An Act enabling a local option for a real estate transfer fee to fund affordable housing
Take action
Record your position on this measure.
Create an account to record your position, submit testimony, or contact your legislator.
Progress
Where this bill stands in the legislative process.
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Overview
This bill would allow Massachusetts cities and towns to implement a fee on real estate transfers. The revenue generated from this transfer fee would be dedicated to funding affordable housing initiatives. It creates a local option, meaning municipalities can choose whether or not to adopt this fee. This bill is similar to previous legislation aimed at supporting affordable housing through local revenue streams.
Key provisions
- Allows cities and towns to establish a real estate transfer fee.
- Specifies that revenue from the fee must be used for affordable housing.
- Creates a ‘local option’ – municipalities decide whether to implement the fee.
- The bill is modeled after previous legislation addressing affordable housing funding.
- Revenue generated is specifically earmarked for affordable housing projects.
- The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Revenue.
- The House concurred with the bill on February 27, 2025.
Who is affected
- Homebuyers
- Real estate sellers
- Massachusetts cities and towns
- Affordable housing developers
- Potential residents of affordable housing
Notable changes
- Establishes a new funding source for affordable housing through a real estate transfer fee.
- Provides local governments with the option to implement the fee.
Bill text
Read the latest version inline or switch to a previous version.
Text extraction is in progress. View the official source.
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
19 on record
Primary sponsor
Joanne M. Comerford
Cosponsors
Carmine Lawrence Gentile
James B. Eldridge
Arguments
Reasons offered for and against this legislation.
Arguments in favor
No arguments in favor have been submitted.
Submit yoursArguments opposed
No arguments opposed have been submitted.
Submit yours