CHAPA 2025-26 Priority State Legislation

Friday marked an important date in the new legislative session as it is the deadline for on-time filing of bills.  Over the past several months, CHAPA has been working with stakeholders, policy makers, and legislators to develop a slate of priority legislation that we will be advocating for over the next two years.  Our sincere thanks go out to everyone who participated in this process, but especially the legion of State House staffers who do remarkable work in helping to shape policy ideas into actual bills. 

Below is CHAPA’s slate of priority bills, which have been assigned temporary docket numbers until they are sent to committees of jurisdiction, where they will receive bill numbers. 

Please contact your state representative and senator to urge them to add their name as a cosponsor of these bills:

People

Codification of the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP) – HD 2020 & SD 1573.

Updating the Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP) Statute – HD 1953 & SD 1708.

Access to Counsel in Evictions – HD 3912 & SD 1771.

Eliminating Mandatory Broker Fees for Tenants – SD 35.

Establishing a Matched Savings Program – HD 3851 & SD 2106.

Production

Yes In God’s Back Yard (YIGBY) to Allow Multi Family By-Right on Religiously-Owned Property – HD 3756 & SD 1663.

Creating a Local Option Real Estate Transfer Fee – HD 1112 & SD 1216.

Increasing the Deeds Excise Tax to Support Affordable Housing and Environmental Adaptation – HD 2997 & SD 846.

Creating an Interagency Supportive Housing Finance and Strategy Board – HD 3758 & SD 2594.

Establishing a Housing Production Goal for Massachusetts – HD 3920.

Preservation

Creating a Commission to Examine Increasing Property Insurance Rates on Affordable Housing – HD 3370 & SD 876.

Establishing a Zero Carbon Renovation Fund – HD 3171 & SD 1325.

Planning

Yes In My Back Yard (YIMBY) to Eliminate Barriers to Housing Production – HD 3248 & SD 1913.

Promoting Affordable and Fair Housing Through Inclusive Zoning – HD 2978 & SD 811.

Establishing a Definition for Municipal Site Plan Review – HD 2362.

Mandating Training for Local Land Boards – HD 2395 & SD 114.