s and women’s suits and dress clothes on behalf of the residents of Norfolk County. I hope that by partnering with the Offi ce of Youth Employment and Opportunity, we can help to eliminate some of the barriers for young job seekers, empowering them to present themselves confi dently in interviews.” ---Norfolk County Register of Deeds William O’Donnell announcing the success of an initiative to help individuals just starting out on the road to fi nding a job, noting the high price of a suit can be an insurmountable obstacle, and it can represent a missed opportunity. “While alarming, today’s warning issued by the Department of Public Health is not a surprise. Perand polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have already contaminated public water systems in 96 cities and towns in MassachuDATE PRICE 03.07.24 865000 03.04.24 259000 03.06.24 805000 03.08.24 365000 03.05.24 785000 setts. These chemicals are incredibly harmful, increasing the risk of cancers, liver disease and more.” ---Deirdre Cummings, MASSPIRG’s Legislative Director, reacting to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health advisory urging consumers not to consume Simpson Spring products until further notice, after PFAS contamination exceeding drinking water standards was found in water bottled distributed by the company. HOW LONG WAS LAST WEEK’S SESSION? Beacon Hill Roll Call tracks the length of time that the House and Senate were in session each week. Many legislators say that legislative sessions are only one aspect of the Legislature’s job and that a lot of important work is done outside of the House and Senate chambers. They note that their jobs also involve committee work, research, constituent work and other matters that are important to their districts. Critics say that the Legislature does not meet regularly or long enough to debate and vote in public view on the thousands of pieces of legislation that have been fi led. They note that the infrequency and brief length of sessions are misguided and lead to irresponsible late-night sessions and a mad rush to act on dozens of bills in the days immediately preceding the end of an annual session. During the week of March 1822, the House met for a total of one hour and 15 minutes and the Senate met for a total of ten hours and 27 minutes. Mon. March 18 House 11:02 a.m. to 11:56 a.m. Senate 11:27 a.m. to 12:04 p.m. Tues. March 19 No House session No Senate session Wed. March 20 No House session No Senate session Thurs. March 21 House 11:10 a.m. to 11:31 a.m. Senate 11:20 a.m. to 9:10 p.m. Fri. March 22 No House session No Senate session Bob Katzen welcomes feedback at bob@beaconhillrollcall.com Bob founded Beacon Hill Roll Call in 1975 and was inducted into the New England Newspaper and Press Association (NENPA) Hall of Fame in 2019. Revere

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