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.

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 Montaño) Would have repealed the ban on rent control and enabled municipalities to enact local rent control ordinances to stabilize housing costs and prevent no-cause evictions.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)