It's Thursday. The U.S. Senate is set to vote today on dueling proposals to address the expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies that were at the center of this fall's government shutdown. Don't expect either of them to pass. NPR has more here on what's going on down in Washington, D.C. Here's a look at the latest news out of the Bay State: ADU, to yieu and yieu and yieu: Last year, Massachusetts joined a growing cohort of states to broadly legalize the building of accessory dwelling units across the state. At the time, Gov. Maura Healey's office predicted it would result in 8,000 to 10,000 new ADUs (aka in-law apartments, granny flats or backyard cottages) in Massachusetts over five years, putting a small but cost-effective dent in the state's 200,000-plus unit housing shortage . Fast forward to yesterday: Healey said the state had gotten "over a thousand" applications for ADUs over first six months of 2025 — hundreds of which have been approved. But it's still a relatively slow start. (According to the Pioneer Institute, Massachusetts' per-capita approvals are less than a quarter of the number permitted in California, which has seen an ADU boom.) So, Healey's office rolled out three new initiatives yesterday to pick up the pace: - Homeowner help: While last year's sweeping housing law made ADUs easier to build, homeowners still have a lot of questions, according to the state's housing secretary, Ed Augustus. "What do I do to get this process started? Will it fit on my land? How does the water and sewer work?" Augustus said yesterday, naming some common hangups. So they're putting $10 million into an initiative meant to help people navigate the process.
- Design contest: This coming Monday, the state is launching a design challenge for architects and builders to submit replicable ADU designs that the state will then post for free on its website. " We hope these designs will make it easier for homeowners to imagine how an ADU might work for them and their families," Healey said. The challenge, which runs through the end of February, also comes with prizes supported by private sponsors, ranging from $3,000 to $20,000.
- Special loans: Compared to the $1 million average cost of the buying a home in Greater Boston, ADUs are relatively cheap. But building one can still cost in the low- to mid-six figures . To help, MassHousing, the state's quasi-public home financing agency, plans to offer a reduced-rate ADU loan program for low- and middle-income homeowners. It will offer loans up to $250,000 for detached ADUs, and up to $150,000 for attached ADUs, according to Augustus. He said more details will be announced in January, with applications opening in March. "We want this to be an option for more people," Healey said.
- What's next: The current state law requires all cities and towns (except Boston) to allow ADUs of up to 900 square feet to be built by right on single-family zoned lots. But as the Boston Globe recently reported , some builders have been frustrated by the differing "reasonable restrictions" cities and towns can put on small details. Healey's office hinted yesterday that more pro-ADU changes could be in store. In a press release, the administration said the $10 million ADU support program will also study "remaining barriers to ADU development beyond zoning" to inform a "next phase" of policy.
It's official: Boston homeowners are getting a 13% property tax hike next year. The City Council voted unanimously yesterday to approve the new rate — but they weren't happy about it. As WBUR's Eve Zuckoff reports, Councilor Ruthzee Louijuene (in her last meeting as Council president) voiced frustration about the state Senate's resistance to their proposal to shift more of the cost to businesses. The city has historically put more of the tax burden on commercial properties to keep taxes down for residents. But this fiscal year, homeowners will face the largest proportion in decades. "We're coming very close to a point where residents are shouldering 50% of the total property taxes that are collected by the city," Louijuene said. - What's the Senate's alternative? Leaders in the chamber are planning to advance two bills today aimed at providing more targeted relief to the most vulnerable homeowners. State House News Service has more details here on the proposals and the Senate's standoff with the House on the issue.
Sick day: An elementary school in Medford is closed today due to a suspected norovirus outbreak. Roberts Elementary School leaders said more than 130 students were out sick yesterday, with additional reports of stomach illness from those who were in class. So they're closing the school today for a deep cleaning. Medford health officials also plan to inspect cafeteria equipment to rule out other possible causes. P.S.— Looking for some good news in 2026? Our seasonal joy newsletter, The Pick Me Up, is returning in January. Every Monday afternoon, we'll send you a tidbit to make you smile, from stories that show the good in humanity to something as simple as a photo of a dog in boots. Check out previous examples and sign up here. |
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