Michael Brady (politician)

After winning re-election in 2016 Senator Brady went on to chair the Committee on Revenue and Vice Chair the Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy. In just his first term as the chair on the Committee on Revenue Senator Brady was the primary sponsor for a major Property Tax Abatement that works to expand local options to help low income seniors, military personnel, and the disabled. This bill allows a city or town to expand the existing property tax deferral for senior citizens and for active military personnel. It includes the option to extend the time for higher interest payments. The bill allows a city or town through a local option to establish an interest rate on deferred taxes to less than 16% that would apply once the active military personnel or senior citizen passes away or the property is sold.

It also authorizes a city or town through local option to extend the lower interest rate of 8% on deferred taxes for at least one year after the death of seniors or military personnel who were participating in a tax deferral agreement under Clause Forty-first A and Clause Eighteenth A in Section 5 of Chapter 59 of the Massachusetts General Laws. These clauses provide for local property tax exemptions for military service personnel and their spouses as well as low income seniors. In addition, the foreclosure grace period from current 6 month window to a 1-year window, If after 1- year, the deferred tax amount has not been paid, the local treasure may petition the Land Court to foreclose the lien on the property. The bill also creates two new local option real property tax exemptions for deaf persons by providing an exemption of $5,000 of taxable valuation or $437.50 of actual taxes due, whichever is greater, or; provides an exemption of $500 of the actual taxes due. The taxpayer must own and occupy the property separately or jointly or as a tenant in common and must be a legal resident of the Commonwealth.

The bill also works to improve application deadlines for agricultural, horticultural, or recreational land. Currently, the reporting deadline for chapter land applications to apply have land valued, assessed, and taxed as agricultural, forest or recreational land is October 1 which burdens farmers during the harvest season with paperwork that could be done at a later date. This bill moves the deadline to December 1 and amends and aligns the appeals deadlines to ensure uniformity.

On June 4th 2019, Brady reached a deal with prosecutors to avoid his trial for drunk driving stemming from a March 2018 incident. He will serve probation for one year, lose his driver's license for a period of 45 days, pay $600 in court fees and fines, and attend an alcohol education program.[5]

Brady admitted that the state of Massachusetts had a preponderance of evidence to convict him, but avoided a guilty plea. The operating under the influence, charge will be dismissed by the state in a year if Brady successfully complies with the terms of probation.[6]

On November 15, 2019, the Massachusetts Senate Ethics Committee stripped Brady of his post as Senate chairman of the Committee on Public Service. This punishment will reduce the his pay by $15,000 per year. The committee allowed Brady to keep his vice-chairmanship on the Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development, which has a stipend of $5,200 per year. The committee also recommended Brady "seek out and receive professional evaluation and appropriate treatment."[7]