8 Bills to Solve our Housing Crisis

01. S.1021 – Updating and Modernizing Chapter 40R

Sponsor: Senator Pavel Payano

Increases incentive payments directly to municipalities for new housing in smart growth areas and starter home districts, as well as aligning payments with fluctuating housing costs.

02. H.1572 / S.962 – Yes In My Back Yard

Sponsors: Representative Andres Vargas & Senator Brendan Crighton

Allows more multi-family housing, establishes "Missing Middle Housing Subdivisions", increases transit oriented development with affordability requirements, and more options for ADUs.

03. H.1560 – Establishing a Housing Production Goal

Sponsor: Representative David Rogers

Sets a target for Massachusetts to build 400,000 new housing units by 2040 with a focus on stratified affordability options.

04. H.1158 / S.737 – Economic Mobility through Matched Savings

Sponsors: Representative Brandy Fluker-Oakley & Senator James Eldridge

Establishes a matched-savings account program for income eligible households with savings targeted toward education, job training, housing, retirement, debt reduction, and credit building.

05. H.2347 / S.1430 – Yes in God’s Back Yard

Sponsors: Representative Andres Vargas & Brendan Crighton

Facilitates multifamily housing on religiously owned land by reforming zoning laws, offering tax incentives, and allowing by-right development with higher density (30-50 units per acre).

06. H.313 / S.176 – Starter Home Zoning Districts

Sponsors: Representative David Vieira & Senator Paul Feeney

Increases incentive payments directly to municipalities for developing new housing in smart growth areas and starter home districts.

07. H.2265 / S.1432 – Training for Local Boards & Commissions

Sponsor: Representative Christopher Flanagan & Senator Julian Cyr

Requires the development and implementation of annual training programs for new members of local boards in various sectors across Massachusetts including planning boards and zoning boards of appeals.

08. H.305 – Improving Housing Opportunities

Sponsor: Representative Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr.

Requires multifamily housing in designated areas, standardizes by-right approval for open space residential developments, streamlines site plan reviews, and simplifies planning board decisions by simple majority vote.