Bill > H56

This bill empowers municipalities and local governments through a wide-ranging set of legislative changes affecting various aspects of local governance, finance, and administration. The bill introduces provisions that allow cities and towns more flexibility in public meetings by permitting remote participation, enables cooperative purchasing agreements between municipalities, and provides new options for addressing critical workforce shortages by allowing retired employees to return to work in specific positions. The legislation also modifies tax assessment and collection procedures, cybersecurity reporting requirements, and creates new possibilities for regional collaboration, such as allowing towns to form regional boards of assessors. Key financial provisions include allowing municipalities to establish new special revenue accounts, modify debt exclusion accounting, and create more flexible grant acceptance procedures. The bill also includes provisions related to property tax exemptions, particularly for certain groups like survivors of public safety workers, and addresses technical changes in utility and telecommunications regulations. Additionally, it establishes a special commission to study retiree healthcare benefits and makes several procedural adjustments to improve municipal operations and financial management.

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H56