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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3391 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1531
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Bradley H. Jones, Jr.
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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 establishing a commission to study housing affordability and density reform.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Bradley H. Jones, Jr.20th Middlesex1/17/2025Kimberly N. Ferguson1st Worcester1/17/2025Paul K. Frost7th Worcester1/31/2025Todd M. Smola1st Hampden3/10/2025David F. DeCoste5th Plymouth1/28/2025Hannah Kane11th Worcester1/30/2025 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3391 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1531
By Representative Jones of North Reading, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1531) of
Bradley H. Jones, Jr. and others for an investigation and study by a special commission
(including members of the General Court) to study housing affordability and density reform.
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 establishing a commission to study housing affordability and density reform.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, there shall be a
2special commission to study and provide recommendations on the feasibility of reforms to
3improve housing affordability, increase housing density, and reduce regulatory barriers in the
4Commonwealth. The commission shall: (1) Analyze the impact of zoning regulations, such as
5minimum lot sizes, height restrictions, and multi-family housing prohibitions, on housing supply
6and affordability; (2) Investigate the effects of exclusionary zoning practices that limit housing
7accessibility for low- and moderate-income residents; (3) Study best practices from other states
8and regions, particularly those employing higher-density development and streamlined
9regulatory processes; (4) Utilize econometric models and AI-driven methodologies to evaluate
10current housing regulations and propose cost-effective reforms; (5) The commission shall make
11determinations on the feasibility of implementing zoning reforms in Massachusetts, including
12incentivizing higher-density development and simplifying permitting processes. 2 of 2
13 SECTION 2. The commission shall consist of the house and senate chairs of the Joint
14Committee on Housing, who shall serve as co-chairs; the Speaker of the House of
15Representatives or a designee; the President of the Senate or a designee; the House Minority
16Leader or a designee; the Senate Minority Leader or a designee; a housing economist from the
17Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, appointed by its president; a municipal planner with experience
18in zoning reform, appointed by the Massachusetts Municipal Association; a representative from
19the Massachusetts Home Builders Association, appointed by its board of directors; a legal
20scholar specializing in property rights and land use law, appointed by the Dean of a
21Massachusetts law school; and a nonprofit housing advocate with experience in affordable
22housing development, appointed by the Governor.
23 SECTION 3. The commission shall submit its report and findings, along with any
24recommendations, to the house and senate committees on ways and means, the Joint Committee
25on Housing, and the clerks of the House of Representatives and the Senate no later than 12
26months after the passage of this legislation.