Broker fee banter

AARP thanks legislators for passing a budget that invests in older residents, supports the Commonwealth’s 780,000 family caregivers, and helps more people save for retirement through Secure Choice. We urge Governor Healey to sign it. For more information, visit aarp.org/ma.

Gov. Maura Healey will sign onto at least one policy within the Legislature's $61.1 billion fiscal 2026 budget proposal: eliminating renter-paid broker fees. 

The announcement came through inboxes, multiple social media posts and headlines Wednesday, touting the move as one way the administration is addressing the high costs of housing in Massachusetts and bringing the state in line with other major jurisdictions, like New York City, that have also done away with the practice. 

"This is about saving you money, thousands of dollars you can now spend on whatever you need or put it away for the future. And this is just one way I'm lowering costs and getting after high housing prices," Healey said in a video posted to social media. 

The measure, which takes effect Aug. 1, will require landlords to cover the cost of broker fees unless a renter is the one to hire the broker first. "Between first and last month's rent, a security deposit and a broker's fee — moving to a new apartment was breaking the bank for far too many Massachusetts residents," Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll said Wednesday.

Don't read too much into that past tense. While the policy change will put some money back into the hands of renters — one month's rent, up front — and is backed by housing advocates across the state, it alone won't make housing affordability challenges in Massachusetts a thing of the past or rein in high rents. 

It's also not altogether surprising — Healey has been on record supporting the policy since January. After the Senate first pushed unsuccessfully to rein in broker fees last year, the governor included similar language in her budget, and all lawmaking power players got on board this time around.  

The governor will need to act on the massive, wide-ranging budget sitting on her desk by July 10. That could also involve sending vetoes back to lawmakers — Massachusetts is seeing its fiscal picture fluctuate as the congressional reconciliation bill works its way through Capitol Hill, and the governor could be forced to make some potentially unpopular decisions as a result.

Healey's also fixing her footing on her quest for reelection — and is slated to run against a Republican who bashes most of her policy rollouts. One of the Republicans in the running, former Charlie Baker T executive Brian Shortsleeve, said Healey was "grabbing headlines instead of offering real help" by adjusting the broker fee policy.  

"It just shifts the cost onto tenants in the form of higher rents," Shortsleeve wrote in a statement to MASSterList. "Once again, Healey pretends to fix a problem while working families are stuck holding the bag."

Any other policies in the state budget catch your eye? Get in touch: [email protected].

Jobs continue below the fold — post a job

12:00 | Boston Harborfest hosts musical performances through 5 p.m. celebrating the 250th anniversary of the founding of the U.S. Army. There will be special performances from the 215th Army Band of the Massachusetts Army National Guard | Downtown Crossing | More Info

LISA FIELD CLINCHES SEAT: A recount of a tight race for state representative in a district that encompasses parts of Taunton and Easton has left the outcome unchanged, but the margin slightly tighter. Democrat Lisa Field beat Republican Larry Quintal by 15 votes. On election night, she appeared to have won by 17 votes. Some 1,990 votes were cast in the race. — Taunton Gazette

HOW COULD TRUMP TAX BILL HIT HEALTH CARE? Cuts to Medicaid in President Trump's "One Big, Beautiful Bill" over the next 10 years could physically and financially impact millions of Americans. Five potential effects include that many people on Medicaid would need to get jobs, attend school or volunteer; people in rural America will get less care; obtaining and keeping Affordable Care Act coverage will be harder; Medicaid beneficiaries will pay more to see doctors; and some immigrants would lose access to subsidized plans. — WBUR

RECORD GRANT TO THE MASS AUDUBON RESCINDED: The Trump Administration rescinded what had been a record grant in the history of the Mass. Audubon Society. The $25 million grant was intended to protect 10,000 acres along the Connecticut River and restore about 100 acres of habitat. The grant was to be paired with $22.5 million in private funds and, among other things, would have preserved forestry operations on the land. — Daily Hampshire Gazette

MOULTON FILES ICE-RELATED MEASURE: Congressman Seth Moulton filed an amendment Tuesday to the reconciliation bill in Congress that would prohibit overnight stays at U.S. ICE field offices like the office in Burlington, where detainees have reported sleeping on floors with little food and no showers. — WBUR

FENWAY INSTITUTE LOSES $3M: The research arm of Fenway Health, which is a community health center focused on caring for the LGBTQ+ community, lost 15 research greats and several education, public health and advocacy grants from the National Institutes of Health. Leadership called the roughly $3 million loss “a huge hit” to the group’s bottom line. — Boston Business Journal

WU OFFICIAL CLEARED: A probe into allegations that Segun Idowu, Boston’s chief of economic opportunity and inclusion, partook in misconduct concluded that he did not violate any city policies. The investigation was sparked by allegations made to the Globe alleging that Idowu made sexual advances toward someone while the two both worked for the city of Boston. The one who alleged wrongdoing declined to cooperate with the formal investigation.  — Boston Globe

LAB MARKET GOING DOWN THE (TEST) TUBES: A few years ago, the market for laboratory space was so hot that offices were being converted into work spaces for scientists. Now the tombstones commemorating the demise of that market can be found not only in Boston and Somerville, but in once-untouchable Cambridge. At least two dozen new buildings are unfilled. —  Boston Business Journal

_{– Sponsored by Eversource Energy –}

Something was wrong. The due date for their twins was still months away. Twenty-six weeks was far too soon. With emotions and fear running high, Molly and Maddy Needham were born weighing less than two pounds, and it wasn’t until day seven that their parents were able to hold their daughters for the first time — READ MORE

BUOYS OFF THE CONNECTICUT? For 40 years, a system of buoys on the Connecticut River near Northampton protected boaters from hard-to-see dangers, like rocks, and instructed them as to when they could not create wakes. The navigational aids aren't in place this year due to funding issues caused in part by a missed deadline for seeking help from the Legislature. The cost, borne by local communities, would have increased to around $250,000 this year after coming in around $50,000 for previous years. — Daily Hampshire Gazette

JAWS, 50 YEARS LATER: Thousands of "Jaws" fanatics from all over are making the trip to Martha's Vineyard this year to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the film and visit the Martha's Vineyard Museum exhibit. — GBH

MOST SUCCESSFUL SCHOOL TAKEOVERS PRESERVE SOME LOCAL CONTROL:  An analysis of dozens of state takeovers of school districts around the country found that arrangements that leave some decision-making in local hands produce the best results. This was the case overall, and also when researchers looked at three Massachusetts districts that were taken over by the state. Two large groups of Massachusetts teachers unions were critical of the findings, as the unions want the state to lose the power to take over underperforming districts. — CommonWealth Beacon

Eric Convey contributed to this edition.

Mass. cannabis lab ordered to suspend operations

Do you have an open job you'd like to feature here? Click here to place a job board order, or email Dylan Rossiter at [email protected].

Senior Human Resources Generalist, City of Newton

Administrative and Operations Coordinator, Health Equity Compact

Paralegal, Office of the Massachusetts Attorney General

Deputy Division Chief, Office of the Massachusetts Attorney General

Managing Attorney, Office of the Massachusetts Attorney General

DUA Board of Review Member, Department of Unemployment Assistance

Major Gifts Officer, UTEC

Assistant Attorney General, Office of the Massachusetts Attorney General

Senior Reporter, CommonWealth Beacon

Legislative Analyst, Massachusetts Municipal Association

Senior Planner, Town of Swampscott

Vice President of Programs, Nurtury Early Education

Health Inspector, Town of Amherst

Director of Finance and Administration, Public Works, City of Newton

Senior Transportation Engineer, City of Newton

Worker’s Compensation and Safety Coordinator, City of Framingham

President & CEO, New England Village

Operations Director, Stop Predatory Gambling

Senior Planner, City of Malden