Policy updates

Here are some important updates on some of the legislative work we are involved in. We made some huge strides on the legislative front, but there is still lots of work to be done. I recommend reaching out to your legislators regarding at least one of these issues. Find your legislator here: https://malegislature.gov/search/findmylegislator

• Wheelchair Warrantee/Repair Bill: This bill would expand warranty protections for wheelchair users and users of other assistive technologies.
• Where are we now? This bill is still in the Senate Committee on Ways and Means committee.
• What’s next? Ask your Senator to continue supporting this bill during the informal session. If you live in one of their districts, contact Senator Adam Gomez and Representatives Mindy Domb, Dan Carey, Angelo Puppolo, Jr., and Lindsay Sabadosa thanking them for supporting this bill.
• Architectural Access Bill: This bill would make it so that the MA Architectural Access Board (MAAB) has authority over buildings built before 1991 that have been converted into housing, and would require employee-only areas in workplaces to be made accessible.
• Where are we now? This bill has been introduced repeatedly for the past 20 years, and has made it further than ever before, passing in both the Senate and House for the first time. However, it was meant to pass as part of the Economic Development bill, passage of which has been delayed due to a possible funding shortage.
• What’s next? Ask leadership and/or your legislators in the House and Senate to work on the Economic Development Bill during the informal session and to support the Architectural Access bill. If you live in her district, thank Representative Lindsay Sabadosa for supporting this bill.
• Estate Recovery bill: Currently, family members of people over age 55 on MassHealth are forced to pay back medical expenses to the state upon their death. The Estate Recovery bill would protect the families of people with disabilities and senior citizens who are on MassHealth, making it so that the state will only collect what is required federally, and eliminate estate recovery for those on CommonHealth completely.
• Where are we now? This bill was also part of the Economic Development bill, which did not make it out of Conference Committee due to possible funding shortages.
• What’s next? Thank House sponsor Christine Barber and Senator sponsor Jo Comerford for sponsoring this bill. Encourage them and/or your legislators to continue fighting for the passage of the Senate’s version of the bill during the informal session. If you live in their districts, thank Representatives Mindy Domb, Lindsay Sabadosa, Angelo Puppolo, Jr., Susannah Whipps, Natalie Blais, and Patricia Duffy for supporting this bill.
• Alternative Housing Voucher Program
• Where are we now? This program provides vouchers for rental assistance to people under 60 years old with a disability. The program received $19.2 million in funding. Over the last 8 years, funding for this program has increased fivefold, thanks to our advocacy!
• Regional Transportation Authority Advancement Bill and Funding
• Where are we now? The RTA Advancement bill did not make it out of Senate Ways and Means Committee. Regional transit did receive $96.5 million in funding compared to the previous two years’ $94 million. The RTA Advocates Coalition was also successful in pushing for electrification of regional bus fleets through the legislature, requiring MassDOT to help regional transit authorities with electrification.
• What’s next? We will continue to push for passage of the RTA Advancement bill to ensure that people have accessible and affordable transportation across the state.
• Cash Assistance grants
• Where are we now? The Lift Our Kids coalition has worked to increase cash assistance to Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) by 10 percent, starting in October of 2022. This is great progress, but still lives families living in deep poverty.
• What’s next? We celebrate this win, but will advocate for continued increases in the future.