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CHAPA, LCR, and Nixon Peabody Applaud Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court’s Dismissal of Marshfield Challenge to MBTA Communities Act
In a critical victory for housing justice and affordability, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) has upheld...
Economic Development Bill: House–Senate Housing Comparison
The Massachusetts House and Senate have now passed...
Federal Proposal Seeks to Roll Back Anti-Redlining Standards
Under a 1977 law called the Community Reinvestment Act...
Housing News
CHAPA, LCR, and Nixon Peabody Applaud Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court’s Dismissal of Marshfield Challenge to MBTA Communities Act
In a critical victory for housing justice and affordability, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) has upheld the legality of the MBTA Communities Act and decisively dismissed the Town of Marshfield’s legal challenge. The ruling confirms once again that...
Press Release: CHAPA Says Yes to More Housing by Endorsing Yes on Question 7
CHAPA joins the push to legalize starter homes across Massachusetts and unlock more housing opportunities Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA) today announced its endorsement of Yes on Question 7, the November 3 statewide ballot question concerning...
Supreme Judicial Court Dismisses Marshfield Challenge to MBTA Communities Act
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has today rejected yet another challenge to the legality of the MBTA Communities Act. This decision marks the second high-profile case, following Attorney General v. Milton in early 2025, in which the state’s highest court has...
CHAPA Submits Comments to Economic Development Conference Committee
On Thursday, CHAPA submitted a letter to the six members of the 2026 Economic Development Bill Conference Committee, outlining top housing priorities in the legislation. This bill includes several policy and funding opportunities to address Massachusetts' housing...
Economic Development Bill: House–Senate Housing Comparison
The Massachusetts House and Senate have now passed separate versions of the 2026 Economic Development Bill, sending those versions to a Conference Committee that will negotiate a single, final Bill. Each version of the Bill currently before the Conference Committee...
Economic Development Bill Heads to Conference Committee with Major Housing Policies
The Massachusetts House and Senate have each now passed their own version of the 2026 Economic Development Bill, sending it to a conference committee that will negotiate a single, final version. With formal sessions wrapping up this month, this is one of the last...
Federal Proposal Seeks to Roll Back Anti-Redlining Standards
Under a 1977 law called the Community Reinvestment Act (“CRA”), federal regulators must regularly grade FDIC-insured banks on their efforts to invest in low-income neighborhoods within their service areas. The CRA also requires regulators to consider these grades when...
Senate Passes Economic Development Bill, Includes Major Housing Policies
On Thursday night, the Massachusetts Senate passed SB3178, the 2026 Economic Development Bill. This legislation, like the House version of the same bill, included significant housing policies designed to help Massachusetts create the homes we need to thrive. CHAPA is...
Senate Takes Up Major Housing Policy in Economic Development Bill
Today, the Massachusetts Senate will begin debate on its economic development bill, S.3178. This legislation includes policies that will help create the homes Massachusetts needs to thrive and is one of the last major bills expected to pass before the legislative...
Senate Ways and Means moves forward important housing policies
On Thursday, the Senate Committee on Ways and Means released a $325 million economic development bill that included several policies that would make it easier to build the homes Massachusetts needs. These policies include: Enabling duplexes to be built as of...