Allan Cohen, City of Newton

The first month of odd numbered years (e.g. 2017, 2019) marks the start of new legislative sessions. On January 1, we entered the 190^th General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. All bills filed in 2015 that did not pass in 2015 or 2016 died despite their progress through various readings, support, and interest. If the Senate and House did not say, “Yes!” by the end of December 2016, then the bill did not make it to the governor for signing. We have to start all over.

Thousands of bills failed to pass in 2015-2016. Surprising failures from the past session: Airbnb taxes were not established; paid family and medical leave for all workers in Mass. did not pass although the Senate voted yes in the waning hours. They just left no time on the clock for the House to agree, pass, or amend the Senate version. And, while the House passed MBREA’s AMC bill the Senate did not. Our optimism is high for this year as Dodd-Frank requires states to establish an appraisal management company (AMC) registration system by April 2018.

Congratulations go to Uber, Lyft and ride-hailing services which the state voted to keep and regulate; municipal modernization passed. This latter bill was good news for appraisers. Governor Baker’s initiative resulted in the board of registration re-writing its regulations. The board, following testimony from MBREA’s Steve Sousa and cooperation from the Appraisal Institute MA-RI Chapter, presented appraisers with simplified regulations.

As a wise woman once said, “Tomorrow is another day!” That day is upon us; MBREA is back with new plans and four bills to pass in 2017-2018. After discussing priorities and necessities with many appraisers, MBREA and its members contacted state Senators and Representatives to seek their sponsorship of bills in the new session. Many appraisers participated by urging their legislators to support pro-appraiser and consumer initiatives. Four bills are underway (see chart).

This spring, the Senate and House will move each bill to a committee hearing. Appraisers will have the opportunity to come forward, speak on behalf of their profession, and help steer legislation from committee hearings to the governor’s desk. 

All appraisers can support these efforts by making a phone call, sending an email and or joining Sousa at a committee hearing. Actual bill numbers will soon replace the docket numbers currently assigned, and you may track each bill on the state’s web site: www.malegislature.gov/Bills/Search.

Allan Cohen is a certified general real estate appraiser and assistant assessor for the city of Newton, Mass.