This bill (HD 3715) updates Massachusetts law to clarify who can receive low-income housing tax credits. It replaces the term "owner" with "allocatee" throughout relevant statutes, defining an "allocatee" as either a property owner or a taxpayer committing funds to a qualified housing project. This change directly affects investors and developers who provide capital for affordable housing projects but don't own the property. The key mechanism is simply updating legal definitions to include these funding providers as eligible recipients of tax credits. The bill makes no new policy changes but streamlines the existing program's administration.
This bill would authorize Massachusetts' Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities to regulate exclusionary zoning. It requires the office to define exclusionary zoning, create a process for residents or developers to file complaints about suspected cases, and establish a review mechanism. If the office determines a municipality is using exclusionary zoning, it could take over that municipality's zoning authority for at least four years. After this period, the municipality could petition to regain control of its zoning. The bill directly affects Massachusetts municipalities whose zoning practices are found to exclude lower-income housing options.
This bill creates a property tax break for homeowners who make specific modifications to their homes to accommodate elderly or disabled tenants. It allows a $500 annual reduction in property taxes for improvements made to provide housing for someone aged 60 or older, or a disabled person (as defined in the bill), who is not the home's owner. The home must have been a single or multi-family residence with no more than three units before the changes, and the homeowner must annually confirm the tenant's eligibility. The exemption ends if the tenant no longer lives there and cannot be claimed more than once per year by a single homeowner.
This bill (HD 2889) updates Massachusetts' lead law to require landlords to eliminate lead hazards in rental properties before leasing. Starting July 1, 2026, landlords in designated "High Risk Communities" (areas with high childhood lead exposure rates) must abate lead paint or materials before renting, regardless of whether children under 6 live there. By July 1, 2030, this requirement expands to all rental properties statewide. The bill also prohibits landlords from suing parents for lead exposure and adds housing justice expertise to oversight boards.
HD 976 modifies Massachusetts housing laws to require zip code-level area median income (AMI) calculations in cities with over 100,000 residents for affordable housing programs. It amends multiple statutes (including Chapters 40R, 40T, 121B, and 62) to replace city-wide AMI standards with zip code-specific income thresholds for housing projects, developments, or households in large municipalities. This change directly affects affordable housing providers, developers, and residents in cities like Boston, Worcester, and Springfield by adjusting income eligibility criteria based on specific neighborhoods. The bill updates existing housing affordability rules without creating new programs or changing overall funding mechanisms.
HD 2049 creates a new real estate licensing board in Massachusetts with specific requirements to combat housing discrimination. It mandates that real estate brokers and salespeople complete mandatory fair housing training (4 hours for new applicants, 4 hours during license renewal) and requires the board to publicly report discrimination complaints and disciplinary actions quarterly. The bill also updates enforcement by extending license suspensions for repeat violations of fair housing laws from 90 to 180 days and requires the board to suspend licenses following final court findings of discrimination. This directly affects licensed real estate professionals in Massachusetts through new training, reporting, and disciplinary requirements.
This bill amends zoning thresholds in Lowell to potentially increase housing production. It reduces specific numerical limits in existing law: changing "45" to "40" (Section 1), "180" to "187" (Section 2), and "81" to "75" (Section 3). These changes adjust development requirements for housing projects in Lowell, directly affecting developers and city planners. The bill modifies technical thresholds without specifying new policy outcomes, focusing solely on adjusting existing numerical parameters in zoning regulations.
This bill creates a new Office of Tenant Protections within Massachusetts' Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities. It directly affects tenants and landlords by establishing a dedicated office to enforce existing minimum housing standards for habitability (defined in state regulations). The office gains authority to inspect properties, issue noncompliance orders, hold hearings, and impose fines for violations of these standards, working alongside health departments. Final enforcement decisions will be subject to judicial appeal, following procedures similar to those for health board decisions. The bill does not create new housing standards but formalizes enforcement of current regulations (105 CMR 410.000 and 940 CMR 3.17).
This bill creates the GREEN Initiative to retrofit existing low- and moderate-income housing in designated "gateway" municipalities (or smaller qualifying communities) to meet ultra-energy-efficient standards. It requires retrofits to use clean heating (like heat pumps) and cooking technologies (like induction stoves), with priority for buildings under six housing units. Funding comes from utility companies (up to $30 million annually) and other sources, while protecting tenants from rent hikes tied to weatherization work through enforceable "tenant-owner agreements." The goal is to reduce emissions in affordable housing through energy-efficient upgrades powered by renewable electricity where possible.
By Mr. Lewis, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1152) of Jason M. Lewis and Mark C. Montigny for legislation relative to the termination of rental agreements or tenancy by certain tenants. The Judiciary.
