(LIONEL BONAVENTURE/AFP/Getty Images)
BOSTON (WBZ-AM) -- With the clock ticking toward the end of this year's legislative session, the Massachusetts House and Senate reached an agreement on a measure to tax and regulate short-term rentals like AirBnB.
In this bill, somebody renting out their property on AirBnB will have to pay the same tax rate as hotels and motels.
Boston State Rep. Aaron Michlewitz, who was one of the lawmakers responsible for moving on this short-term rental bill, told WBZ NewsRadio's Carl Stevens the measure is all about leveling the playing field.
"We wanted to set some equity related to the hotel industry, which has a whole host of barriers that they have to climb through," Michlewitz said. "So you want to have some type of equity related to the hotel industry versus the short-term rental industry, and some of that comes with taxation."
The bill, which now goes to Gov. Charlie Baker's desk, contains something the governor wanted--an exemption for anyone renting their place for 14 days or less in a year.
WBZ NewsRadio's Carl Stevens (@carlwbz) reports