Massachusetts 194th General Court Status: Introduced 1 D cosponsors

S1447 — An Act enabling cities and towns to stabilize rents and protect tenants

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  1. 1
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 194th General Court. It reached “Introduced” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

An Act enabling cities and towns to stabilize rents and protect tenants

Bill Text

  • Full text Current

How this bill changes current law

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AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

This bill repeals Chapter 40P and establishes a new Chapter 49B that limits annual rent increases and regulates no-fault evictions in cities and towns that adopt it.

  • Chapter 40P

    Chapter 40P of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition

    This change repeals Chapter 40P entirely.

  • General Laws

    CHAPTER 49B LIMITATION OF ANNUAL RENT INCREASES AND NO FAULT EVICTIONS

    This creates a new chapter in the General Laws that addresses annual rent increases and eviction regulations.

  • General Laws

    Section 1. A city or town may accept this chapter in its entirety in the manner provided in section 4 of chapter 4 of the General Laws.

    This allows municipalities to adopt the provisions of Chapter 49B.

  • General Laws

    Section 2. A city or town accepting this chapter may, by local charter provision, ordinance, by-law, majority vote of its governing body or through a local binding ballot measure impose a limit on the size of annual rent increases and require that evictions be based on defined just cause reasons, for certain dwelling units within the municipality.

    This authorizes municipalities to impose limits on rent increases and requires just cause for evictions.

  • General Laws

    Section 3. Exemptions...

    This section defines what dwelling units are exempt from the new rent increase and eviction provisions.

  • General Laws

    Section 4. (a) The limit on any annual rent increase for a covered dwelling unit as defined in Section 3(a) shall not exceed the annual change in the Consumer Price Index for the applicable area or 5 per cent, whichever is lower.

    This sets a cap on annual rent increases.

  • General Laws

    Section 5. (a) Cities and towns adopting this chapter shall require that any landlord have just cause for initiating eviction or not renewing a lease; just cause is defined as follows: ...

    This stipulates the just causes for evictions that municipalities must adopt.

  • General Laws

    Section 6. Cities and towns adopting this chapter shall provide annual reports to the executive office of housing and livable communities...

    This requires cities and towns to report on the implementation of the new chapter.

  • General Laws

    Section 7. (a) Any violation of this Chapter shall be deemed an unfair and deceptive act under chapter 93A of the General Laws...

    This establishes legal consequences for violations of the new rent and eviction regulations.

  • General Laws

    Section 8. Nothing in this section shall be construed to interfere with any existing rights or protections afforded to tenants under current state or federal law.

    This ensures that the new chapter does not override existing tenant protections.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 203 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (203)

203 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

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Frequently asked questions

What does S1447 do?
An Act enabling cities and towns to stabilize rents and protect tenants
Who sponsors S1447?
S1447 is sponsored by Patricia D. Jehlen (Democrat).
What is the current status of S1447?
This bill died with 194th General Court. It reached “Introduced” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track S1447?
Track S1447 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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