Housing

passed · Massachusetts · House Nov 6, 2025

H 1500: An Act addressing affordable housing

This bill creates a special commission to review Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency's (MHFA) performance on affordable and low-income housing in gateway cities. The commission, consisting of three members appointed by the Governor, Senate President, and House Speaker, will assess MHFA's work over the past five years and recommend improvements. The commission must begin its review within 30 days of the bill's effective date and submit a report with recommendations to both legislative chambers within one year. The bill does not change housing programs but establishes a formal process for evaluating MHFA's effectiveness in targeted communities.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill title explicitly addresses affordable housing; references MHFA (housing finance agency), indicating funding/support for housing initiatives per topic indicators.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Housing Finance

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passed · Massachusetts · House Nov 5, 2025

H 1560: An Act setting a housing production goal for the Commonwealth

This bill establishes a statewide goal for Massachusetts to produce 400,000 new housing units by 2040, including 80,000 affordable units for households earning under 80% of the Area Median Income (with specific targets of 20,000 for under 60% and 20,000 supportive housing units for under 30%). It requires the Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities to annually report to state legislators on progress toward these goals, including breakdowns by unit type (market-rate, accessible, senior, and affordability tiers). The reports must also track foreign property purchases and short-term rentals. This directly affects state housing agencies, local municipalities, and developers by setting measurable targets and mandating transparency.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingSets housing production goal to increase supply, directly advancing affordable housing development without restrictions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing

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in committee · Massachusetts · House Dec 1, 2025

H 4694: An Act relative to increasing affordable and public housing options

This bill (H 4694) amends Chapter 40A of Massachusetts law to explicitly allow housing authorities to develop affordable or public housing, expanding eligibility beyond current entities like corporations. It directly affects municipal housing authorities and developers working with them, enabling them to create new affordable housing projects under existing legal frameworks. The key change adds housing authorities to the list of entities permitted to pursue affordable housing development under Chapter 40A. This is a technical update to existing law, not a new funding program or major policy shift.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill explicitly expands affordable housing development by allowing housing authorities to create projects under existing law, directly increasing options per title and summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Property Development

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passed · Massachusetts · House Nov 6, 2025

H 1485: An Act to promote affordable housing

This bill requires Massachusetts municipalities to create and maintain a 5-year Housing Production Plan to increase affordable housing. It mandates plans include a housing needs assessment, specific annual goals (requiring at least a 0.5% annual increase in subsidized housing units), and implementation strategies like zoning changes or preferred development types. Municipalities must submit these plans to the Department of Housing and Community Development for approval, and can seek certification once they meet their annual housing production target. The plan must address local demographics, infrastructure capacity, and include strategies for creating affordable units across different housing types.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill title and summary explicitly state 'promote affordable housing' and 'comprehensive housing needs assessment' to advance housing access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing

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passed · Massachusetts · House Nov 6, 2025

H 1566: An Act relative to residential assistance for families in transition (RAFT)

This bill creates the Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) program to prevent homelessness for low-income households. It provides cash benefits or services to families at or below area median income who face eviction, foreclosure, or utility shut-offs within 12 months, without requiring prior legal notices or shut-off warnings. Benefits cover past-due rent/mortgage (up to actual debt) or future payments for up to 12 months' rent, with 50% of funds reserved for households earning ≤30% of area median income. The program specifically serves families with children under 21, elders, people with disabilities, and unaccompanied youth. The Department of Housing must annually report detailed data on program usage, demographics, and outcomes to state legislative committees.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill mandates state department to administer residential assistance for homelessness prevention, directly supporting affordable housing access and prevention programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Community Development Homelessness Tenant Rights

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passed · Massachusetts · House Nov 6, 2025

H 1472: An Act relative to increasing affordable and public housing options

HD 1677 amends Chapter 40a of the General Laws to allow housing authorities, alongside corporations, to develop affordable or public housing. This directly affects housing authorities and developers seeking to build such housing by expanding the list of eligible entities under state law. The key provision adds "or by a housing authority" to existing language, broadening who can create these housing options. This policy change aims to increase the number of organizations authorized to contribute to affordable housing development.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill explicitly aims to increase affordable/public housing options, directly aligning with support indicators like advancing housing access and funding solutions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Housing Finance Tenant Rights

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passed · Massachusetts · House Nov 6, 2025

H 1471: An Act promoting geographic equity in state-funded housing development

This bill requires Massachusetts state agencies to track and report on whether housing development funding is distributed fairly across different regions. It mandates the Executive Office of Housing to collect specific data - including housing projects per municipality, unit types, affordability levels, and funding amounts - across all state-funded housing programs from 2025 to 2029. Agencies must submit two reports (in 2028 and 2035) detailing geographic equity, including per capita data and funding breakdowns, while keeping small projects (under 3 units) confidential. The law directly affects state housing agencies and quasi-public entities managing housing funds, ensuring transparency in how resources reach communities statewide.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill promotes geographic equity in state-funded housing development, ensuring fair allocation of resources to advance affordable housing access across regions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Housing Finance Property Development

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passed · Massachusetts · House Nov 6, 2025

H 1473: An Act to expand housing opportunities through homesharing

H 1473, titled "An Act to expand housing opportunities through homesharing," is a bill focused on increasing available housing options. Based on the provided information, it is relative to homesharing, suggesting it aims to facilitate arrangements where individuals share their homes to create new housing opportunities. The specific mechanisms or provisions for how it would achieve this are not detailed in the provided context.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill explicitly aims to expand housing opportunities through homesharing, directly increasing affordable housing options without restrictions or opposition indicators.95% confidence

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passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 16, 2026

H 216: An Act improving emergency housing assistance for children and families experiencing homelessness

By Representative Decker of Cambridge, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 216) of Marjorie C. Decker, Lindsay N. Sabadosa and Samantha Montaño relative to 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 families, directly addressing homelessness and strengthening housing support for vulnerable populations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Homelessness Tenant Rights

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Dec 8, 2025

S 968: An Act promoting access to counsel and housing stability in Massachusetts

SD 1771 establishes a statewide Access to Counsel Program in Massachusetts to provide free legal representation to low-income tenants and owner-occupants facing housing-related legal actions, such as evictions or termination of housing subsidies. Eligible individuals must qualify as indigent (e.g., receiving public assistance, earning ≤80% of area median income, or unable to afford legal fees without hardship). The program, funded by dedicated state appropriations and administered by the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation, requires landlords to provide a standardized form explaining legal aid eligibility to tenants. Designated nonprofit organizations will deliver full legal counsel through partner attorneys, with oversight from an advisory committee and a phased 5-year implementation.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticePromotes right to counsel pilot program, directly advancing criminal justice reform by protecting defendants' rights and ensuring fair representation in court.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill promotes housing stability and homelessness prevention through a right to counsel pilot program, directly addressing tenant protections and housing access in Massachusetts.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Homelessness Tenant Rights

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