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H1567 • 2025

An Act establishing a statewide affirmatively furthering fair housing framework

An Act establishing a statewide affirmatively furthering fair housing framework

Housing
Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Thomas M. Stanley
Last action
2026-04-13
Official status
Accompanied a study order, see H5352 (under House Rule 27)
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

An Act establishing a statewide affirmatively furthering fair housing framework

An Act establishing a statewide affirmatively furthering fair housing framework By Representative Stanley of Waltham, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.

What This Bill Does

  • An Act establishing a statewide affirmatively furthering fair housing framework By Representative Stanley of Waltham, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
  • 1567) of Thomas M.
  • Stanley relative to fair housing assessments for large-scale housing developments.
  • Housing.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-13 House

    Accompanied a study order, see H5352 (under House Rule 27)

  2. 2025-09-18 House

    Reporting date extended to Friday, October 31, 2025

  3. 2025-06-18 Joint

    Hearing scheduled for 06/25/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in B-1

  4. 2025-02-27 House

    Referred to the committee on Housing

  5. 2025-02-27 Senate

    Senate concurred

  6. House

    Reported by committee to Clerk’s Office for processing, will accompany a study order

Official Summary Text

An Act establishing a statewide affirmatively furthering fair housing framework
By Representative Stanley of Waltham, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1567) of Thomas M. Stanley relative to fair housing assessments for large-scale housing developments. Housing.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
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Bill H.1567

SECTION 1. Chapter 40A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 17 the following section:-

Section 18. (a) As used in this section, the following terms shall, unless the context appears otherwise, have the following meanings:-

“Affirmatively further”, to take any action rationally related to promoting any attribute or attributes of fair housing.

“Fair housing”, housing that, among other attributes, is affordable, safe, decent, free of unlawful discrimination and accessible as required by chapter 151B or 42 U.S.C.A. §§ 1982 and 3604.

“Large-scale development”, a condominium association or apartment building with 35 or more residential dwelling units.

(b) Any person who intends to construct a large-scale development shall complete a fair housing assessment in a form to be prescribed by the department of housing and community development. The fair housing assessment shall describe, at a minimum: (1) the projected impact of the development on fair housing, housing discrimination and displacement; and (2) how the proposed development would minimize harm and affirmatively further fair housing.

(c) Any person who intends to construct a large-scale development shall provide the fair housing assessment described in subsection (b) to the department of housing and community development and the municipality in which the construction will take place not later than 180 days prior to the beginning of construction.

(d) The executive office of housing and liveable communities may issue fines for noncompliance with this section.

SECTION 2. The executive office of housing and liveable communities shall promulgate regulations in accordance with section 1, including a schedule of fines for noncompliance, not later than 60 days after the effective date of this act.

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