Massachusetts House Bill H1941

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/27/25
• Refer: 2/27/25

Caption

Relative to housing court jurisdiction

Impact

If enacted, HB 1941 is expected to have significant implications for state housing law. By broadening the jurisdiction of the Housing Court, the bill would empower judges to handle cases more efficiently regardless of their location, ultimately increasing access to housing justice for landlords and tenants across various municipalities. This could lead to more expedient resolutions of disputes and provide the courts with the authority to address housing issues in a more coordinated manner.

Summary

House Bill 1941, presented by Representative Adrianne Pusateri Ramos, seeks to amend the jurisdictional boundaries of the Housing Court in Massachusetts. Specifically, the bill proposes revising Section 3 of Chapter 185C of the General Laws to remove existing geographic restrictions on where cases can be heard. This change is aimed at simplifying and enhancing access to justice for residents involved in housing disputes, particularly in areas currently designated to specific courts in Boston and other counties. The bill essentially aims to allow for broader jurisdictional reach of the Housing Court across the Commonwealth, thereby accommodating the caseload better and increasing judicial flexibility.

Contention

Although specifics on objections to the bill were not explicitly detailed in the available discussions, changes to jurisdictional boundaries often provoke debate among legal practitioners and community stakeholders. Potential concerns may include the adequacy of resources within the Housing Court to manage the increased caseload or how local disparities in housing markets could affect legal proceedings. Some jurisdictions might prefer maintaining local oversight of housing issues to ensure tailored responses to community-specific challenges, which could lead to contention regarding the bill’s provisions.