Vetoed by Governor Charlie Baker

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes new tax regulations and insurance requirements on Short-Term rentals, commonly associated with the website Airbnb.

Highlights:

• Requires that operators in the short-term rental industries register their services through the executive office of housing and economic development in the state legislature (Sec. 1).

• Requires that owners and operators of short-term rental properties maintain a liability insurance coverage plan of no less than $1 million (Sec. 9).

• Establishes an excise tax on hotels and short-term rentals of a rate of 5 percent of the total amount of rent for each such occupancy and specifies that a city or town may impose a increased rate of not more than 6 percent of the rent for each such occupancy (Sec. 3).

• Specifies that the city of Boston may impose an excise tax on hotels and other short-term rentals of not more than 6.5 percent (Sec. 3).

• Prohibits an excise tax from being imposed on a hotel or short-term rental if the total amount of rent is less than $15 per day (Sec. 3).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes new tax regulations and insurance requirements on Short-Term rentals, commonly associated with the website Airbnb.

Highlights:

• Requires that operators in the short-term rental industries register their services through the executive office of housing and economic development in the state legislature (Sec. 1).

• Requires that owners and operators of short-term rental properties maintain a liability insurance coverage plan of no less than $1 million (Sec. 9).

• Establishes an excise tax on hotels and short-term rentals of a rate of 5 percent of the total amount of rent for each such occupancy and specifies that a city or town may impose a increased rate of not more than 6 percent of the rent for each such occupancy (Sec. 3).

• Specifies that the city of Boston may impose an excise tax on hotels and other short-term rentals of not more than 6.5 percent (Sec. 3).

• Prohibits an excise tax from being imposed on a hotel or short-term rental if the total amount of rent is less than $15 per day (Sec. 3).

Full Bill Text