by iwd Tina | Jun 12, 2024 | Housing News
Late on Wednesday, June 5th, the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed a $6.2 billion housing bond bill by a vote of 145-13. After more than 8 hours of floor debate and 371 amendments, the legislation moves one step closer to final passage and enactment.
When Governor Healey filed the Affordable Homes Act last October, that legislation proposed a historic $4.1 billion in bond authorization, more than doubling the 2018 bond bill’s authorization of $1.8 billion. In adding more than $2 million to the Governor’s amount, the House has now more than tripled the bill from five years ago.
This bill includes the funding authorizations for the state programs that support affordable housing production and preservation along with more than 25 policies to foster the creation of housing that meets the diverse needs of current and future residents. As we strive to create the 200,000 homes by 2030 that Massachusetts needs to stabilize home prices and rents, the Affordable Homes Act moves us forward in preserving our affordable housing stock and building 40,000 homes that are affordable for households with moderate incomes and 20,000 homes that are affordable for people with low and extremely low incomes.
Here is a breakdown of bond authorization amounts and tax credit programs from each bill. These programs will support affordable and public housing preservation and the production of homeownership opportunities, supportive housing, mixed income developments, public housing, and investments in infrastructure. In addition, the bill proposes funding for down payment assistance to help people become homeowners and invests in early education and out of school time facilities:
| Line Item |
Program |
2018 Bond Bill |
Affordable Homes Act |
House Final |
| 1599-1953 |
Local Designated Projects |
|
|
$196,986,900 |
| 1599-3032 |
MWRA Infrastructure |
|
|
$1,000,000,000 |
| 3000-0411 |
Early Education & Out of School Time |
$45,000,000 |
$50,000,000 |
$50,000,000 |
| 7004-0069 |
Home Modification Loan Program |
$60,000,000 |
$60,000,000 |
$60,000,000 |
| 7004-0070 |
Facilities Consolidation Fund |
$65,000,000 |
$70,000,000 |
$70,000,000 |
| 7004-0071 |
Community Based Housing |
$55,000,000 |
$55,000,000 |
$55,000,000 |
| 7004-0072 |
Affordable Housing Trust Fund |
$400,000,000 |
$800,000,000 |
$800,000,000 |
| 7004-0073 |
Housing Stabilization Fund |
$150,000,000 |
$425,000,000 |
$425,000,000 |
| 7004-0074 |
Public Housing |
$600,000,000 |
$1,500,000,000 |
$2,000,000,000 |
| 7004-0075 |
Public Housing Demonstration |
$50,000,000 |
$100,000,000 |
$200,000,000 |
| 7004-0076 |
Housing Innovations Fund |
$100,000,000 |
$200,000,000 |
$200,000,000 |
| 7004-0077 |
Housing Choice Local Community Planning Grants |
|
$35,000,000 |
$50,000,000 |
| 7004-0078 |
Green Housing Initiative |
|
$275,000,000 |
$275,000,000 |
| 7004-0079 |
Smart Growth |
|
$20,000,000 |
$20,000,000 |
| 7004-0080 |
Middle Income Housing |
$100,000,000 |
$100,000,000 |
$100,000,000 |
| 7004-0081 |
Commonwealth Builder |
|
$100,000,000 |
$100,000,000 |
| 7004-0082 |
HousingWorks Community Planning Grants |
|
$25,000,000 |
$25,000,000 |
| 7004-0083 |
Housing Choice Infrastructure |
|
$175,000,000 |
$175,000,000 |
| 7004-0085 |
Neighborhood Stabilization |
|
$50,000,000 |
$50,000,000 |
| 7004-0092 |
Commercial Property Conversion |
|
|
$150,000,000 |
| 7004-0093 |
Healthy Homes |
|
|
$50,000,000 |
| 7004-0094 |
Veterans Housing |
|
|
$20,000,000 |
| 7004-0095 |
Transitioning State-Owned Buildings |
|
|
$50,000,000 |
| 7004-4784 |
Momentum Fund |
|
$50,000,000 |
$250,000,000 |
| Program |
Affordable Homes Act |
House Final |
| Community Investment Tax Credit |
$15,000,000 |
$15,000,000 |
| Homeownership Production Tax Credit |
$10,000,000 |
$10,000,000 |
| Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit |
$55,000,000 |
$110,000,000 |
In addition to providing the financing and tax credits critical to affordable housing production and preservation, the House included several CHAPA policy priorities, including:
- Establishing a State Office of Fair Housing
- Allowing Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) by right in every community
- Supportive Housing Pool Fund
- Homeownership Production Tax Credit
- Commission on Housing for Households with Extremely Low Incomes
- Commission on Accessible Housing for Persons with Disabilities
- Seasonal Communities Designation
- Social Housing Pilot Program
- State Housing Plan conducted every 5 years
- Prioritization of State Owned land for housing production
The House added two important provisions to use existing buildings for affordable housing, including doubling of the Historic Tax Credit to $110 million through 2030 and authorizing a local option for municipalities to allow tenants the first opportunity to purchase their building if it is put up for sale. The House bill prioritizes accessibility by including language to update adaptability and accessibility standards and directs the Architectural Access Board to issue rules and regulations with design standards and procedures to implement the new policies.
Importantly, the House rejected several proposed amendments that would have made changes to existing laws that have supported the creation of multifamily and affordable housing. Representatives voted overwhelmingly against amendments that would have weakened, delayed, or undermined the MBTA Communities Act and Chapter 40B.
CHAPA looks forward to working with our partners to ensure that the specific language included in the final version of the bond bill with respect to these items serves to address Massachusetts’ housing challenges and meet the range of needs of current and future residents while avoiding unintended consequences.
While there were a many great policy provisions included by the House in the bill that the branch passed, there were items that did not make the final cut. Among those pieces supported by CHAPA that we are advocating for inclusion in the Senate are:
- Local option real estate transfer fee to help fund affordable housing development.
- Allowing municipalities to pass inclusionary zoning by simple majority.
- Sealing evictions records in specific cases.
- Creating commissions on Racial Equity in Housing and on Senior Housing.
- Creating a process for foreclosure mediation.
CHAPA thanks the House for passing a strong and historic housing bond bill. In particular, thank you to Speaker Ronald Mariano, House Ways & Means Chair Aaron Michlewitz, Housing Committee Chair Jim Arciero, Representative Kevin Honan, Representative Natalie Higgins, Representative Chrstine Barber, Representative Chyna Tyler, Representative Mike Connolly, Representative David LeBoeuf, Representative Frank Moran, Representative Carlos Gonzalez, Representative Andy Vargas, and Representative Erika Uyterhoeven, Representative Christopher Worrell, and Representative Rob Consalvo for your leadership on this bill and filing amendments to further the impact of this legislation.
The Senate is expected to take up the bill in the next couple of weeks. Now is the time to weigh in with your state senator on the legislation. In addition to the specific areas that you may choose to highlight, CHAPA would ask that you urge them to:
- Support the highest bond authorization levels possible to ensure that resources are available to create the homes we need;
- Protect our existing housing laws, especially the MBTA Communities Act and Chapter 40B, from any attempts to weaken, delay, or undermine them;
- Preserve the policy proposals that have been put forward by Governor Healey and the House of Representatives that will provide tools to address Massachusetts’ housing challenges; and
- Pass the bond bill as quickly as possible to make sure that there are no gaps in funding rounds.
If you have any questions or would like additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me at mnoyes@chapa.org.
by iwd Tina | Jun 6, 2024 | Housing News
Late on Wednesday evening, the House of Representatives passed the 2023 Housing Bond Bill by a vote of 145-13. During a debate that started at 1pm, representatives considered more than 300 amendments to the legislation and made significant improvements to what is now a $6.2 billion housing proposal.
Among the changes to the bill include:
Representatives also rejected a number of amendments that would have undermined or weakened the MBTA Communities Act, Chapter 40B, and allowing Accessory Dwelling Units by right.
CHAPA applauds the work of Speaker Marino, Chair Arciero, and Chair Michlewitz, as well as their staffs, on this important legislation.
On the path to eventual enactment, the Senate is now on tap to take up the bill. Stay tuned for more opportunities to advocate for this legsilation!
by iwd Tina | Jun 5, 2024 | Housing News
Happy House Bond Bill Day to everyone!
Today is the day! The House of Representatives is scheduled to convene today at 11, with debate and roll call votes on the Ways and Means Committee’s draft of the Housing Bond Bill to begin at 1. As a final reminder, all are invited to join us at 12:30 in front of the State House on Beacon Street across from Boston Common at 12:30 for collective advocacy on the legislation.
Even if you are not able to make it in person today, please take a minute to contact your state representative and urge them to support CHAPA’s priority amendments, which will strengthen the bill and better position Massachusetts to address our housing needs. Additionally, please ask them to protect our existing housing laws and to oppose any attempts to weaken, delay, or undermine the MBTA Communities Act or Chapter 40B.
Very exciting day on tap for today with lots of opportunities to get something great done!
by iwd Tina | Jun 4, 2024 | Housing News
One more day until the full House consideration of the Housing Bond Bill and one day until CHAPA’s advocacy action at the State House! (Not to mention one day until CHAPA’s Annual Celebration …)
Yesterday, representatives filed more than 370 amendments to the Housing Bond Bill. In keeping with CHAPA’s 4 policy priority areas (People, Production, Planning, and Preservation), we have identified a list of priority proposals. Please call your state representative today and ask them to cosponsor and support these amendments!
People
#70 – Office of Fair Housing (Rep. Tyler)
Allocates $5 million for the operation of the Office of Fair Housing at EOHLC.
#164 – Saving Toward Affordable and Sustainable Homeownership (STASH) Program (Rep. Worrell)
Directs $5 million for the STASH Program to support first-generation homebuyers.
#174 – Foreclosure Prevention Program (Rep. Barber)
Establishes a statewide mediation program to prevent foreclosures.
#193 – Extremely Low Income Housing Commission (Rep. Higgins)
Establishes a special commission to make recommendations on expanding housing opportunities and access for households with Extremely Low Incomes.
#203 – Senior Housing Commission (Rep. Stanley)
Establishes a special commission to make recommendations on affordable and healthy senior housing.
#298 – Social Housing (Rep. Connolly)
Defines the purpose and structure of the Social Housing Pilot Program.
#302 – Commission on Accessible Housing for Persons with Disabilities (Rep. Consalvo)
Establishes a special commission to study and make recommendations on accessibility in housing for persons with disabilities.
#303 – AHVP Update (Rep. Consalvo)
Updates the Alternative Housing Voucher Program to create accessible and affordable homes.
Production
#4 – Supportive Housing Pool Program and Fund (Rep. Meschino)
Bundles funding for capital, operating, and supportive services to help meet complex housing and health needs of people experiencing homelessness.
#165 – Local Option Transfer Fee (Rep. LeBoeuf)
Gives municipalities the opportunity to choose to levy a fee on real estate transactions above a defined threshold and to use the proceeds to fund the local creation of affordable housing.
#211 – CommonWealth Builder Program (Rep. Moran)
Increases bond authorization for the CommonWealth Program to $300 million.
#272 – CommonWealth Builder Program (Rep. Gonzalez)
Defines the geographic catchment areas for the CommonWealth Builder Program to Gateway Cities and Boston to spur the construction of homeownership opportunities, particularly in communities of color.
Planning
#42 – MBTA Communities Act Modification (Rep. Garry)
Expands the MBTA Communities Act to all 351 municipalities to facilitate the development of multifamily housing.
#321 – Inclusionary Zoning (Rep. Vargas)
Establishes the threshold for municipalities to approve inclusionary zoning as a simple majority.
Preservation
#5 – Historic Rehab Tax Credit (Rep. Honan)
Increases the cap for the Historic Rehab Tax Credit to $110 million through the year 2030 and increases the amount of the tax credit to be allocated to affordable housing to at least 50%.
#318 – Small Properties Acquisition Fund (Rep. Uyterhoeven)
Establishes a fund to acquire properties of 1-8 units for the creation of affordable housing and allocates $25 million to the fund.
by iwd Tina | Jun 3, 2024 | Housing News
(Don’t forget to register for CHAPA’s Housing Bond Bill Advocacy Action on Wednesday at 12:30pm!)
On Monday morning, the wait for the Legislature’s response to the Governor’s Affordable Homes Act came to an end. The House Ways and Means Committee released their version of the 2023 Housing Bond Bill.
The bill is a very good one for addressing the housing challenges facing Massachusetts. While the Governor’s proposal was a historic one in the scope of investment in housing, the House committee went even further. In addition to matching the Affordable Homes Act’s bond authorizations in a number of programs, the House Ways and Means Committee proposed even greater funding levels in Public Housing, Community Planning Grants, and in the Momentum Fund. Additionally, this most recent proposal puts forth new investments in commercial property conversions, transitioning state-owned buildings, veteran’s housing, MWRA infrastructure, and in the Healthy Homes Initiative.
Here is a full comparison of funding authorization levels:
| Line Item # |
Program |
Affordable Homes Act |
HWM Bond Bill |
| 1599-3032 |
MWRA Infrastructure |
|
$1,000,000,000 |
| 3000-0411 |
Early Education & Out of School Time |
$50,000,000 |
$50,000,000 |
| 7004-0069 |
Home Modification Loan Program |
$60,000,000 |
$60,000,000 |
| 7004-0070 |
Facilities Consolidation Fund |
$70,000,000 |
$70,000,000 |
| 7004-0071 |
Community Based Housing |
$55,000,000 |
$55,000,000 |
| 7004-0072 |
Affordable Housing Trust Fund |
$800,000,000 |
$800,000,000 |
| 7004-0073 |
Housing Stabilization Fund |
$425,000,000 |
$425,000,000 |
| 7004-0074 |
Public Housing |
$1,500,000,000 |
$2,000,000,000 |
| 7004-0075 |
Public Housing Demonstration |
$100,000,000 |
$200,000,000 |
| 7004-0076 |
Housing Innovations Fund |
$200,000,000 |
$200,000,000 |
| 7004-0077 |
Housing Choice Local Community Planning Grants |
$35,000,000 |
$50,000,000 |
| 7004-0078 |
Green Housing Initiative |
$275,000,000 |
$275,000,000 |
| 7004-0079 |
Smart Growth |
$20,000,000 |
$20,000,000 |
| 7004-0080 |
Middle Income Housing |
$100,000,000 |
$100,000,000 |
| 7004-0081 |
CommonWealth Builder |
$100,000,000 |
$100,000,000 |
| 7004-0082 |
HousingWorks Community Planning Grants |
$25,000,000 |
$25,000,000 |
| 7004-0083 |
Housing Choice Infrastructure |
$175,000,000 |
$175,000,000 |
| 7004-0085 |
Neighborhood Stabilization |
$50,000,000 |
$50,000,000 |
| 7004-0092 |
Commercial Property Conversion |
|
$50,000,000 |
| 7004-0093 |
Healthy Homes |
|
$50,000,000 |
| 7004-0094 |
Veterans Housing |
|
$20,000,000 |
| 7004-0095 |
Transitioning State-Owned Buildings |
|
$50,000,000 |
| 7004-4784 |
Momentum Fund |
$50,000,000 |
$250,000,000 |
Additionally, the House Ways and Means Committee kept in many of Governor Healey’s policy proposals, including those dealing with Accessory Dwelling Units, an Office of Fair Housing, Social Housing, and the homeownership tax credit. Unfortunately, some of the policy initiatives did not make it into the House Ways and Means legislation. Among the most prominent omissions were the Local Option Transfer Fee and the commissions proposed by the Governor on senior housing and extremely low income housing.
In the hours following the release of the new legislation, members of the House filed more than 370 amendments, including many supported by CHAPA. (Check Housing News tomorrow for an analysis of the amendments.)
There is a short calm before the kickoff of the debate on the bill, which is scheduled to begin on Wednesday afternoon. As a reminder, CHAPA is inviting you to gather in front of the State House on Beacon Street on Wednesday at 12:30pm. We will then all go into the building and advocate for our priorities. It is vitally important that Legislators hear from all of us about the importance of housing and the ways that this bill will help move us toward building and preserving the homes we need.
A registration form for Wednesday’s advocacy action is now available – please fill it out and share with your networks!
