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S 974

Establishes the class B felony of criminal sale of a controlled substance upon the grounds of a drug or alcohol treatment center

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jake Ashby and 1 co-sponsor

Requires lodging facilities under emergency housing contracts to carry general liability and property insurance covering damages by occupants; shifts costs to providers/insurers.

REFERRED TO CODES
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 974

Summary — S 974 (2025): Lodging Liability Insurance for Emergency Housing Assistance

Short title: An Act establishing liability coverage for facilities lodging individuals in the emergency shelter program
Filed/Filed on: Docket shows filed 1/15/2025; introduced in Senate March 12, 2025
Chamber/Chapter amended: Amends Chapter 23B (Massachusetts General Laws) by inserting Section 30A
Current status (provided): Referred to Codes; hearing scheduled 10/15/2025 (see Procedural Status)

Purpose / Intent

The bill requires hotels, motels, and other lodging facilities that contract with the Commonwealth to provide emergency housing assistance to maintain and use commercial liability and property insurance to cover damages caused by occupants placed through state-funded emergency housing programs. It shifts responsibility for property-damage costs from the Commonwealth to the contracted lodging providers (and their insurers), and creates contract-related penalties for noncompliant facilities.

Key provisions

  • Insurance requirement: Any hotel, motel, or lodging facility contracted to provide emergency housing assistance must maintain an active general liability policy and property damage insurance that covers damages caused by occupants placed via the emergency housing assistance program.
  • Proof of coverage: Facilities must provide annual proof of insurance to the Executive Office prior to signing any contract and upon renewal.
  • Financial responsibility: Facilities must assume full fiscal responsibility for property damage, destruction, or loss caused by occupants placed under state-funded emergency housing programs. The Commonwealth is explicitly not financially responsible for such damages (including repairs, replacements, insurance deductibles, or lost revenue from unusable rooms).
  • Claims process: Facilities must submit timely damage reports to their insurance providers and pursue reimbursement exclusively through insurance policies (i.e., not through the Commonwealth).
  • Enforcement/penalties: Facilities that fail to maintain required insurance or that attempt to recover damages from the Commonwealth may face: (1) termination of contracts; (2) financial penalties as determined by the Executive Office; and (3) disqualification from future state housing contracts.
  • Rulemaking: The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities is directed to promulgate regulations necessary to implement the section.

Who would be affected

  • Primary: Hotels, motels, and lodging facilities that contract with the Commonwealth for emergency shelter placements.
  • Secondary: Insurers providing commercial general liability and property policies to such facilities; state housing agencies responsible for contracting and oversight; individuals placed in emergency housing (indirectly, via changes in provider availability).
  • Fiscal: The Commonwealth would see reduced direct liability for property damages tied to placements under emergency housing programs, to the extent the bill is enforced.

Potential impact and considerations

  • Fiscal impact: Shifts risk and likely short-term costs for property damage from the Commonwealth to private lodging providers and their insurers, potentially reducing state outlays for damage claims.
  • Market/availability: Some lodging providers may decline to contract, increase rates, or require higher insurance coverage, potentially reducing available emergency housing capacity or increasing program costs.
  • Insurance market: Facilities may face higher premiums or need policy endorsements to explicitly cover damages caused by program occupants.
  • Administrative burden: The Executive Office will need to confirm coverage, track proofs of insurance, adjudicate compliance, impose penalties, and adopt implementing regulations.
  • Legal/operational: Requires clear contract language and claims processes to prevent disputes about causation, coverage limits, and deductible assignments.

Procedural status and timeline (from provided data)

  • Filed on Senate docket (1/15/2025); presented by Kelly A. Dooner.
  • Introduced in Senate: 03/12/2025 (read twice and referred).
  • Referred to committee(s): Committee on Housing; also entries show “REFERRED TO CODES” and Committee on Foreign Relations (dates in the record conflict).
  • Hearing scheduled: 10/15/2025, 1:00–5:00 PM (A-1) — per provided schedule.

Note: The legislative-action dates and committee referrals in the provided record are inconsistent (some references predate filing or list different committees). The bill text and chapter citation reflect a Massachusetts state-law amendment (Chapter 23B), and the sponsor/petitioner in the text is a Massachusetts legislator. Some metadata (sponsor list) appears to reference federal legislators and may be erroneous.

Sponsors and related bills

  • Petitioners listed in bill text: Kelly A. Dooner (presented by) and Steven George Xiarhos (petition of).
  • Provided sponsor list (appears inconsistent with a state bill): includes Rick Scott, John Curtis, Jeff Merkley, Cynthia Lummis, Robert Rolison, Jake Ashby.
  • Related/companion bills listed in record: HR 3180; SD 1183 (replaces); A 4775 (companion) and several prior-session S-bills (S 4023, S 7200, S 1388, etc.).

Implementation

  • The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities must adopt rules and regulations to implement proof-of-insurance procedures, enforce penalties, and define administrative processes. The bill text does not specify an effective date; standard legislative practice or the enacted law would determine when requirements take effect.

If you want, I can:
- Draft suggested contract language or insurance policy endorsements facilities might need, or
- Produce a short fiscal/operational impact checklist for the Executive Office to implement this law.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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