H 4699
An Act to study single-stair residential buildings
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Sign in to take action- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill creates a special commission to study the feasibility and safety of allowing single-stair residential buildings up to six stories in Massachusetts. The commission will analyze the potential impacts of such buildings and develop a proposed building code amendment with necessary safety measures. It will draw upon existing research and include technical studies and a timeline for implementation.
Key provisions
- Establish a commission to study single-stair residential buildings.
- The commission will develop a building code amendment.
- The amendment will include measures to mitigate safety risks.
- The study will be based on existing research from Harvard and other organizations.
- The commission will include representatives from various stakeholder groups.
- The commission must file its study by July 31, 2026.
Who is affected
- Developers of residential buildings
- Homeowners in Massachusetts
- Fire safety professionals
- Building regulators
- Municipalities
Notable changes
- The bill proposes to legalize single-stair multi-family residential buildings up to six stories.
- It requires the development of a new building code amendment specifically addressing the safety of these buildings.
- The amendment will include measures like fire alarms, sprinkler systems, and fire-resistant materials.
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsor
Joint Committee on Housing
Cosponsors
Christine P. Barber
Christopher M. Markey
James B. Eldridge
James C. Arena-DeRosa
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Bill H.4699 194th (Current)
An Act to study single-stair residential buildings
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Bill Information
Bill Information
Sponsor: Joint Committee on Housing Status: Referred to House Committee on Ways and Means
Tabs
Bill History Cosponsors Committee Vote Committee Summary
Bill History
Displaying 3 actions for Bill H.4699
| Date | Branch | Action |
| 11/6/2025 | House | Reported from the committee on Housing |
| 11/6/2025 | House | New draft of H1542 |
| 11/6/2025 | House | Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Ways and Means |
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