Housing

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3184: An Act incentivizing inclusionary zoning

This bill allows municipalities to adopt inclusionary zoning ordinances requiring new developments to include up to 13% affordable housing units. It directly affects local governments and developers building new residential projects in areas with such ordinances. Key provisions include requiring a density bonus (allowing more units than standard zoning permits) and ensuring the ordinance does not hinder overall housing production. The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities may issue guidelines to support implementation, but the bill itself sets the framework for local adoption.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingMandates 13% affordable units in new developments via inclusionary zoning, provides density bonuses to encourage housing production, and aligns with affordable housing advancement.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Property Development Zoning

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3252: An Act to promote Yes in God's Back Yard

HD 3252 allows religious organizations to build multifamily housing on their owned land without facing typical zoning restrictions. The bill specifies that such housing must meet density limits (e.g., up to 30 units per acre with 20% affordable units at ≤80% AMI), height (up to 4 stories/45 feet), setback, and parking requirements, while aligning with existing zoning if stricter. It directly affects religious organizations owning land, removing barriers to developing housing on their property. The bill also states such housing would generally be subject to property tax unless a municipality exempts it, and exempts it from additional development standards beyond state law.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingMandates 20% affordable units at ≤80% AMI for religious org housing development, directly advancing affordable housing goals by removing zoning barriers while enforcing affordability requirements.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Property Taxes Zoning

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3334: 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 mandates 5-year plans requiring 0.5% annual increase in subsidized housing units to boost affordable housing production.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Land Use Zoning

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3336: An Act relative to low-income housing eligibility for disabled veterans

This bill changes how income is calculated for disabled veterans seeking public housing. It directs housing authorities to exclude veterans' U.S. disability benefits (from 38 U.S.C. § 1101 et seq.) when determining eligibility for low-income housing programs. As a result, disabled veterans receiving these federal benefits will have a lower calculated income, making them more likely to qualify for housing assistance they might otherwise be denied. The policy directly affects disabled veterans applying for publicly assisted housing in Massachusetts.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill excludes disability benefits from income calculation for disabled veterans, lowering their eligibility threshold for low-income housing. This directly increases access to affordable housing for a vulnerable group, advancing housing assistance...95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransExcludes veterans' disability benefits from income calculation, increasing housing eligibility for disabled veterans under low-income programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Veteran Benefits Veteran Healthcare Veteran Housing

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3707: An Act encouraging public-private partnerships to create affordable housing at public sites

This bill allows cities and towns to partner with private developers or nonprofits to build mixed-use developments on public land, combining affordable housing with municipal facilities like libraries or fire stations. It requires at least 40% of housing units to be affordable for low/moderate-income households (earning ≤80% of Area Median Income per HUD standards) and mandates that cities retain ownership of the municipal facility portion in perpetuity. The bill streamlines construction by exempting projects from standard public procurement rules (while still following specific construction laws). It directly affects municipalities, developers, and low/moderate-income residents seeking affordable housing options.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill mandates 40% affordable units for low/moderate-income households on public land via public-private partnerships, directly advancing affordable housing development.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Property Development Zoning

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3594: An Act reducing CPA recording fees for affordable housing

This bill would eliminate recording fees for subordinate mortgages on affordable housing projects when extended by public or quasi-public agencies (like cities/towns or the Massachusetts Housing Partnership). It directly affects affordable housing developers and public housing entities by removing a cost barrier for these specific mortgage filings. The key change modifies two sections of Massachusetts law to exempt these mortgage filings from standard CPA recording fees. This policy shift aims to reduce administrative costs for affordable housing financing without altering housing eligibility or funding mechanisms.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingEliminates CPA recording fees for affordable housing mortgages, reducing costs for developers and public entities to advance affordable housing projects.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Housing Finance Mortgages

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3699: An Act to establish an apprenticeship program to ready vacant public housing apartments for occupancy

This bill establishes the Brooke Public Housing Apprenticeship program to train public housing residents in skills needed to prepare vacant apartments for occupancy. It requires the state housing and labor offices to create a training program developed with input from housing authorities, residents, and industry groups, focusing on job skills, placement, and long-term self-sufficiency. The program directly affects public housing residents (by offering training and jobs) and public housing authorities (by providing trained workers to prepare units efficiently). It authorizes labor department grants to fund the apprenticeship program, aiming to speed up reoccupancy while making better use of housing capital funds.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill creates apprenticeship program training public housing residents to prepare vacant apartments, directly advancing affordable housing access and resident self-sufficiency through job skills development.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentEstablishes apprenticeship program providing job skills training and placement for public housing residents, advancing employment opportunities and self-sufficiency.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Apprenticeships Workforce Development

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3386: 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 at risk of eviction, foreclosure, or utility shut-off. It directly affects families with children under 21, elders, people with disabilities, and unaccompanied youth earning at or below area median income, with 50% of funds reserved for households earning 30% or less of the area median income. The program provides cash benefits covering past-due rent/mortgage (arrearages) or future housing costs (up to 12 months’ rent), and requires coordination with housing agencies to streamline applications. An annual report must track referrals, applications, demographics, and housing outcomes for legislative review.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingCreates RAFT program providing cash benefits for rent/mortgage to prevent homelessness among low-income households, directly funding housing assistance.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Homelessness Mortgages Tenant Rights

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3179: An Act to plan, preserve, and protect

This bill creates a 5-year pilot program allowing cities and towns to apply for participation in a "tenant opportunity to purchase" initiative. It directly affects municipalities meeting specific criteria: those with at least 70% rental units, high eviction rates or Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFIT) applications, and high poverty rates. Eligible cities must apply through the Executive Office of Housing by June 2026, with up to 15 zip codes selected to test new regulations developed by the office by December 2025. The program requires annual reporting and will conclude with a final report evaluating its effectiveness for future expansion or termination.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill creates tenant opportunity to purchase program in high-rent/eviction areas, directly protecting tenants and advancing affordable housing access through municipal pilot initiatives.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Homeownership Tenant Rights

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 4092: An Act relative to improve access to rental assistance programs

HD 4092 requires Massachusetts' Executive Office of Housing to create regulations by January 1, 2024, allowing landlords to apply for rental assistance programs on behalf of their tenants. This directly affects tenants eligible for programs like the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program, Alternative Housing Voucher Program, and Rental Assistance for Families in Transition. The key provision mandates that housing authorities and contracted agencies accept these landlord-submitted applications for rental assistance. The bill aims to simplify access to housing support by removing a barrier that previously required tenants to apply directly.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill mandates regulations allowing landlords to apply for tenant rental assistance, expanding access to existing programs like Rental Voucher Program, directly advancing tenant affordability.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Landlords Renters Tenant Rights

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