Housing (Affordable Housing)

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 4362: An Act authorizing the town of Wellfleet to establish a real estate transfer fee

HD 4362 authorizes the Town of Wellfleet to impose a 1% real estate transfer fee on both buyers and sellers for property transfers within the town. The fee is collected at closing, with the first $50,000 annually deposited into the town's Capital Improvement Stabilization Fund and remaining funds directed to the Wellfleet Affordable Housing Trust. Key exemptions include first-time homebuyers (with a lien requirement), government transfers, family transfers, charitable organizations, and sales under $100. The bill requires sellers and buyers to pay the fee regardless of private agreements, mandates a certificate of payment for property records, and requires annual reporting on fee collections and housing program funding. This directly affects all residential and commercial property buyers and sellers in Wellfleet.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill directs real estate transfer fee funds to Wellfleet Affordable Housing Trust, explicitly funding affordable housing initiatives through dedicated revenue streams.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 4207: An Act addressing international real estate speculation

HD 4207 imposes a 15% fee on nonresident purchasers (individuals not U.S. citizens/nationals) buying real estate in Massachusetts cities or towns that adopt the law. The fee, paid by the buyer at closing, must be accompanied by an affidavit and certificate to clear title registration. Exemptions apply if the property is used as the buyer’s principal residence, and collected fees fund local affordable housing trust funds. Failure to pay incurs 14% annual interest and a 5% monthly penalty (capped at 25% of the fee).

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingImposes 15% fee on nonresident buyers to fund local affordable housing trust funds, directly advancing housing affordability through dedicated revenue.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 495: An Act limiting rent increases and creating a rental arbitrator

HD 495 limits annual rent increases for most residential tenants to 5% plus the consumer price index or 10%, whichever is lower, affecting landlords and tenants in non-subsidized housing. Landlords may exceed this limit only with written justification for major improvements (like structural repairs), and tenants can appeal increases through a new rental arbitrator position in the Attorney General's office. The arbitrator must resolve disputes within 90 days, order rent refunds for violations, and impose fines up to $1,000 for repeated offenses. Landlords cannot deny lease renewals to avoid these limits, and the arbitrator must annually report on rental market trends.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingLimits rent increases to 5%+CPI or 10%, requires landlord justification for hikes, and provides tenant appeals via arbitrator, strengthening tenant protections and affordability.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Landlords Renters

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3951: An Act relative to the sale of chapter 40B properties purchased prior to the year 2010

This bill allows homeowners who purchased Chapter 40B affordable housing properties before 2010 to sell them at fair market value without maintaining the 40B status. Upon sale, the property loses its 40B designation, becomes regular market housing, and the selling town must add an equivalent number of new affordable units to compensate for the lost 40B housing. Homeowners must also pay back any reduced HOA fees they received during their ownership. The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities will implement these changes.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingRequires towns to replace sold 40B units with new affordable housing, maintaining overall affordable housing stock without reducing availability.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 4278: An Act authorizing the city of Cambridge to impose a real estate transfer fee

HD 4278 authorizes Cambridge to charge a 2% fee on real estate transfers exceeding $1 million, applying to property sales or major ownership changes in Cambridge. The fee is paid by sellers (not buyers) and excludes government transfers, affordable housing properties, and certain corrections to prior transfers. Collected by the Middlesex South registry of deeds at the time of property recording, all fees fund Cambridge's Affordable Housing Trust Fund. The exemption threshold automatically adjusts yearly based on Boston-area inflation data.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill directly funds Cambridge's Affordable Housing Trust Fund through a 2% transfer fee on high-value sales, advancing affordable housing programs as specified in the summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Housing Finance

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signed · Massachusetts · House Oct 8, 2025

H 4532: An Act relative to certain affordable housing and branch library space in the Dorchester section of the city of Boston

This bill exempts construction and redevelopment activities for affordable housing and a branch library at 555-559 Columbia Road in Dorchester, Boston, from standard public contracting rules (like Chapter 149). Instead, it requires adherence to specific sections of Chapter 149 (26-27H) for procurement, while allowing property acquisition costs to exceed typical limits. The exemption applies if the project uses low-income housing tax credits or federal funding, but standard rules for public works contracts still apply in those cases. The bill also specifies that transferring the project to certain nonprofit or redevelopment entities must follow Chapter 30B rules.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingExempts affordable housing construction from standard contracting rules to facilitate development using low-income tax credits, directly advancing affordable housing access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Community Development

passed · Massachusetts · House May 20, 2026

H 4415: An Act relative to certain affordable housing and cultural space in the Brighton section of the city of Boston

By Representative Michael J. Moran of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 4415) of Michael J. Moran (with the approval of the mayor and city council) relative to the procurement and award of contracts for construction of a certain affordable housing and cultural space in the Brighton section of the city of Boston. State Administration and Regulatory Oversight. [Local Approval Received.]

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill authorizes construction of affordable housing and cultural space in Brighton, Boston, directly advancing affordable housing access per title and summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing

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introduced · Massachusetts · Senate

SD 751: An Act to promote low-income access to solar

This bill (SD 751) requires Massachusetts' Department of Energy Resources to expand access to solar incentive programs for low-income renters and customers. It creates a verification process to confirm eligibility based on income thresholds (80% of area median income or 200% of federal poverty level) and includes renters in low-income housing buildings or qualifying small businesses. The law prohibits credit checks and early termination fees for residential customers, mandates monthly updates for on-bill solar credits, and exempts multi-unit low-income building owners from program participation limits. These changes aim to make solar energy benefits more accessible to historically underserved communities through concrete administrative requirements.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyExpands solar incentives for low-income renters, directly promoting renewable energy access and advancing clean energy adoption without restrictions.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingExpands solar incentives for low-income renters in housing buildings, reducing energy costs and prohibiting tenant fees - directly supports affordable housing and tenant protections.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Solar Affordable Housing

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 2541: An Act to establish a Massachusetts public bank

This bill proposes establishing a Massachusetts public bank owned by the state to manage public funds and provide affordable financing. It would directly affect state/local governments, small/middle-sized businesses (especially in underserved communities), minority/women-owned enterprises, and organizations addressing housing, climate, and racial equity. Key mechanisms include depositing state funds in the bank, using those funds for self-sustaining lending, and requiring the bank to prioritize economic development, disaster recovery, affordable housing, sustainable agriculture, climate initiatives, and support for minority-owned businesses and rural areas. The bank would be supervised by the commissioner of banks and must operate under a public business plan.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesDeposits state funds in public bank for targeted lending, advancing fiscal management and funding underserved communities per bill's mechanism.92% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill explicitly prioritizes 'organizations addressing climate' for financing, directly advancing environmental efforts through public bank lending mechanisms.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill establishes public bank to provide affordable financing, prioritizing organizations addressing housing (along with climate/racial equity), directly funding housing initiatives.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Natural Disasters Affordable Housing Property Development

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 4371: An Act authorizing the city of Somerville to impose a real estate transfer fee

Somerville would impose a 2% fee on most real estate transfers (1% paid by the seller, 1% by the buyer), with exemptions for transfers between family members, government entities, and certain vulnerable seniors or qualifying residential property owners. The fee funds the Somerville Affordable Housing Trust Fund, which must support programs like community land trusts and purpose-built housing for current or recent residents. The city must track who pays the fee and report annually on how funds are used to support housing stability and affordability. This applies to residential properties (excluding those with four+ units) and requires documentation with property deeds before recording.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill creates a fee to fund affordable housing programs including community land trusts and purpose-built housing for residents, directly advancing affordable housing goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Housing Finance

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