by Matt Noyes | Aug 20, 2026 | Housing News
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 challenges, including:
- Yes In God’s Back Yard (YIGBY)
- Duplexes As-Of-Right
- Codification of Site Plan Review
- Incentives for Commercial to Residential conversions
- Funding for first-time homeownership development
Conference committee members have until January to reconcile differences between the House and Senate versions of the legislation.
by Matt Noyes | Jul 24, 2026 | Housing News
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.
by Matt Noyes | Jul 22, 2026 | Housing News
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 session ends this month. This is one of the best remaining opportunities to advance significant housing policy this year!
Creating new homes and preserving the affordable housing opportunities we already have are both crucial to the state’s economic development. High housing costs drive talent out of Massachusetts and make it harder for employers to fill jobs and remain competitive. Spending most of a household’s income on increasing housing costs also means impossible decisions for people—often between food, medical care, other necessities, and rent—and less choice in where they want to live.
The bill already includes major housing wins, including:
- Allowing duplexes as-of-right in all residentially-zoned areas;
- Codifying site plan review to make the process predictable, timely, and clear; and
- Incentivizing local communities to convert under-utilized commercial properties for residential use.
CHAPA is also advocating for several additional amendments to be included in the final bill:
#72 – Matched Savings (Sen. Eldridge)
Creates a Matched Savings Program for people with low incomes to save with up to a 4:1 match. Savings can be used for the down payment on a home, starting a small business, education, and other allowable financial goals.
#135 – Parking Reform (Sen. Cronin)
Encourages more homes near transit, lowers construction costs, and makes it possible to create the homes we need by eliminating parking requirements within ½ mile of public transit and capping parking minimums at 1 space per unit everywhere else.
#257 & #302 – Expanding and Improving RAFT (Sen. Tarr & Sen. Crighton)
Improves RAFT by eliminating the requirement for a notice to quit or utility shutoff, allowing for more upstream access to benefits.
#326 – Expedited Lot Subdivision (Sen. Crighton)
Makes it easier to build homes on smaller lots by allowing property owners to subdivide their land into parcels no larger than 10,000 square feet.
#458 – Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (Sen. Lovely)
Codifies MRVP in statute, providing stability and predictability for the operation of the vitally important state rental assistance program.
Contact your state senator TODAY and ask them to support CHAPA’s priority housing amendments!
Thank you!
by Matt Noyes | Jun 29, 2026 | Housing News
This Thursday, July 2, the Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures, and State Assets will hold a hearing on H.5527, the 2026 Economic Development Bill, also known as “Mass Wins.” This legislation is likely one of the last major bills that will be considered before the end of formal sessions at the end of July, and perhaps the best opportunity to pass significant housing policy.
In addition to its impact on people’s lives, health outcomes, and more, housing is a major economic driver for Massachusetts. High housing costs contribute to an outmigration of talent and an inability of employers to find workers to fill open jobs. It is vitally important that we address housing to ensure that the Commonwealth will thrive.
CHAPA calls on the Legislature to include three specific housing policies in Mass Wins that will help the state build the homes we need:
- Codify Site Plan Review
- Make it easier to build multi-family housing on land owned by religious institutions (Yes In God’s Back Yard – YIGBY)
- Reform municipal parking requirements
Information about how to submit written or verbal comments to the Bonding Committee is available on the Legislature’s website.
by Matt Noyes | Jun 11, 2025 | Housing News
With the Senate completing its work on the FY2026 state budget last month, a House-Senate Conference Committee is now working to resolve differences between the two versions of the funding documents. CHAPA has submitted a letter to the six members of the committee, urging them to support the highest possible funding levels for key housing programs.
The new state fiscal year begins on July 1, 2025, so for there to be an on-time budget in place, the Conference Committee will need to complete its work and both branches will need to pass the final budget by June 20 to give the Governor ten days to sign or return items with vetoes.
