Massachusetts 194th General Court Status: Introduced 1 D cosponsors

H1477 — An Act enabling local options for tenant protections

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  1. 1
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  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This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis.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 local options for tenant protections

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.

The bill significantly updates Chapter 40P of the General Laws by establishing the Tenant Protection Act, which includes provisions for rent stabilization, just cause eviction protections, and regulation of tenant deposits and fees.

  • Chapter 40P

    Chapter 40P → TENANT PROTECTION ACT

    Renames Chapter 40P to Tenant Protection Act.

  • Chapter 40P

    Sections 1 to 5, inclusive → Sections 1 to 9

    Replaces existing sections 1 to 5 with a new framework that includes additional protections and regulations.

  • Chapter 40P

    Section 1. PURPOSE. The purpose of this chapter is to provide municipalities with local options for rent stabilization, just cause eviction protections, condominium conversion ordinances, and other protections, including regulation of tenant deposits and fees, such as broker’s fees, along with provisions for fair return standards for property owners and exemptions for owner-occupant landlords and new and recently-constructed housing.

    Establishes a clear purpose for the Tenant Protection Act focusing on tenant protections and local municipality options.

  • Chapter 40P

    Section 2. GENERAL COURT FINDINGS. The general court hereby finds and declares that homelessness, displacement, foreclosure, lack of affordable rental and ownership opportunities, and excessive rent burden are commonplace throughout the commonwealth.

    Documents the findings of the General Court regarding current housing issues.

  • Chapter 40P

    Section 4. LOCAL OPTION RENT STABILIZATION. (a) A city or town accepting this section may, by local charter provision, ordinance or by-law regulate the rent and eviction of tenants in multi-family housing and provide for reasonable exemptions from such regulation.

    Gives municipalities the option to regulate rent and eviction processes in multi-family housing.

  • Chapter 40P

    Section 5. JUST CAUSE EVICTION PROTECTION. (a) The provisions of this section shall be applicable to all housing accommodations in any city or town of the commonwealth that adopts this section...

    Institutes specific protections against unjust eviction, requiring just causes for eviction in municipalities that adopt this section.

  • Chapter 40P

    Section 8. REGULATION OF TENANT DEPOSITS AND FEES, INCLUDING BROKERS FEES. (a) A city or town that adopts this section may regulate by ordinance or by-law the payment of deposits and non-refundable move-in fees paid by a residential tenant or prospective tenant...

    Allows municipalities to regulate tenant deposits and fees to protect tenants financially.

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

housing civil-rights
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does H1477 do?
An Act enabling local options for tenant protections
Who sponsors H1477?
H1477 is sponsored by Mike Connolly (Democrat).
What is the current status of H1477?
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 H1477?
Track H1477 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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Last checked for changes 4 months ago · updated continuously

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