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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3790 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1482
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Manny Cruz and Orlando Ramos
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act to establish an accessory dwelling unit trust fund.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Manny Cruz7th Essex1/17/2025Orlando Ramos9th Hampden1/17/2025John Francis Moran9th Suffolk2/11/2025Marjorie C. Decker25th Middlesex2/18/2025Samantha Montaño15th Suffolk2/18/2025Mike Connolly26th Middlesex2/19/2025Lindsay N. Sabadosa1st Hampshire3/3/2025Carmine Lawrence Gentile13th Middlesex3/12/2025 1 of 3
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3790 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1482
By Representatives Cruz of Salem and Ramos of Springfield, a petition (accompanied by bill,
House, No. 1482) of Manny Cruz, Orlando Ramos and others for legislation to establish an
accessory dwelling unit trust fund. Housing.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act to establish an accessory dwelling unit trust fund.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 The General Laws are hereby amended by inserting after Chapter 121H the following
2chapter: Chapter 121F Accessory Dwelling Unit Fund
3 Section 1. As used in this section, the following words shall have the following meanings
4unless the context clearly requires otherwise
5 "Accessory Dwelling Unit", As defined in MGL Chapter 40a Section 1a
6 "Eligible Participant", A property owner who has an income of up to 110% of the area
7median income, as defined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development
8 "Fund", the Accessory Dwelling Unit Fund established in section 2
9 Section 2. There shall be an Accessory Dwelling Unit Trust Fund to support low- and
10moderate-income property owners whose incomes are not more than 110 per cent of median
11income as determined by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development build an 2 of 3
12Accessory Dwelling Unit. The fund shall be administered by the Executive Office of Housing
13and Livable Communities or through contracts with 1 or more of the following administering
14agencies: (i) the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation, established in
15chapter 40H; (ii) the Massachusetts Housing Partnership Fund, established in section 35 of
16chapter 405 of the acts of 1985; or (iii) the Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency, established
17in chapter 708 of the acts of 1966; provided, that an administering agency may directly offer
18financial assistance for the purposes pursuant to this section or may enter into subcontracts with
19non-profit organizations established pursuant to chapter 180 for those purposes; and provided
20further, that the administering agency may establish additional program requirements through
21regulations or policy guidelines.
22 Section 3. There shall be credited to the fund: (i) revenue from appropriations or other
23money authorized by the general court and specifically designated for the fund; (ii) any gifts,
24grants, private contributions, repayment of loans, fees and charges imposed relative to the
25making of loans, grants, subsidies, credit enhancements and other financial assistance; (iii) any
26investment income earned on the fund’s assets; and (iv) any other sources. Money remaining in
27the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not revert to the General Fund.
28 Section 4. Funds expended pursuant to this chapter may be in the form of grants, loans or
29other financial assistance to eligible participants to build an accessory dwelling unit by providing
30reimbursement or an initial outlay of funds to cover pre-development and non-recurring closing
31costs associated with building an Accessory Dwelling Unit, which may include, but shall not be
32limited to, architectural and design costs, site preparation, such as clearance or landscaping,
33utility connection fees, impact fees, permitting fees, or other services and activities determined 3 of 3
34by the administering agency to be a pre-development or non-recurring closing costs; provided,
35however, that assistance shall be the minimum amount necessary to make a project feasible.
36 Funds expended pursuant to this chapter may finance low and no interest loans, grants,
37subsidies, credit enhancements and other financial assistance as determined by the administering
38agency for the purpose of supporting the construction and development of Accessory Dwelling
39Units; provided, however, that assistance shall be the minimum amount necessary to make a
40project feasible.
41 Section 5. The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities may promulgate
42regulations for the implementation, administration and enforcement of this chapter and may, in
43consultation with the Executive Office of Economic Development, issue guidelines for the fund.