Massachusetts panel hears testimony on manufactured home insurance crisis, fire cisterns

BOSTON — January 13, 2026 — Massachusetts Joint Committee on Financial Services hears testimony on manufactured home insurance crisis, fire cistern funding, and direct primary care access. Co-Chairs Paul R. Feeney and James M. Murphy presided over the January 13 hearing on three late-filed bills, with the bulk of testimony addressing Senate Bill S-2738, sponsored by Sen. Kelly Dooner, which would create a special commission to study skyrocketing insurance costs for manufactured home residents. Taunton Mayor Shana O'Connell and City Council President Barry Sanders testified that the city's 1,083 manufactured home residents face premiums as high as $4,000 annually and are effectively covered by just two insurance companies statewide, with Foremost Insurance withdrawing from several Massachusetts counties. Sanders urged the committee to add manufactured home residents to the proposed 12-member commission, saying the current draft omits "the most important stakeholders." On Senate Bill S-2739, fire chiefs from Hopkinton and Easthampton backed a proposed fire suppression cistern fund, while Mass Insurance Federation Executive Director Chris Stark warned that the bill's $2-per-policy surcharge would push the insurance-funded fire services line item to $55 million, up from $31 million in 2021. All bills heard are required to be reported by January 17, 2026 under Joint Rule 10.