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HD5732 • 2025

An Act relative to survivor sustainability and financial independence

An Act relative to survivor sustainability and financial independence

Housing
Active

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

Sponsor
Kate Hogan (By Request)
Last action
2026-03-09
Official status
Referred to House Committee on Rules
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 relative to survivor sustainability and financial independence

An Act relative to survivor sustainability and financial independence By Representative Hogan of Stow (by request), a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Amy Farrell relative to survivor sustainability and financial independence.

What This Bill Does

  • An Act relative to survivor sustainability and financial independence By Representative Hogan of Stow (by request), a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Amy Farrell relative to survivor sustainability and financial independence.
  • Housing.
  • Status: Referred to House Committee on Rules

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. 2026-03-09 House

    Referred to the committee on House Rules

Official Summary Text

An Act relative to survivor sustainability and financial independence
By Representative Hogan of Stow (by request), a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Amy Farrell relative to survivor sustainability and financial independence. Housing.
Status:
Referred to House Committee on Rules

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
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Bill HD.5732

SECTION 1. Statutory Subtraction Rule (Amendment to M.G.L. c. 151B, §4)

It shall be a per se violation of Chapter 151B for any housing provider—including private developments, Chapter 40B projects, and tax-credit properties—to apply a rent-to-income ratio to the total rent of a subsidy recipient. The subsidy MUST be subtracted from the rent before testing income. Current verified funds (HomeBASE/RAFT) shall be the sole metric for financial eligibility. "Speculative sustainability" or "income longevity" shall not be used as a basis for rejection.

SECTION 2. Mandatory Acceptance at Regulated Complexes

Any housing development receiving state or local tax credits, or utilizing government housing navigation platforms, is prohibited from rejecting a Priority 4C survivor based on the time-limited nature of their subsidy. These complexes provide the corporate oversight and security required for survivor safety and must remain accessible regardless of current employment status.

SECTION 3. The Financial Abuse & "Ghost Metric" Clause

Rent contribution calculations for survivors of coercive control shall be based on "Liquid Available Assets" rather than gross income. Any funds practically controlled by an abuser or required to mitigate coercion-based debt shall be excluded from the calculation.

SECTION 4. Neuro-Inclusive Resident Continuity & School Protection

Survivors have a statutory right to remain in their resident school systems to prevent the traumatic uprooting of children. The Commonwealth shall adjust HomeBASE stipends to match the Fair Market Rent (FMR) of the survivor's home municipality. The arbitrary 24-month stipend cliff shall be replaced by flexible, non-linear stabilization timelines for neurodivergent (AuDHD) and disabled households.

SECTION 5. Anti-Discouragement Mandate

No state-contracted stabilization agent or diversion specialist shall discourage an applicant from pursuing housing for which they possess verified funds, nor shall they suggest a waiver of rights under M.G.L. c. 151B based on personal opinions regarding "long-term affordability."

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