Housing (Affordable Housing)

introduced · Massachusetts · Senate

SD 1809: An Act improving municipal access to general existing housing data

This bill requires the executive office to create a centralized, machine-readable database containing detailed housing data for developments with subsidized units across Massachusetts. It mandates reporting of specific information for both new and existing subsidized housing, including unit counts, income restriction tiers (80%, 50%, 30% of area median income), unit features (bedrooms, square footage), and geocoded locations. Municipalities, state agencies, and regional public entities will gain standardized access to this annual database to inform housing planning and policy. The database must be updated yearly and remain screen-reader compatible, with key changes effective December 2027.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill creates centralized database for subsidized housing data, enabling better planning and resource allocation for affordable housing programs.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3292: An Act relative to a first-time homebuyer tax credit

This bill creates a refundable tax credit for Massachusetts first-time homebuyers to cover actual closing costs. It directly affects Massachusetts residents who haven't owned a home in the past three years and paid closing costs (like appraisal, attorney, or inspection fees) when purchasing a home. The credit provides money back toward those specific closing costs, refundable even if the buyer owes no state income tax. The policy changes are concrete: it mandates a credit equal to the buyer's documented closing costs, not a fixed dollar amount.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRefundable tax credit directly provides tax relief to first-time homebuyers (middle-income residents), reducing closing costs burden. Explicit tax policy change aligns with support indicators.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingProvides refundable tax credit to cover closing costs for first-time homebuyers, reducing financial barriers to affordable homeownership in Massachusetts.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Procurement Affordable Housing Homeownership

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3716: An Act restoring the Commonwealth's public housing

This bill (HD 3716) streamlines public housing development and preservation in Massachusetts. It allows housing authorities to use "controlled entities" for construction without standard procurement rules (following federal requirements), provides tax exemptions for income-restricted housing units (with prorated payments for non-exempt portions), and enables authorities to borrow against future capital funds for maintenance. The bill directly affects public housing authorities and residents living in income-restricted units across the Commonwealth. These changes aim to simplify project development, reduce costs, and ensure long-term preservation of affordable housing.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides tax exemptions for income-restricted housing units, aligning with tax relief for lower-income housing and funding public housing development.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingStreamlines public housing development, provides tax exemptions for income-restricted units, and enables borrowing for maintenance - directly advancing affordable housing preservation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Procurement Affordable Housing Housing Finance Property Development

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3703: An Act ensuring continued rights for public housing residents

This bill (HD 3703) protects current public housing residents in Massachusetts during project transfers or redevelopment. It requires that tenants maintain all original rights under federal, state, and local subsidy programs - including lease terms, eviction protections, and privacy rights - unless necessary for financing or program eligibility. The law prohibits re-screening existing tenants, reducing their assistance, or displacing them from affordable housing, and mandates that redevelopment preserves the same number of low-rent units. Housing authorities must implement these protections through contracts detailing tenant input processes, monitoring compliance, and ensuring no displacement occurs, with tenants able to enforce these terms as third-party beneficiaries.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingProtects tenant rights during redevelopment by maintaining lease terms, eviction protections, and preventing displacement of public housing residents.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Community Development Tenant Rights

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 4067: An Act relative to senior and non-elderly disabled housing

This bill creates a 15-member advisory commission to study safety protocols and best practices in state-subsidized housing for seniors and non-elderly disabled residents. The commission will include members appointed by the Governor, legislative leaders, and housing/disability advocacy groups. It does not change existing housing laws or funding but mandates a 45-day study to inform future policy. The committee's findings will directly inform state housing practices affecting vulnerable residents.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill creates commission to study safety/best practices in state-subsidized housing for vulnerable seniors/disabled residents, aiming to improve future housing policies for affordable housing users.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing

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introduced · Massachusetts · Senate

SD 2570: An Act relative to housing developments in small communities

This bill exempts Massachusetts towns with fewer than 30,000 residents from Chapter 40B housing requirements. It requires any proposed 40B housing project in these small towns to gain approval from at least 70% of voters in a town election. Current Chapter 40B projects in qualifying communities would be paused until the legislature acts. The bill directly affects small towns and housing developers seeking to build under Chapter 40B. It changes the process by adding voter approval as a mandatory step for new projects.

Topics ✗ HousingOpposes HousingBill restricts 40B housing development in small towns by requiring 70% voter approval and pausing existing projects, directly limiting affordable housing access.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 4213: An Act relative to rental credits

HD 4213 allows Massachusetts cities and towns to offer property tax credits to landlords who provide reduced rents to specific tenants: seniors aged 65+ or tenants permanently and totally disabled (who qualify for federal benefits like Social Security, Railroad Retirement, or military retirement). The bill enables local governments to set their own eligibility rules, credit amounts, and duration for this tax incentive. It directly affects landlords who rent to eligible seniors or disabled tenants, and local governments that choose to implement the program. The policy change provides a concrete tax benefit for qualifying rental properties without mandating participation by any municipality.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates property tax credits for landlords serving seniors/disabled tenants, providing tax relief through municipal incentives to support vulnerable populations.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill creates tax incentives for landlords providing reduced rents to seniors/disabled tenants, directly increasing affordable housing access for vulnerable groups.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Incentives Affordable Housing Landlords Property Taxes

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 2869: An Act relative to PILOT agreements on replaced public housing

This bill exempts replacement public housing units from property taxes and special assessments, directly affecting housing authorities and private entities developing new public housing. It requires these entities to pay "payments in lieu of taxes" (PILOT) for the exempt portion, calculated using a formula based on the ratio of replacement unit square footage to total building square footage. The exemption applies only to the specific replacement units and associated common areas, with the PILOT amount determined by the same valuation method used for the housing authority's other properties in the city or town.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExempts public housing replacement units from property taxes while requiring PILOT payments, supporting public housing development through tax incentives for affordable housing.92% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingExempts replacement public housing units from property taxes, reducing development costs for affordable housing projects and requiring PILOT payments to maintain funding for public housing programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Incentives Affordable Housing Historic Preservation Property Taxes

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3254: An Act requiring Safe Harbor exceptions to the MBTA Communities Act

This bill amends Massachusetts law to exempt certain communities from specific requirements of the MBTA Communities Act. Communities that already qualify for "safe harbor" status under the state's affordable housing law (M.G.L. c. 40B) will no longer need to meet additional housing requirements under M.G.L. c. 40A, Section 3A. The key change is a direct exemption for these communities from Section 3A’s housing development mandates, streamlining compliance for municipalities already meeting 40B standards. This affects local governments in Massachusetts that have met the safe harbor criteria under the 40B housing law.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingExempts communities meeting 40B from redundant housing mandates, streamlining affordable housing compliance without reducing requirements.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Property Development

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introduced · Massachusetts · Senate

SD 1982: An Act to transform the Commonwealth’s emergency response system and create housing strategies to end the homelessness of unaccompanied adults

SD 1982 requires Massachusetts' Executive Office of Housing to conduct a study on future shelter and housing needs using population-based ratios to determine required capacity for permanent supportive housing and non-congregate shelters (individual rooms with doors, not dorm-style). It mandates a 5-year plan to build new non-congregate shelters and permanent supportive housing (subsidized housing with support services), prioritizing conversion of existing congregate shelters where feasible. The bill specifically directs the creation of targeted housing strategies for unaccompanied adults experiencing homelessness, with priority for elderly, disabled, medically complex, and LGBTQ+ individuals, including exploring modular construction and repurposed hotels. This legislation directly affects unaccompanied homeless adults in Massachusetts and aims to shift the state's emergency response system away from congregate shelter models.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingMandates 5-year plan for new non-congregate shelters and permanent supportive housing, prioritizing conversion of existing shelters to address homelessness and increase housing capacity.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Homelessness

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