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 grateful to Senate President Karen Spilka, Housing Chair Julian Cyr, and the members of the Senate for their leadership and recognition of the importance of housing for the future of our Commonwealth.
Significantly, the Senate legislation included making development of duplexes as-of-right in all residentially-zoned districts across the state. This policy along has the potential to create thousands of new homes and to make this housing type more available as a development option. Through amendments, the Senate included the creation of a new fund to facilitate the development of first-time homebuyer opportunities as well as a five community pilot of the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA). The Senate also mirrored the House in including codification of site plan review and incentives for municipalities to convert underutilized commercial parcels to residential use.
Within the next week, the House and Senate are expected to name members to a conference committee that will resolve differences between the two bills. CHAPA will be advocating strongly for the inclusion of all of the housing policies in the final economic development bill that is put before the Governor for her signature.