Housing

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 2350: An Act relative to transfer of actions to the housing court

HD 2350 amends a Massachusetts law to clarify deadlines for transferring housing-related court cases to the specialized housing court. It requires that any motion or notice to transfer such cases must be filed either with the defendant's initial answer or within 90 days of being served with legal papers. This directly affects landlords and tenants involved in housing disputes who seek to move their case to housing court. The key change streamlines the process by setting a clear, fixed deadline to prevent delays in case handling.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingClarifies deadlines for housing court transfers, streamlining tenant-landlord dispute resolution to protect rights and prevent case delays.85% confidence

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 2522: An Act to promote housing stability

This bill (HD 2522) changes eviction court procedures to help tenants facing eviction. It requires courts to pause eviction proceedings if tenants meet specific conditions, instead ordering them to pay the fair market rent into a court-controlled escrow account during the case. Landlords or tenants can request this escrow, and courts must schedule a prompt hearing on the motion. If tenants fail to pay into escrow, the case moves to a trial immediately. The law directly affects tenants in eviction cases and landlords seeking possession of rental properties.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingPrevents immediate evictions via escrow payments, strengthening tenant protections and promoting housing stability as directly stated in the bill title and summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Renters Tenant Rights

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introduced · Massachusetts · Senate

SD 1591: An Act to further empower local climate action

This bill (SD 1591) amends Massachusetts' climate demonstration project rules to allow up to 20 cities and towns to participate (increasing the limit from 10). It requires participating cities/towns to first meet housing affordability standards - either by meeting a 10% affordable housing threshold under Chapter 40B or approving zoning that permits multi-family housing without age restrictions for families with children. Cities that already met the housing threshold by December 21, 2020, are exempt from this requirement. The Department of Energy Resources must issue implementing regulations by July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentExpands climate demonstration project to 20 cities/towns, directly advancing climate action. Requires housing standards but core purpose strengthens environmental efforts through increased local climate initiatives.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingRequires cities to meet 10% affordable housing threshold or approve multi-family zoning to join climate projects, directly advancing housing affordability standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Zoning

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3293: An Act relative to a first-time homebuyer tax deduction

This bill creates a tax deduction for Massachusetts first-time homebuyers equal to their closing costs. It defines "first-time homebuyer" as a resident who hasn't owned a home in the past three years and specifies "closing costs" to include fees like appraisals, inspections, attorney fees, and recording charges. The deduction applies directly to eligible buyers when filing state taxes, reducing their taxable income by the amount of qualifying closing expenses. This policy change aims to lower upfront costs for new homebuyers in Massachusetts.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates tax deduction for first-time homebuyers, reducing taxable income and providing tax relief to middle-income residents per bill summary.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill creates tax deduction for first-time homebuyers to cover closing costs, directly lowering purchase barriers and advancing affordable housing access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Homeownership

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3566: An Act relative to veterans benefits

HD 3566 ensures that increases in state veterans' benefits are not counted as income when determining eligibility for public housing or other public assistance programs. It directly affects veterans receiving state veterans benefits who also apply for public housing, food assistance, or similar support. The bill amends state law to exclude any increase in veterans' benefits from income calculations used by public assistance programs. This prevents veterans from losing access to essential support due to higher veterans' benefits, maintaining their eligibility without requiring them to reduce their veterans' aid.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingExcludes veterans' benefit increases from income calculations, preventing loss of public housing eligibility and strengthening access to housing support.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill explicitly excludes veterans' benefit increases from income calculations for public assistance, preventing loss of housing/food aid and strengthening access to support systems.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Benefits Veteran Education Veteran Housing

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3838: An Act to expand designation of priority development sites

HD 3838 expands how Massachusetts municipalities can designate "priority development sites" for streamlined permitting. It requires properties to be approved by town meetings or included in specific plans like community development plans (which must cover housing, infrastructure, climate resiliency, and economic development), or approved by planning boards. Municipalities seeking designation must submit formal proposals including property details and owner authorization, and may request technical assistance grants. The bill also creates a new 2-year technical assistance program for towns to develop required community plans, with funding available for municipalities that have already permitted one priority site. This directly affects cities and towns aiming to accelerate housing and economic development projects.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill mandates climate resiliency in community development plans for designated sites, directly linking development to environmental protection requirements.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingExpands streamlined permitting for housing-focused development sites via community plans requiring housing inclusion, advancing housing supply development.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Community Development Property Development Zoning

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 4158: An Act providing for pre-service training for members of mobile home rent control boards

This bill requires the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities to create an annual training program for all members of mobile home rent control boards, including both new and existing members. The training must be offered free of charge in multiple accessible locations across the state, as well as online, and must be developed with input from the Massachusetts Municipal Association. It directly affects local board members who oversee rent regulations for mobile home communities. The program aims to standardize knowledge and procedures for these boards through mandatory, accessible education.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingMandates training for mobile home rent control boards to ensure effective rent regulation, strengthening tenant protections in affordable housing.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Renters

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introduced · Massachusetts · Senate

SD 520: An Act relative to protecting veterans

This bill amends Massachusetts law to expand existing disability protections to include veterans. It adds "or veteran status" to three specific legal definitions in Chapter 272, ensuring veterans who qualify as "physically handicapped" or meet disability criteria under these laws receive the same protections. The change directly affects veterans who fall under these definitions in areas like housing and public accommodations, without creating new programs or funding.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill extends disability protections to veterans in housing, ensuring they receive same tenant protections as physically handicapped under existing laws per summary.85% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransExpands disability protections to include veterans under existing housing/public accommodations laws, ensuring equal treatment without new funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Housing

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introduced · Massachusetts · House Jan 29, 2025

HD 4325: A monthly report of the Executive Office of the Trial Court (under Section 15 of Chapter 239 of the General Laws, as amended by Section 64 of Chapter 28 of the Acts of 2023) submitting its report on filings, actions, and dispositions of summary process cases relative to permanent rental protections

HD 4325 requires the Executive Office of the Trial Court to submit a monthly report on eviction-related court cases involving permanent rental protections. The report must detail filings, actions taken, and case outcomes (dispositions) for these specific cases. This bill affects the Trial Court’s administrative reporting process but does not change existing rental protection laws or tenant rights. The requirement aims to provide transparency on how these protections are applied in court proceedings.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill mandates monthly reporting on eviction cases involving permanent rental protections, ensuring transparency in enforcement of existing tenant protections without altering laws.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Renters Tenant Rights

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 815: An Act to promote housing cooperatives

HD 815 establishes the Massachusetts Center for Housing Cooperatives within the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities. The center will provide education, outreach, and research to expand resident-owned cooperative housing, particularly for low-to-moderate income residents, and coordinate resources. The bill allocates $100 million in fiscal year 2026 specifically for acquiring, rehabilitating, and preserving cooperative housing properties through agencies like the Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency. It also requires the center to issue annual reports on cooperative housing activities and fund distribution. This creates a dedicated state infrastructure to support cooperative housing development and preservation.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $100M in state budget for housing cooperative preservation, directly funding essential housing services under fiscal management.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingEstablishes center and allocates $100M to expand affordable cooperative housing for low-to-moderate income residents, directly funding housing development and affordability.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Housing Finance Property Development

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