Building Back Stronger for 2027

This session, we pushed hard on rent stabilization, foreclosure prevention, and a full slate of tenant protections. The legislative session closed without action on any of it — on top of a ballot question the courts struck down in June. It's been a hard year for anyone hoping Beacon Hill or the courts would hand us this win.

They didn't. So we're doing what we've always done: going back to the drawing board, building our power, and coming back stronger. HFA Mass is preparing our priorities for the 2027-2028 legislative session now. Bills get refiled in January, and it takes a few weeks after that before we can share new bill numbers.

In the meantime, here's what we fought for this past session — the fight that's picking back up.

Group of diverse people sitting and standing in a room holding signs that support rent control for stable homes and strong communities, with some wearing jackets and colorful clothing, some smiling and looking at the camera.

Previous priority legislation (2025-2026 session)

An Act enabling cities and towns to stabilize rents and protect tenants S.1447 (Sen. Jehlen & Sen. Gomez) / H.2328 (Rep. Dave Rogers & Rep. Montaño) Would have repealed the ban on rent control and enabled municipalities to enact local rent control ordinances to stabilize housing costs and prevent no-cause evictions. [Fact sheet] [Additional rent control info]

An Act establishing a Massachusetts foreclosure prevention program S.765 (Sen. Gomez) / H.1090 (Rep. Barber) Would have established a statewide Foreclosure Prevention Program requiring servicers to participate in pre-foreclosure mediation with homeowners to explore alternatives to foreclosure.

Additional legislation we supported

  • An Act to guarantee a tenant's first right of refusal (TOPA) — S.998 (Sen. Jehlen) / H.1544 (Rep. Livingstone & Rep. Consalvo)

  • An Act granting a local option for a real estate transfer fee to fund affordable housing — S.1937 (Sen. Comerford) / H.3056 (Rep. Connolly & Rep. Gentile)

  • An Act promoting access to counsel and housing stability in Massachusetts — S.968 (Sen. DiDomenico) / H.1952 (Rep. Dave Rogers and Rep. Day)

  • An Act to regulate junk fees in rental housing — S.984 (Sen. Eldridge) / H.1553 (Rep. Montaño & Rep. Sangiolo)

  • An Act relative to creating a permanent affordability homeownership program — S.1010 (Sen. Miranda) / H.1576 (Rep. Worrell)

  • An Act relative to summary process — S.1184 (Sen. Miranda) / H.1895 (Rep. Montaño)

  • An Act improving emergency housing assistance for children and families experiencing homelessness — S.136 (Sen. Gomez) / H.216 (Rep. Decker)

  • An Act providing upstream homelessness prevention assistance to families, youth, and adults — S.961 (Sen. Crighton) / H.1488 (Rep. Decker)

  • An Act promoting housing stability for families by strengthening the HomeBASE program — S.1011 (Sen. Miranda) / H.1469 (Rep. Barber)

  • An Act relative to preventing algorithmic rent fixing in the rental housing market — S.1016 (Sen. Moore) / H.1564 (Rep. Sabadosa)

  • An Act prohibiting algorithmic rent setting — S.994 (Sen. Friedman)

  • An Act establishing a bill of rights for people experiencing homelessness — S.1120 (Sen. Gomez) / H.274 (Rep. Moran)