Housing

passed · Massachusetts · Senate Mar 10, 2025

SD 2347: An Act improving emergency housing assistance for children and families experiencing homelessness

By Mr. Gomez, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 136) of Adam Gomez for legislation to improve emergency housing assistance for children and families experiencing homelessness. Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill explicitly improves emergency housing assistance for homeless children/families, directly addressing homelessness and strengthening support for vulnerable housing needs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Homelessness

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SD 2594: An Act creating an interagency supportive housing finance and strategy board

By Mr. Feeney, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 991) of Paul R. Feeney for legislation to create a interagency supportive housing finance and strategy board to end and prevent homelessness. Housing.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingCreates interagency board to end homelessness via supportive housing finance, directly advancing affordable housing initiatives per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Homelessness Housing Finance

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SD 1952: An Act relative to the creation of a chapter 40B commission

By Ms. Rausch, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1023) of Rebecca L. Rausch for legislation to create a chapter 40B commission to investigate and study the issuance of permits and approvals for housing projects. Housing.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingCreates commission to study housing permit approvals, aiming to improve development processes and address housing access challenges.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SD 1305: An Act to further regulate tenant fees in rental housing

By Mr. Eldridge, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 984) of James B. Eldridge for legislation to regulate junk fees in rental housing. Housing.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingRegulates excessive tenant fees (junk fees), strengthening tenant protections and reducing financial barriers in rental housing.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Landlords Renters Tenant Rights

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SD 2368: An Act establishing the missing-middle starter home development and home ownership program

By Mr. Feeney, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 989) of Paul R. Feeney for legislation to establish the missing-middle starter home development and home ownership program. Housing.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingEstablishes missing-middle starter home program to increase affordable housing development and ownership opportunities, directly advancing affordable housing goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Homeownership Property Development Zoning

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SD 2242: An Act relative to housing in seasonal communities

This bill (SD 2242) creates new requirements for seasonal communities (like coastal towns) to increase year-round housing options. It requires developers building 10+ units to set aside 3 units as affordable housing or pay fees ($7,500-$15,000/unit), funds the "year-round housing trust fund" via a 1.5% restaurant meal tax surcharge, and changes zoning rules to allow smaller year-round housing units. Municipalities must adopt zoning that permits year-round housing as a right and adjust property taxes based on occupancy. These changes directly affect seasonal communities, developers, school districts, and year-round residents seeking affordable housing.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesImposes 1.5% restaurant meal tax surcharge to fund year-round housing trust, directly advancing public service funding through new tax revenue.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingMandates 3 affordable units per 10+ developments, funds housing trust via meal tax, and changes zoning to expand year-round housing access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Fees & Licensing Affordable Housing Housing Finance Zoning

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SD 2104: An Act relative to the housing development incentive program

By Mr. Cronin, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1946) of John J. Cronin, Vanna Howard, James K. Hawkins and John F. Keenan for legislation relative to the housing development incentive program. Revenue.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill references 'Revenue' for housing development incentives, typically involving tax credits/relief to promote affordable housing, aligning with tax relief indicators.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill establishes a housing development incentive program to promote new construction, directly supporting housing supply expansion and development goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Development

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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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