Housing

passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SD 1084: An Act enabling cities and towns to stabilize rents and protect tenants

By Ms. Jehlen, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1447) of Patricia D. Jehlen, Adam Gomez, Mike Connolly, Paul W. Mark and other members of the General Court for legislation to enable cities and towns to stabilize rents and protect tenants. Municipalities and Regional Government.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingEnables rent stabilization and tenant protections, directly advancing tenant rights and affordable housing access per bill title and summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tenant Rights

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3812: An Act providing for retroactive housing compliance under the MBTA Communities Act

This bill amends Massachusetts housing law to allow MBTA communities to count housing units built within the past three years toward their compliance with the MBTA Communities Act. It requires state housing guidelines to include criteria for considering these recently completed units when determining if a community meets its housing requirements. The change directly affects municipalities located near MBTA transit lines that must comply with state housing mandates. This provision retroactively includes qualifying housing construction completed up to three years before the law's effective date in compliance calculations.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingAllows MBTA communities to count recently built housing units toward compliance, facilitating housing development near transit and meeting state mandates.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Zoning

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 2259: An Act establishing an affordable housing qualification commission

HD 2259 establishes a special commission to examine recertification practices in Massachusetts' low and moderate income housing programs. The commission will investigate current policies, document management practices, and develop strategies to reduce recertification fraud affecting publicly funded housing. It must include housing officials, legislative members, and housing experts, and submit recommendations by December 31, 2026. The bill directly impacts local housing authorities and the state's publicly financed housing programs.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill creates commission to reduce recertification fraud in affordable housing programs, protecting public funds and ensuring program integrity for low/moderate income housing.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 1085: An Act to provide identification to youth and adults experiencing homelessness

HD 1085 requires Massachusetts to provide free state identification cards to homeless adults and unaccompanied homeless youth (under age 24 without stable housing or parental care). The bill mandates that state ID regulations include a fee waiver process and allow alternative proof of residency, such as documentation from homeless shelters, youth services, or state housing/human services agencies. It also requires the state registrar and secretary to create a formal agreement to implement these provisions. This directly affects individuals experiencing homelessness by removing financial and residency barriers to obtaining official identification. The policy change creates a concrete pathway for this population to access essential services requiring ID.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill provides free ID to homeless individuals, removing barriers to housing access via alternative residency proof from shelters/housing agencies, directly addressing homelessness.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Homelessness

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3730: An Act allowing municipalities to appeal zoning provisions under the MBTA Communities Act

This bill (HD 3730) creates a new appeal process for municipalities facing challenges when implementing housing development rules under the MBTA Communities Act. It requires the Department of Housing and Community Development to establish regulations allowing towns to seek relief if they cannot meet specific infrastructure or environmental requirements, such as water supply, wastewater treatment, transportation capacity, environmental impacts, or historical property protection. The appeal would apply to zoning provisions mandating housing development near transit hubs. This directly affects municipalities seeking to build housing in MBTA communities while addressing practical local constraints.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingEnables municipalities to bypass infrastructure hurdles in housing development, facilitating MBTA Communities Act compliance and increasing housing supply.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Property Development Zoning

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SD 29: An Act authorizing a local affordable housing surcharge

By Mr. Brownsberger, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1930) of William N. Brownsberger for legislation to authorize a local affordable housing surcharge. Revenue.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAuthorizes local housing surcharge (tax) to fund affordable housing, directly increasing revenue for public service under budget/tax framework.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingAuthorizes local surcharge revenue specifically for affordable housing programs, directly funding initiatives to increase housing access and affordability.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Fees & Licensing Affordable Housing

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SD 846: An Act relative to affordable housing and environmental adaptation dollars

By Mr. Eldridge, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1973) of James B. Eldridge, James K. Hawkins and Jason M. Lewis for legislation relative to the imposition of an excise tax to provide for climate change adaptation infrastructure and affordable housing investments in the Commonwealth. Revenue.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesImposes excise tax to fund climate adaptation and affordable housing, directly advancing budget allocation for public services and infrastructure.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill imposes excise tax to fund climate change adaptation infrastructure, directly supporting environmental protection through dedicated funding.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill explicitly allocates excise tax revenue to 'affordable housing investments' as a primary purpose, directly funding this topic area.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Climate Change Affordable Housing

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SD 36: An Act simplifying inclusionary zoning

By Ms. Edwards, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1441) of Lydia Edwards for legislation relative to inclusionary zones in affordable housing. Municipalities and Regional Government.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingSimplifies inclusionary zoning, requiring affordable units in new developments, directly increasing affordable housing supply.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Zoning

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3732: An Act relative to extending the requirements of the MBTA Communities Act to all cities and towns

This bill amends the definition of "MBTA community" in Massachusetts law to include every city and town in the Commonwealth. It extends the requirements of the MBTA Communities Act - currently applying to specific municipalities near transit - to all 351 cities and towns. The change is purely definitional, meaning all municipalities would now be subject to the Act's housing and development provisions. The bill does not alter the specific requirements themselves, only who they apply to. (1 sentence summary)

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingExtends MBTA housing development requirements to all 351 municipalities, advancing affordable housing access by mandating compliance with existing housing provisions across all cities/towns.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Land Use Property Development Zoning

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SD 1216: An Act enabling a local option for a real estate transfer fee to fund affordable housing

By Ms. Comerford, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1937) of Joanne M. Comerford, Adam Gomez, James B. Eldridge, Jason M. Lewis and other members of the General Court for legislation to grant a local option for a real estate transfer fee to fund affordable housing. Revenue.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates real estate transfer fee (tax) to fund affordable housing, directly increasing revenue for public service funding.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill creates local real estate transfer fee to directly fund affordable housing programs, explicitly advancing housing affordability goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing

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