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Shareable link to this chart: https://tinyurl.com/mchbills2324 Link to bill priority handout (PDF): https://mahomeless.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/2023-2024-bill-priorities-2-7-23.pdf Link to overall bill priority endorsement form for organizations: https://tinyurl.com/mch2324Actively updating this column!
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2023-2024 Session Bill NameBill NumberLink to Bill Language and HistoryLead Sponsor(s)Preliminary Bill SummaryLink to Bill Fact SheetInitial Committee AssignmentBill Hearing StatusBill Status UpdatesNotesRelated Bill Number(s) from Last Session, If ApplicableLink to Related 2021-2022 Bill Language and History, If Applicable
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An Act providing upstream homelessness prevention assistance to families, youth, and adultsHouse Bill 1312https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/H1312Representative Marjorie DeckerThis bill would put the Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) homelessness prevention program into state statute and ensure that benefits are available to families and individuals earlier in a housing or utility crisis ("upstream."). The bill also seeks to streamline access, improve cross-agency collaboration, and allow households to access up to twelve months of assistance, without arbitrary dollar caps. In addition, the bill would require the Department of Housing and Community Development to publicly post reports on RAFT to provide increased transparency on how the program is operating and greater understanding of who the program is serving and not serving.Fact sheet available here: https://mahomeless.org/current-bill-and-budget-priorities/ Joint Committee on HousingHeard on June 26, 2023. See the hearing page for more details. Awaiting action by the Joint Committee on Housing; was under an extension order filed by the committee in February 2024 (https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/H4340); an updated extension order adopted by the Senate on July 11, 2024 would extend the deadline until July 31, 2024; see https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/H4553; reported out favorably and referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means on August 15, 2024Link to organizational endorsement form: https://tinyurl.com/raft2324House Bill 1385https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/H1385
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An Act providing upstream homelessness prevention assistance to families, youth, and adultsSenate Bill 856https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/S856Senator Brendan CrightonThis bill would put the Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) homelessness prevention program into state statute and ensure that benefits are available to families and individuals earlier in a housing or utility crisis ("upstream."). The bill also seeks to streamline access, improve cross-agency collaboration, and allow households to access up to twelve months of assistance, without arbitrary dollar caps. In addition, the bill would require the Department of Housing and Community Development to publicly post reports on RAFT to provide increased transparency on how the program is operating and greater understanding of who the program is serving and not serving.Fact sheet available here: https://mahomeless.org/current-bill-and-budget-priorities/ Joint Committee on HousingHeard on June 26, 2023. See the hearing page for more details. Awaiting action by the Joint Committee on Housing; was under an extension order filed by the committee in February 2024 (https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/H4340); an updated extension order adopted by the Senate on July 11, 2024 would extend the deadline until July 31, 2024; see https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/H4553; reported out favorably and referred to the Senate Committee on Ways and Means on August 15, 2024Link to organizational endorsement form: https://tinyurl.com/raft2324House Bill 1385https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/H1385
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An Act to provide identification to youth and adults experiencing homelessnessHouse Bill 3388https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/H3388Representative Jim O’Day The Mass ID access bill (a.k.a. Everyone Needs ID bill) would ease access to Mass IDs for people experiencing homelessness by waiving the $25 fee for IDs and easing the verification requirements for youth and adults who are unhoused and seeking IDs. The bill would apply to standard Mass IDs, not REAL ID Act-compliant Mass IDs, for which residents must provide additional verifications that meet federal standards. Versions of this bill were passed unanimously by the Senate during the past three sessions.Fact sheet available here: https://mahomeless.org/current-bill-and-budget-priorities/ Joint Committee on TransportationHeard on June 13, 2023. See the hearing page for more details. Reported out favorably by the Joint Committee on Transportation in February 2024; referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means on April 1, 2024Link to organizational endorsement form: https://tinyurl.com/massid2324House Bill 3515https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/H3515
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An Act to provide identification to youth and adults experiencing homelessnessHouse Bill 3360https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/H3360Representative Kay KhanThe Mass ID access bill (a.k.a. Everyone Needs ID bill) would ease access to Mass IDs for people experiencing homelessness by waiving the $25 fee for IDs and easing the verification requirements for youth and adults who are unhoused and seeking IDs. The bill would apply to standard Mass IDs, not REAL ID Act-compliant Mass IDs, for which residents must provide additional verifications that meet federal standards. Versions of this bill were passed unanimously by the Senate during the past three sessions.Fact sheet available here: https://mahomeless.org/current-bill-and-budget-priorities/ Joint Committee on TransportationHeard on June 13, 2023. See the hearing page for more details. The Joint Committee on Transportation attached the bill to House Bill 3388, which was reported out favorably in February 2024; House Bill 3388 was referred to the House Committee on Ways and MeansLink to organizational endorsement form: https://tinyurl.com/massid2324House Bill 3515https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/H3515
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An Act to provide identification to youth and adults experiencing homelessnessSenate Bill 2251https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/S2251Senator Robyn KennedyThe Mass ID access bill (a.k.a. Everyone Needs ID bill) would ease access to Mass IDs for people experiencing homelessness by waiving the $25 fee for IDs and easing the verification requirements for youth and adults who are unhoused and seeking IDs. The bill would apply to standard Mass IDs, not REAL ID Act-compliant Mass IDs, for which residents must provide additional verifications that meet federal standards. Versions of this bill were passed unanimously by the Senate during the past three sessions.Fact sheet available here: https://mahomeless.org/current-bill-and-budget-priorities/ Joint Committee on TransportationHeard on June 13, 2023. See the hearing page for more details.Unanimously passed by the Senate on July 27, 2023; referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means on July 31, 2023Link to organizational endorsement form: https://tinyurl.com/massid2324Senate Bill 2612 = redrafted version of Senate Bill 2276https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/S2612
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An Act improving emergency housing assistance for children and families experiencing homelessnessHouse Bill 145https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/H145Representative Marjorie DeckerThis omnibus legislation would address access and administrative issues for families and children seeking to access or retain Emergency Assistance shelter and HomeBASE rehousing benefits. It would allow families that appear to be imminently at risk of homelessness to gain admission into EA shelter. It also would prohibit the Department of Housing and Community Development from turning families away due to lack of documentation and mandate that DHCD look in existing state benefits databases to obtain requested documentation instead of delaying applications by requiring families to provide such documentation directly. The bill also would establish an independent ombudsperson unit located in the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development (or the anticipated successor Executive Office of Housing) to mediate between EA and HomeBASE participants/applicants and DHCD.Fact sheet available here: https://mahomeless.org/current-bill-and-budget-priorities/ Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with DisabilitiesHeard on June 13, 2023. See the hearing page for more details.The Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities attached the bill to Senate Bill 86, which was reported out favorably in February 2024; Senate Bill 86 was referred to the Senate Committee on Ways and Means on March 18, 2024Link to organizational endorsement form: https://tinyurl.com/ea2324House Bill 202https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/H202
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An Act improving emergency housing assistance for children and families experiencing homelessnessSenate Bill 86https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/S86Senator Adam GomezThis omnibus legislation would address access and administrative issues for families and children seeking to access or retain Emergency Assistance shelter and HomeBASE rehousing benefits. It would allow families that appear to be imminently at risk of homelessness to gain admission into EA shelter. It also would prohibit the Department of Housing and Community Development from turning families away due to lack of documentation and mandate that DHCD look in existing state benefits databases to obtain requested documentation instead of delaying applications by requiring families to provide such documentation directly. The bill also would establish an independent ombudsperson unit located in the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development (or the anticipated successor Executive Office of Housing) to mediate between EA and HomeBASE participants/applicants and DHCD.Fact sheet available here: https://mahomeless.org/current-bill-and-budget-priorities/ Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with DisabilitiesHeard on June 13, 2023. See the hearing page for more details.Reported out favorably by the Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities in February 2024, with House Bill 145 attached; referred to the Senate Committee on Ways and Means on March 18, 2024Link to organizational endorsement form: https://tinyurl.com/ea2324Senate Bill 111https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/S111
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An Act establishing a bill of rights for individuals experiencing homelessnessHouse Bill 211https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/H211Representative Smitty Pignatelli and Representative Frank MoranThis bill would recognize and affirm various rights of people experiencing homelessness, such as the right to move freely in public spaces, the right to confidentiality of records, the right to privacy of property, the right to register to vote and to vote, etc., and would provide additional civil rights protections for people experiencing homelessness. The bill also would affirm the right to rest, eat, pray, and be in public spaces by amending the Commonwealth's public spaces laws (Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 45), amend the Commonwealth's voting laws to affirm the right to vote and register to vote without a permanent address (Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 50, Section 1), amend the Commonwealth's anti-discrimination laws to include housing status (Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 151B), and repeal archaic sections of Massachusetts General Laws regarding so-called "tramps"," vagrants", and "vagabonds" (Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 272, Sections 63-69). The bill would give the Superior Court jurisdiction to enforce the rights included in the legislation: "(e) It shall be an affirmative defense to a civil claim or criminal charge related to use of public spaces that a person experiencing homelessness was exercising any right set forth in this section. (f) The superior court shall have jurisdiction in equity to enforce any right set forth in this section and award damages in connection with any violation thereof."Fact sheet available here: https://mahomeless.org/current-bill-and-budget-priorities/ Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with DisabilitiesHeard on June 13, 2023. See the hearing page for more details.Reported out favorably by the Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities in February 2024 with Senate Bill 1112 attached; referred to the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing on February 15, 2024; accompanied a study order on May 9, 2024Link to organizational endorsement form: https://tinyurl.com/rights2324House Bill 264https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/H264
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An Act providing a bill of rights for people experiencing homelessnessSenate Bill 1112https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/S1112Senator Becca RauschThis bill would recognize and affirm various rights of people experiencing homelessness, such as the right to move freely in public spaces, the right to confidentiality of records, the right to privacy of property, the right to register to vote and to vote, etc., and would provide additional civil rights protections for people experiencing homelessness. The bill also would affirm the right to rest, eat, pray, and be in public spaces by amending the Commonwealth's public spaces laws (Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 45), amend the Commonwealth's voting laws to affirm the right to vote and register to vote without a permanent address (Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 50, Section 1), amend the Commonwealth's anti-discrimination laws to include housing status (Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 151B), and repeal archaic sections of Massachusetts General Laws regarding so-called "tramps", "vagrants", and "vagabonds" (Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 272, Sections 63-69). The bill would give the Superior Court jurisdiction to enforce the rights included in the legislation: "(e) It shall be an affirmative defense to a civil claim or criminal charge related to use of public spaces that a person experiencing homelessness was exercising any right set forth in this section. (f) The superior court shall have jurisdiction in equity to enforce any right set forth in this section and award damages in connection with any violation thereof."Fact sheet available here: https://mahomeless.org/current-bill-and-budget-priorities/ Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with DisabilitiesHeard on June 13, 2023. See the hearing page for more details.The Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities attached the bill to House Bill 211, which was reported out favorably in February 2024; House Bill 211 was referred to the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing & sent to study on May 9, 2024Link to organizational endorsement form: https://tinyurl.com/rights2324

Fact sheet available here: https://mahomeless.org/legislative-priorities-2023-2024/		Senate Bill 142https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/S142
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An Act promoting housing stability for families by strengthening the HomeBASE programHouse Bill 1297https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/H1297Representative Christine BarberThis bill would put the HomeBASE program into state statute, direct the the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (HLC, formerly the Department of Housing and Community Development) to provide renewals of HomeBASE rental assistance to families and children who otherwise would be facing a return to homelessness, and increase the maximum benefit levels.Fact sheet available here: https://mahomeless.org/current-bill-and-budget-priorities/ Joint Committee on HousingHeard on June 26, 2023. See the hearing page for more details.An updated extension order adopted by the Senate on July 11, 2024 would extend the deadline until July 31, 2024; see https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/H4553; reported out favorably by the Joint Committee on Housing and referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means on August 8, 2024Link to organizational endorsement form: https://tinyurl.com/homebase2324House Bill 1372https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/H1372
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An Act promoting housing stability for families by strengthening the HomeBASE programSenate Bill 890https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/S890Senator Liz MirandaThis bill would put the HomeBASE program into state statute, direct the the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (HLC, formerly the Department of Housing and Community Development) to provide renewals of HomeBASE rental assistance to families and children who otherwise would be facing a return to homelessness, and increase the maximum benefit levels.Fact sheet available here: https://mahomeless.org/current-bill-and-budget-priorities/ Joint Committee on HousingHeard on June 26, 2023. See the hearing page for more details.Awaiting action by the Joint Committee on Housing; was under an extension order filed by the committee in February 2024 (https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/H4340); an updated extension order adopted by the Senate on July 11, 2024 would extend the deadline until July 31, 2024; see https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/H4553; reported out favorably and referred to the Senate Committee on Ways and Means on August 15, 2024Link to organizational endorsement form: https://tinyurl.com/homebase2324House Bill 1372https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/H1372
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An Act relative to assisting elders and people with disabilities in the CommonwealthHouse Bill 205https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/H205Representative Jim O’Day This bill would put the 2018 removal of the EAEDC homelessness penalty into statute, increase monthly grant levels, and provide an annual cost of living adjustment for older adults and people with disabilities who are participating in the Department of Transitional Assistance’s Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled, and Children program.Fact sheet available here: https://mahomeless.org/current-bill-and-budget-priorities/ Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with DisabilitiesHeard on September 12, 2023The Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities attached the bill to Senate Bill 371, which was reported out favorably & referred to the Senate Committee on Ways and Means on March 18, 2024Link to organizational endorsement form: https://tinyurl.com/eaedc2324House Bill 750https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/H750
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An Act relative to assisting elders and people with disabilities in the CommonwealthSenate Bill 371https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/S371Senator Patricia JehlenThis bill would put the 2018 removal of the EAEDC homelessness penalty into statute, increase monthly grant levels, and provide an annual cost of living adjustment for older adults and people with disabilities who are participating in the Department of Transitional Assistance’s Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled, and Children program.Fact sheet available here: https://mahomeless.org/current-bill-and-budget-priorities/ Joint Committee on Elder AffairsHeard on September 12, 2023Reported out favorably by the Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities with House Bill 205 attached & referred to the Senate Committee on Ways and Means on March 18, 2024Link to organizational endorsement form: https://tinyurl.com/eaedc2324Senate Bill 411https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/S411
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An Act enabling cities and towns to stabilize rents and protect tenantsHouse Bill 2103https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/H2103Representative Dave Rogers and Representative Sam MontañoThis bill would remove the statewide ban on rent control and establish a local option for cities and towns to regulate rents. If passed, cities and towns opting in would be able to limit annual rent increases and limit no fault evictions for certain dwelling units. The bill would limit annual rent increases for covered dwelling units to the change in the Consumer Price Index or 5%, whichever is lower.https://www.homesforallmass.org/content/rent-control-bill-2023-fact-sheet-1p.pdfJoint Committee on Municipalities and Regional GovernmentHeard by the Joint Committee on Housing on November 14, 2023Discharged from the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government to the Joint Committee on Housing in May 2023; awaiting action by the Joint Committee on Housing; an updated extension order adopted by the Senate on July 11, 2024 would extend the deadline until July 31, 2024; see https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/H4553
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An Act enabling cities and towns to stabilize rents and protect tenantsSenate Bill 1299https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/S1299Senator Patricia JehlenThis bill would remove the statewide ban on rent control and establish a local option for cities and towns to regulate rents. If passed, cities and towns opting in would be able to limit annual rent increases and limit no fault evictions for certain dwelling units. The bill would limit annual rent increases for covered dwelling units to the change in the Consumer Price Index or 5%, whichever is lower.https://www.homesforallmass.org/content/rent-control-bill-2023-fact-sheet-1p.pdfJoint Committee on Municipalities and Regional GovernmentHeard by the Joint Committee on Housing on November 14, 2023Discharged from the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government to the Joint Committee on Housing in May 2023; awaiting action by the Joint Committee on Housing; an updated extension order adopted by the Senate on July 11, 2024 would extend the deadline until July 31, 2024; see https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/H4553
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An Act to lift kids out of deep povertyHouse Bill 144https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/H144Representative Marjorie DeckerThis bill seeks to increase Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) and Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled, and Children (EAEDC) cash assistance benefits 25% each year to bring benefits up to the deep poverty level (50% of the official poverty level). Once the deep poverty level is reached, benefits would continue to be adjusted annually to keep up with inflation.Lift Our Kids bill fact sheetJoint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with DisabilitiesHeard on September 12, 2023Reported out favorably by the Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities & referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means on February 15, 2024See campaign information: https://www.liftourkidsma.org/ House Bill 199https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/H199
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An Act to lift kids out of deep povertySenate Bill 75https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/S75Senator Sal DiDomenicoThis bill seeks to increase Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) and Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled, and Children (EAEDC) cash assistance benefits 25% each year to bring benefits up to the deep poverty level (50% of the official poverty level). Once the deep poverty level is reached, benefits would continue to be adjusted annually to keep up with inflation.Lift Our Kids bill fact sheetJoint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with DisabilitiesHeard on September 12, 2023Reported out favorably by the Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities & referred to the Senate Committee on Ways and Means on March 18, 2024See campaign information: https://www.liftourkidsma.org/ Senate Bill 96https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/S96
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An Act promoting access to counsel and housing stability in MassachusettsHouse Bill 4360 = redrafted version of House Bill 1731https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/H4360Representative Dave Rogers and Representative Michael DayThis bill seeks to expand access to counsel and level the playing field by increasing the number of low-income tenants, occupants, and certain owner-occupants with representation in court during eviction proceedings. Fact sheet available here: https://www.massrtc.org/fact-sheets.html Joint Committee on the JudiciaryHeard on May 9, 2023. Watch the recording of the hearing here.Reported out favorably by the Joint Committee on the Judiciary & referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means on February 12, 2024See campaign information: https://www.massrtc.org/ House Bill 1436https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/H1436
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An Act promoting access to counsel and housing stability in MassachusettsSenate Bill 864https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/S864Senator Sal DiDomenicoThis bill seeks to expand access to counsel and level the playing field by increasing the number of low-income tenants, occupants, and certain owner-occupants with representation in court during eviction proceedings. Fact sheet available here: https://www.massrtc.org/fact-sheets.html Joint Committee on HousingHeard on September 27, 2023.An updated extension order adopted by the Senate on July 11, 2024 would extend the deadline until July 31, 2024; see https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/H4553; reported out favorably by the Joint Committee on Housing & referred to the Senate Committee on Ways and Means on August 8, 2024See campaign information: https://www.massrtc.org/ Senate Bill 874https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/S874
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An Act codifying the Massachusetts Rental Voucher ProgramHouse Bill 1351https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/H1351Representative Adrian MadaroThis bill would put the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program into state statute, including the recent reduction of tenant rent share from 40% to 30% of income for participants with tenant-based subsidies (a.k.a. mobile vouchers), and would ensure that any unspent funds from one fiscal year would be carried into the next fiscal year. The bill also would enshrine the ability to use Small Area Fair Market Rents in determining payment standards, require inspections of units before the initial assistance payments are made and at least every two years after that, provide administering agencies with at least $80/voucher/month, and require data collection and reporting.Joint Committee on HousingHeard on September 27, 2023.Reported out favorably by the Joint Committee on Housing & referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means on March 14, 2024House Bill 1428https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/H1428
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An Act relative to the Massachusetts Rental Voucher ProgramSenate Bill 888https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/S888Senator Joan LovelyThis bill would put the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program into state statute, including the recent reduction of tenant rent share from 40% to 30% of income for participants with tenant-based subsidies (a.k.a. mobile vouchers), and would ensure that any unspent funds from one fiscal year would be carried into the next fiscal year. The bill also would enshrine the ability to use Small Area Fair Market Rents in determining payment standards, require inspections of units before the initial assistance payments are made and at least every two years after that, provide administering agencies with at least $80/voucher/month, and require data collection and reporting.Joint Committee on HousingHeard on September 27, 2023.Reported out favorably by the Joint Committee on Housing & referred to the Senate Committee on Ways and Means on March 18, 2024Senate Bill 898https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/S898
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An Act relative to summary process and rental assistanceHouse Bill 1682https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/H1682Representative Sam MontañoThis bill would put into statute the two-tier process for residential summary process (eviction) cases and make so-called Chapter 257 eviction protections permanent. The bill would ensure that cases cannot be defaulted or dismissed because a party missed a first-tier event, where the case status is determined, and that all parties receive written notice of the date of any second-tier events/trials. Please note that we are asking legislators to support the bill and to amend language in the final line of the bill to require stays of execution on judgments for possession in cases where tenants have pending applications for rental assistance through programs such as Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT.)Joint Committee on the JudiciaryHeard on May 9, 2023. Watch the recording of the hearing here.Sent to study by the Joint Committee on the Judiciary on June 5, 2024
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An Act relative to summary process and rental assistanceSenate Bill 1048https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/S1048Senator Liz MirandaThis bill would put into statute the two-tier process for residential summary process (eviction) cases and make so-called Chapter 257 eviction protections permanent. The bill would ensure that cases cannot be defaulted or dismissed because a party missed a first-tier event, where the case status is determined, and that all parties receive written notice of the date of any second-tier events/trials. Please note that we are asking legislators to support the bill and to amend language in the final line of the bill so as to require stays of execution on judgments for possession in cases where tenants have pending applications for rental assistance through programs such as Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT.)Joint Committee on the JudiciaryHeard on May 9, 2023. Watch the recording of the hearing here.Sent to study by the Joint Committee on the Judiciary on February 8, 2024
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An Act to eliminate asset limits for homeless sheltersHouse Bill 1301https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/H1301/BillsRepresentative Simon CataldoThis bill seeks to amend the Emergency Assistance (EA) family shelter program statute to remove the asset limit for families applying for and/or participating in EA. While we believe that language included in an outside section of the FY22 budget already directed the previous Department of Housing and Community Development (now the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities) to remove the EA asset limit, this change has not been implemented to date.Joint Committee on HousingHeard on June 26, 2023. See the hearing page for more details.Reported out favorably by the Joint Committee on Housing & referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means on March 14, 2024
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An Act to eliminate asset limits for homeless sheltersSenate Bill 868https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/S868Senator Jamie EldridgeThis bill seeks to amend the Emergency Assistance (EA) family shelter program statute to remove the asset limit for families applying for and/or participating in EA. While we believe that language included in an outside section of the FY22 budget already directed the previous Department of Housing and Community Development (now the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities) to remove the EA asset limit, this change has not been implemented to date.Joint Committee on HousingHeard on June 26, 2023. See the hearing page for more details.Reported out favorably by the Joint Committee on Housing & referred to the Senate Committee on Ways and Means on March 18, 2024
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An Act to create and implement a Massachusetts Flexible Supportive Housing Subsidy Pool ProgramHouse Bill 1354https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/H1354Representative Joan MeschinoJoint Committee on HousingHeard on June 26, 2023. See the hearing page for more details.Reported out favorably by the Joint Committee on Housing & referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means on March 14, 2024
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An Act to create and implement a Massachusetts Flexible Supportive Housing Subsidy Pool ProgramSenate Bill 855https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/S855Senator Brendan CrightonJoint Committee on HousingHeard on June 26, 2023. See the hearing page for more details.Awaiting action by the Joint Committee on Housing; was under an extension order filed by the committee in February 2024 (https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/H4377); an updated extension order adopted by the Senate on July 11, 2024 would extend the deadline until July 31, 2024; see https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/H4553; reported out favorably and referred to the Senate Committee on Ways and Means on August 15, 2024
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An Act establishing a Massachusetts foreclosure prevention programHouse Bill 942https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/H942Representative Christine Barber and Representative Peter Capanohttps://www.homesforallmass.org/content/foreclosure-prevention-program-1p-2023.pdfJoint Committee on Financial ServicesHeard on June 20, 2023. See the hearing page for more details.Sent to study by the Joint Committee on Financial Services on June 3, 2024
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An Act establishing a Massachusetts foreclosure prevention programSenate Bill 653https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/S653Senator Adam Gomezhttps://www.homesforallmass.org/content/foreclosure-prevention-program-1p-2023.pdfJoint Committee on Financial ServicesHeard on June 20, 2023. See the hearing page for more details.Sent to study by the Joint Committee on Financial Services on February 12, 2024
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An Act to end housing discrimination in the commonwealthHouse Bill 359https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/H359Representative Adrian Madaro and Representative Carlos GonzálezThis bill includes provisions that would require the Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General and all fair housing enforcement agencies to make referrals to the Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salespeople (BRREBS) to seek license suspension for brokers who engage in discriminatory practices and require BRREBS to temporarily suspend those brokers’ licenses; raise penalties for real estate brokers who violate fair housing laws more than once; require that one member of the BRREBS be an expert in fair housing and civil rights or a tenant with a housing voucher representing a tenant organization; and establish a commission to recommend reforms to legislation, regulation, and licensure practices to end housing discrimination in Massachusetts.Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional LicensureHeard on June 21, 2023. See the hearing page for more details.The Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure redrafted the bill in January 2024 and reported it out favorably as Senate Bill 2566, which then was referred to the Senate Committee on Ways and Means.See campaign information: http://bit.ly/End-MA-housing-discriminationHouse Bill 428https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/H428
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An Act to end housing discrimination in the commonwealthSenate Bill 2566 = redrafted version of Senate Bill 180https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/S2566Senator Adam GomezThis bill includes provisions that would require the Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General and all fair housing enforcement agencies to make referrals to the Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salespeople (BRREBS) to seek license suspension for brokers who engage in discriminatory practices and require BRREBS to temporarily suspend those brokers’ licenses; raise penalties for real estate brokers who violate fair housing laws more than once; require that one member of the BRREBS be an expert in fair housing and civil rights or a tenant with a housing voucher representing a tenant organization; and establish a commission to recommend reforms to legislation, regulation, and licensure practices to end housing discrimination in Massachusetts.Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional LicensureHeard on June 21, 2023. See the hearing page for more details.Redrafted version was reported out favorably by the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure in January 2024; referred to the Senate Committee on Ways and Means on January 26, 2024See campaign information: http://bit.ly/End-MA-housing-discriminationSenate Bill 208https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/S208
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An Act allowing certain minors to consent to shelter and supportive servicesHouse Bill 4394 = redrafted version of House Bill 192https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/H4394Representative Kay KhanThis bill would allow unaccompanied youth ages 15-17 who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness to consent to receive shelter and certain wraparound services on their own. https://massappleseed.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Consent-Bill-Fact-Sheet-Final-V2.pdfJoint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with DisabilitiesHearing scheduled for October 16, 2023Redrafted version was reported out favorably by the Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities in February 2024; referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means on February 15, 2024
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An Act allowing certain minors to consent to shelter and receive supportive servicesSenate Bill 94https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/S94Senator Adam GomezThis bill would allow unaccompanied youth ages 15-17 who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness to consent to receive shelter and certain wraparound services on their own. https://massappleseed.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Consent-Bill-Fact-Sheet-Final-V2.pdfJoint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with DisabilitiesHearing scheduled for October 16, 2023The Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities redrafted the bill in February 2024 and reported it out favorably as House Bill 4394, which then was referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
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An Act to create the executive office of housing and livable communities and to rename the Executive Office of Economic DevelopmentHouse Bill 43https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/H43Governor Maura HealeyThis bill would create the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC), elevating housing issues to the secretariat level, and rename the current Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development (EOHED) as the Executive Office of Economic Development. It would move the work of the current Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) from EOHED to EOHLC.Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory OversightHeard on March 27, 2023. Watch the recording of the hearing here.Signed into law in May 2023; became Chapter 7 of the Acts of 2023; see https://malegislature.gov/Laws/SessionLaws/Acts/2023/Chapter7 This bill will take a different path than most bills, as it is a government reorganization bill (also known as an "Article 87 bill", named after Article 87 of the Massachusetts Constitution.) Such bills have to be scheduled for a hearing within 30 days of filing and cannot be amended by the Legislature. Link to MCH's testimony in support of the bill: https://mahomeless.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/House-Bill-43-testimony-from-Massachusetts-Coalition-for-the-Homeless-3-27-23.pdfn/an/a
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Last updated August 16, 2024
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