Senate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2378
Senate, April 6, 2023 -- Majority Report on the Governor’s Reorganization Plan No. 1 of 2023 (submitted
by the Governor pursuant to Article LXXXVII of the Amendments to the Constitution) An Act to create
the executive office of housing and livable communities and to rename the Executive Office of
Economic Development. (House, No. 43).
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Majority Report
On
The Governor’s Reorganization Plan
No. 1 of 2023
(submitted by the Governor pursuant to Article LXXXVII of the Amendments to the
Constitution)
An Act to create the executive office of housing and livable communities and to rename the
Executive Office of Economic Development.
House, No. 43 MAJORITY REPORT
ON THE GOVERNOR’S REORGANIZATION PLAN No. 1
House, No. 43 (2023)
An Act to create the executive office of housing and livable communities and to rename the
Executive Office of Economic Development.
House, No. 43, filed under the provisions of Article LXXXVII of the Amendments to the
Constitution, is the Governor’s plan to separate the current Executive Office of Housing and
Economic Development (EOHED), and create the Executive Office of Housing and Livable
Communities and renames EOHED as the Executive Office of Economic Development.
According to the Governor, in a cover letter submitted with the Reorganization Plan No.
1 (House, No.43) at the time if it’s filing on March 1, 2023, this legislation creates a new
Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities focused on housing production, housing
rehabilitation, housing preservation, housing affordability, fairness and equity in housing
opportunity, emergency and transitional housing, and housing stability and security. The
Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities will serve in the Governor’s cabinet. The bill
also renames the current Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development (EOHED) as
the Executive Office of Economic Development, which will be led by the re-titled Secretary of
Economic Development.
The Governor’s reorganization plan is only the first step in what we expect will be a
continuing collaboration with the Legislature, municipal officials, and key stakeholders
throughout the Commonwealth to increase the production of new housing over the long term.
The key provisions of the bill charge the new Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities
with developing a full array of additional new housing policies that will expand the supply of
affordable, accessible housing across the Commonwealth.
The high points of Reorganization Plan No. 1, as presented to the General Court in House, No.
43, are as follows:
Changes the agency’s name from the Executive Office of Housing and Economic
Development (EOHED) to the Executive Office of Economic Development.
This language continues to establish the office of planning and research, but the new
language includes: the office is subject to appropriation, the office only has to
periodically update a statistical and economic profile of the state and its regions versus
annually, and that the profile will be made available online instead of only in person. It
replaces language that refers to the housing and economic development and replaces it
with language that refers to either housing and livable communities or economic
development or both. Establishes the executive office of housing and livable communities
and its duties. Replaces language that surrounds housing and economic development with
either language that refers to housing and livable communities or economic development
or both. Creates a new section in Chapter 7 that establishes an infrastructure cost council
that shall develop consensus demographic projections for the commonwealth and the
projections shall be used as the basis for developing infrastructure cost projections for
publicly-owned and privately-owned infrastructure. Replaces language that surrounds
housing and economic development with either language that refers to housing and
livable communities or economic development or both. Refers to the Massachusetts office of business development. Section 63 removes subsection (h) which under MOBD’s
purpose was to provide affordable broadband to MA. Section 64 removes subsection that
refers to broadband development. Section 65 changes language around EDIP’s goals to
be more expansive and focus on promoting economic growth. Sections 66 and 67 strike
language surrounding housing and economic development and replace it with language
around economic development. Section 69 removes “5 regional office” and section 70
removes language that the “ombudsman shall establish an advisory group representing
business interests to advise and inform on the impact of regulations on various business
and industry sectors and on the cost of doing business in the commonwealth.” establishes
that the rail-trail construction grants are subject to appropriation. make changes so that it
refers to MOBD and not economic development. Replaces language that surrounds
housing and economic development with either language that refers to housing and
livable communities or economic development or both.
Eliminates the Massachusetts sports partnership. Replaces language that surrounds
housing and economic development with language that refers economic development.
Gives the executive director more authority within the international trade office and the
commission is replaced with the executive director to evaluate the continuing impacts on
state law and regulations of international trade police and agreements, etc. This section
replaces language that surrounds housing and economic development with language that
refers to economic development. It makes a change so that it refers to MOBD and not
economic development.
It creates an employment assistance and training program designed to enlarge and
improve the skills of the work force, especially those within urban areas containing
sections of substantial poverty by MOBD. Replaces language that surrounds housing and
economic development with either language that refers to housing and livable
communities or economic development or both. Removes this language from MassWorks
program. Replaces language that surrounds housing and economic development with
either language that refers to housing and livable communities or economic development
or both.
Establishes that the executive office of housing and livable communities is the principal
office of MA to formulate and carry out state housing policy and its objectives. Section
103 repeals sections 2-4 of Chapter 23B regarding DHCD. Replaces language
surrounding department of housing and community development, for example, “director”
with language surrounding housing and livable communities, for example “secretary”.
Includes several more departments under the executive office of housing and livable
communities under section 16G1/2. Replaces “department” with executive office when
referring to Contracts for non-interest bearing advances to housing authorities;
construction of low rent housing projects. Makes section 10A of chapter 23B which
refers to Contracts for non-interest bearing advances to housing authorities; construction
of low rent housing projects to include: reconstruct, redevelop or replace. Section 110
changes the language so that the proceeds may be used more broadly. Sections 11-15 are
repealed which eliminate the Urban job incentive bureau. Replaces language surrounding
department of housing and community development, for example, “department” with
language surrounding housing and livable communities, for example “executive office”.
The contracts with sponsors of rental housing projects for financial assistance are no
longer subject to a 15 year limit and will be for areas that are located in a housing
development area or the project is a low and moderate income rental housing project and
that 25% of the units in the project will be occupied by those with low incomes. This
creates a HousingWorks infrastructure program within the executive office of housing and livable communities. These sections replace language that surrounds housing and
economic development with language that refers to housing and livable communities or
economic development or both. This section facilitates the transfer of employees,
proceedings, rules and regulations, property and legal obligations and functions of state
governor to either the executive office of economic development or the executive office
of housing and livable communities. It also states that transferring employees to either
executive office will continue employment and benefits. Employees will continue with
their bargaining agreements. Orders, advisories, findings, rules and regulations shall
continue until revised or cancelled by the transferee agency. All existing contracts, leases,
and obligations of the transferor agency shall continue in effect but shall be assumed by
the transferee agency.
This act shall take effect 30 days following enactment.
As this bill was filed pursuant to the provisions of Article LXXXVII of the Amendments to the
Constitution, it cannot be amended and must be accepted or rejected as presented.
1.The Joint Committee Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory
Oversight, to whom was referred Reorganization Plan No. 1 (House, No. 43) of her
Excellency the Governor, reports recommending that the Plan ought to be approved.
2.During the Committee’s March 28
th
public hearing on House, No. 43, members took
testimony.
3.In light of these attestations, the Committee recommended during public executive
session that House, No. 43 ought to be approved.
We, the undersigned members of the Joint Committee Joint Committee on State Administration
and Regulatory Oversight, House, No. 43 ought to be approved.
SenateHouse
Nick CollinsAntonio F. D. CabralJoan B. LovelyMichelle L. CiccoloLiz MirandaRodney M. ElliottMarc R. PachecoJudith A. GarciaJohn C. VelisCarmine Lawrence GentileChristopher M. MarkeyEstela A. ReyesF. Jay BarrowsPeter J. Durant