Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts Senate Bill S1942 Compare Versions

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22 SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1075 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
33 SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1942
44 The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
55 _________________
66 PRESENTED BY:
77 Brendan P. Crighton
88 _________________
99 To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
1010 Court assembled:
1111 The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
1212 An Act relative to neighborhood stabilization and economic development.
1313 _______________
1414 PETITION OF:
1515 NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Brendan P. CrightonThird EssexVanna Howard17th Middlesex2/28/2025 1 of 12
1616 SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1075 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
1717 SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1942
1818 By Mr. Crighton, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1942) of Brendan P. Crighton and
1919 Vanna Howard for legislation relative to neighborhood stabilization and economic development.
2020 Revenue.
2121 [SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
2222 SEE SENATE, NO. 1777 OF 2023-2024.]
2323 The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
2424 _______________
2525 In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
2626 (2025-2026)
2727 _______________
2828 An Act relative to neighborhood stabilization and economic development.
2929 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
3030 of the same, as follows:
3131 1 SECTION 1. Paragraph (5) of subsection (q) of section 6 of chapter 62 of the General
3232 2Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 898
3333 3and 904, the figures “$10,000,000” and inserting in place thereof the figures “$30,000,000”.
3434 4 SECTION 2. Subsection (5) of section 38BB of chapter 63 of the General Laws, as so
3535 5appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 44 and 50, the figures “$10,000,000” and
3636 6inserting in place thereof the figures “$30,000,000”.
3737 7 SECTION 3. Section 3 of chapter 70B of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby
3838 8amended by inserting after the colon, in line 21, the following words:—“neighborhood
3939 9stabilization,”. 2 of 12
4040 10 SECTION 4. Section 1 of chapter 121A of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby
4141 11amended by replacing the definitions of “decadent area”, “sub-standard area”, and “project” with
4242 12the below definitions of those terms, and inserting the following additional definitions after the
4343 13definition of “project”-
4444 14 “Decadent area”, an area, including a spot rehabilitation property, which is detrimental to
4545 15safety, health, morals, welfare or sound growth of a community because of the existence of a
4646 16building or buildings which are out of repair, physically deteriorated, unfit for human habitation,
4747 17or obsolete, or in need of major maintenance or repair, or because much of the real estate in
4848 18recent years has been sold or taken for non-payment of taxes or upon foreclosure of mortgages,
4949 19or because a building or buildings have been torn down and not replaced and in which under
5050 20existing conditions it is improbable that the building or buildings will be replaced, or because of
5151 21a substantial change in business or economic conditions, or because of inadequate light, air, or
5252 22open space, or because of excessive land coverage, or because diversity of ownership, irregular
5353 23lot sizes or obsolete street patterns make it improbable that the area will be redeveloped by the
5454 24ordinary operations of private enterprise, or by reason of any combination of the foregoing
5555 25conditions.
5656 26 “Sub-standard area”, an area, including a spot rehabilitation property, upon which there is
5757 27a dwelling or wherein dwellings predominate which, by reason of dilapidation, overcrowding,
5858 28faulty arrangement or design, lack of ventilation, light, or sanitation facilities, or any
5959 29combination of these factors, are detrimental to safety, health, morals, welfare or sound growth
6060 30of a community. 3 of 12
6161 31 “Project”, any undertaking consisting of the construction in one or more specified
6262 32blighted open, decadent or sub-standard areas of decent, safe and sanitary residential,
6363 33commercial, industrial, institutional, recreational or governmental buildings and such
6464 34appurtenant or incidental facilities as shall be in the public interest, and the operation and
6565 35maintenance of such buildings and facilities after construction. A “project” may include as
6666 36incidental thereto any one or more of the following:— (a) acquisition and assembly of the land
6767 37(and buildings and structures and other improvements thereon, if any) within a blighted open,
6868 38decadent or sub-standard area or areas; (b) clearance of the land within a blighted open, decadent
6969 39or sub-standard area or areas; (c) acquisition, assembly and clearance of land, buildings or
7070 40structures not in themselves blighted, decadent, or sub-standard if their inclusion is necessary for
7171 41the clearance, redevelopment, reconstruction or rehabilitation of a blighted open, decadent or
7272 42sub-standard area or areas; and (d) installation, construction, and reconstruction of public and
7373 43private ways, public utilities and services, and site improvements essential to the preparation of
7474 44blighted open, decadent or sub-standard area or areas for beneficial development or
7575 45redevelopment.
7676 46 “Spot Blight Project Sponsor”, a community development corporation certified under
7777 47chapter 40H; a bona-fide non-profit organization, established under chapter 180 that has, in the
7878 48determination of the housing board, satisfactory and sufficient experience in the construction or
7979 49rehabilitation of residential or non-residential buildings, the creation or provision of affordable
8080 50housing, the restoration of abandoned property, the revitalization and improvement of
8181 51neighborhoods, or a similar purpose; a redevelopment authority established under chapter 121B;
8282 52or a partnership of two or more of any of the foregoing; that is approved under this chapter to
8383 53rehabilitate a spot rehabilitation property. 4 of 12
8484 54 “Spot Rehabilitation Property”, a residential single-family home, a residential building
8585 55with not more than four separate units, a commercial property under 10,000 square feet with a
8686 56building or buildings thereon, or any building under 10,000 square feet with a mix of residential
8787 57and commercial uses that meets the following criteria: (a) the building or buildings on the
8888 58property have been vacant for the last twelve months, (b) construction has not begun pursuant to
8989 59a building permit that has been issued to conduct rehabilitation of the building or buildings on
9090 60the property for the purpose of making the property habitable or useable for commercial
9191 61purposes, and (c) the municipality has made a determination that the building or buildings are
9292 62distressed, upon consideration of the following: the building or buildings are out of repair,
9393 63physically deteriorated, unfit for human habitation, or obsolete, or in need of major maintenance
9494 64or repair, or because the building has been sold or taken for non-payment of taxes or upon
9595 65foreclosure of mortgages.
9696 66 “Spot Rehabilitation Project”, any project, the subject of which consists exclusively of
9797 67spot rehabilitation properties.
9898 68 SECTION 5. Chapter 121A of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby further
9999 69amended by deleting section 7A and inserting in its place the following:-
100100 70 Section 7A. A corporation organized under section three or an insurance company or a
101101 71group of insurance companies or a savings bank or group of savings banks operating under this
102102 72chapter or a spot blight project sponsor may purchase or lease from a housing authority,
103103 73redevelopment authority, municipality or other public body real estate acquired by such
104104 74authority, municipality or public body for land assembly and redevelopment or urban renewal
105105 75purposes under chapter one hundred and twenty-one B, upon such terms and conditions, 5 of 12
106106 76consistent with this chapter, as shall be approved by the housing board and may erect and
107107 77maintain a project upon the land so acquired. Such corporation shall not be required to offer its
108108 78stock to the owners of the real estate within the location of the project and such owners have no
109109 79preferential right to subscribe thereto; but in all other respects the provisions of this chapter shall
110110 80be applicable to corporations acting thereunder and their projects.
111111 81 SECTION 6. Section 11 of chapter 121A of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby
112112 82further amended by inserting the following paragraph after the third paragraph:-
113113 83 A spot blight project sponsor shall have the power, with the approval of the local
114114 84municipality, to sell, exchange, give or otherwise transfer in whole or in part the land or interests
115115 85therein, including air rights, leased or acquired by it under this chapter, with the buildings or
116116 86other structures thereon, constituting a project or portion hereunder to any entity identified in the
117117 87foregoing paragraph, or may sell or lease the spot rehabilitation property to any individual or
118118 88group of individuals intending to use said property for residential use.
119119 89 SECTION 7. Chapter 121A of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby further
120120 90amended by inserting after section 18D the following section:-
121121 91 Section 18E. A spot blight project sponsor may undertake on land owned or to be
122122 92acquired by it one or more spot rehabilitation projects under this chapter, or acquire spot
123123 93rehabilitation projects or any severable portion thereof from corporations, individuals or entities
124124 94authorized to undertake or acquire spot rehabilitation projects under this chapter, and the
125125 95provisions of this chapter, specifically including the powers granted by sections six A and eleven
126126 96and the procedures set forth in section eighteen B shall, to the extent applicable, apply to such
127127 97spot blight project sponsor and such spot rehabilitation projects, excepting the following: 6 of 12
128128 98 (a)The term “corporation” as used in section six A, seven A, section ten, section
129129 99eleven, section twelve, section thirteen, section fourteen, and section fifteen shall be deemed to
130130 100mean spot blight project sponsor with respect to spot blight projects.
131131 101 (b)Section three shall not be applicable to such spot blight project sponsor; and
132132 102provided further, a spot blight project sponsor may undertake more than one spot rehabilitation
133133 103project.
134134 104 (c)Section five shall not be applicable to a spot blight project; provided, however,
135135 105that the spot blight project sponsor shall submit an application for the approval of a spot
136136 106rehabilitation project, in the form required pursuant to section five to the municipality for its
137137 107approval.
138138 108 (d)So much of section six as relates to the agreement of association shall not be
139139 109applicable to such spot blight project sponsor. The first, eighth, ninth, and tenth paragraphs of
140140 110section six shall not be applicable to a spot blight project. The municipality where the spot blight
141141 111project is located shall have full responsibility for approval of the proposed spot blight project as
142142 112set forth in the second through seventh paragraphs of section six. The municipality shall transmit
143143 113its final decision to the housing board for record keeping purposes only.
144144 114 (e)The second paragraph of section six B shall not be applicable to such spot blight
145145 115project sponsor, except that the planning board at least fourteen days before the day of the
146146 116hearing shall mail a notice to each owner of land that is within the proposed spot blight project.
147147 117If service cannot be made, then service shall be made by posting a copy of the notice upon a
148148 118portion of the property facing a public way, by publication of a copy of the notice in one
149149 119newspaper of general circulation, and posting on the municipality’s website. 7 of 12
150150 120 (f)Section seven shall not be applicable to such spot blight project sponsor.
151151 121 (g)So much of section eight as provides that “Every such corporation shall be
152152 122deemed to have been organized to serve a public purpose” shall be construed to mean “Every
153153 123such project shall be deemed to have been undertaken to serve a public purpose”. The term
154154 124“housing board” as used in section eight shall be deemed to mean “municipality”.
155155 125 (h)Section nine shall not be applicable to such spot blight project sponsor.
156156 126 (i)The term “shall” as used in the first and third paragraphs of section ten shall be
157157 127deemed to mean “may” with respect to a spot blight project sponsor. A spot blight project
158158 128sponsor that elects to forego the tax exemptions provided under section ten shall not be required
159159 129to comply with the other provisions of that section, and shall not be required to obtain signatures
160160 130of a majority of the assessors under section six A.
161161 131 (j)So much of section fifteen as relates to reducing the indebtedness of a corporation
162162 132shall apply only to indebtedness incurred in connection with a spot rehabilitation project. The
163163 133term “operating and maintenance expenses” shall be deemed to include rehabilitation costs,
164164 134including any principal and interest on loans used for the project, and costs other than direct
165165 135rehabilitation costs, as well as a developer’s fee to the spot blight project sponsor, which fee shall
166166 136not exceed 20% of the combined cost of acquisition and rehabilitation of the spot rehabilitation
167167 137property.
168168 138 (k)The provisions of sections five, six A, and eleven shall, as modified by this
169169 139section 18E, apply to a spot rehabilitation project whether said spot rehabilitation project is in
170170 140Boston, Springfield or another municipality. 8 of 12
171171 141 SECTION 8. Section 2 of chapter 21E of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby
172172 142amended by striking section (f) within the definition of “Owner,” or “Operator”, and inserting in
173173 143its place the following:
174174 144 (f) A redevelopment authority, redevelopment agency, community development
175175 145corporation, economic development and industrial corporation, or a spot blight project sponsor
176176 146pursuant to chapter 121A shall not be deemed an owner or operator if all of the following
177177 147requirements are met:
178178 148 (1)the redevelopment authority, redevelopment agency, community development
179179 149corporation, economic development and industrial corporation or spot blight project sponsor has
180180 150acquired its portion of the site in accordance with the provisions of chapter 40F, chapter 121A,
181181 151chapter 121B or chapter 121C or any applicable special acts;
182182 152 (2)no act or failure of duty of the redevelopment authority, redevelopment agency,
183183 153community development corporation, economic development and industrial corporation or spot
184184 154blight project sponsor or of any employee or agent thereof, caused or contributed to, or
185185 155exacerbated any release or threat of release of oil or hazardous material at or from the site;
186186 156 (3)the redevelopment authority, redevelopment agency, community development
187187 157corporation, economic development and industrial corporation or spot blight project sponsor
188188 158satisfies all of the following conditions:
189189 159 a) notifies the department in compliance with this chapter and regulations
190190 160promulgated thereto upon obtaining knowledge of a release or threat of release of oil or
191191 161hazardous material for which notification is required pursuant to this chapter and regulations
192192 162promulgated pursuant thereto; 9 of 12
193193 163 b) provides reasonable access to the site or portion of the site under its control to
194194 164employees, agents and contractors of the department for all purposes authorized by this chapter,
195195 165and to other Persons for the purpose of conducting response actions pursuant to this chapter and
196196 166regulations promulgated thereto;
197197 167 c) takes reasonable steps (i) to prevent the exposure of people to oil or hazardous
198198 168material by fencing or otherwise preventing access to the portion of the site under its ownership
199199 169or possession, and (ii) to contain any further release or threat of release of oil or hazardous
200200 170material from a structure or container under its ownership or possession;
201201 171 d) if there is an imminent hazard at or from the portion of the site under its control,
202202 172controls the potential risk to public health, safety, welfare, or the environment at or from the site
203203 173by taking immediate response actions at the portion of the site under its ownership or possession,
204204 174in compliance with this chapter and regulations promulgated thereto;
205205 175 e) conducts any response action undertaken at the site in compliance with this
206206 176chapter and regulations promulgated thereto; and
207207 177 f) acts diligently to sell or otherwise to divest itself of ownership or possession of its
208208 178portion of the site in accordance with the provisions of chapter 40F, chapter 121A½, chapter
209209 179121B or chapter 121C, or any applicable special acts. Whether the redevelopment authority,
210210 180redevelopment agency, community development corporation, economic development and
211211 181industrial corporation or Project Sponsor is acting or has acted diligently to sell or otherwise to
212212 182divest itself of ownership or possession of its portion of the site shall be determined by
213213 183considering the same criteria applicable to secured lenders set forth in subclause (iii) of
214214 184subparagraph (F) of clause (5) of paragraph (c). 10 of 12
215215 185 (4)if the redevelopment authority, redevelopment agency, community development
216216 186corporation, economic development and industrial corporation or spot blight project sponsor
217217 187acquired ownership or possession of a site or portion of a site prior to the effective date of this
218218 188act, the redevelopment authority, redevelopment agency, community development corporation,
219219 189economic development and industrial corporation or spot blight project sponsor notifies the
220220 190department of any releases of oil or hazardous material of which it has knowledge in accordance
221221 191with section 7 and the regulations promulgated thereunder, and shall meet the requirements in
222222 192clause (3) of this paragraph relative to such releases within six months of being notified by the
223223 193department of the requirements in this paragraph.
224224 194 SECTION 9. Chapter 121A of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by
225225 195adding the following sections:
226226 196 Section 20. There shall be a commission to study strategies to improve the quality of the
227227 197housing stock in weak markets with the goal of making these properties safer, more accessible to
228228 198residents with disabilities, and more resilient to climate change. The commission’s review shall
229229 199include, but not be limited to---the use of guidance documents to consistently grant relief from
230230 200building codes in common circumstances where appropriate; provisions to reduce the time and
231231 201cost associated with obtaining variances in circumstances that are consistent with these guidance
232232 202documents; dissemination of creative strategies to use new technologies to address common
233233 203challenges bringing older structures up to code; the deployment of energy efficiency programs,
234234 204Home Modifications Grants, elevator and sprinkler funds, and other resources to help building
235235 205rehab projects in weak markets meet health and safety standards. 11 of 12
236236 206 The commission shall consist of: 2 members of the Senate, 1 of whom shall represent a
237237 207Gateway Municipality as defined in section 3A of chapter 23A of the General Laws and shall
238238 208serve as co-chair; 2 members of the House of Representatives, 1 of whom shall represent a
239239 209Gateway Municipality and shall serve as co-chair; 2 members appointed by the governor, 1 of
240240 210whom shall represent the Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations;
241241 211and 1 of whom shall represent the Rural Policy Advisory Commission; and 6 members appointed
242242 212by the Secretary of Housing and Economic Development: one of the appointive members shall
243243 213be an architect licensed to practice in the commonwealth; one of the appointive members shall be
244244 214a licensed building inspector; one of the appointive members shall be a Gateway Municipality
245245 215housing director; one of the appointive members shall be a fire official from a Gateway
246246 216Municipality; 2 of the appointive members shall be selected after consultation with advocacy
247247 217groups on behalf of persons with disabilities. The commission shall file a report of its findings
248248 218and recommendations, including, but not limited to, legislative, regulatory, and procedural
249249 219changes, with the clerks of the senate and house of representatives, the chairs of the joint
250250 220committee on housing not later than December 31, 2025.
251251 221 SECTION 10. Section 4 of chapter 40V, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting
252252 222the following paragraph:
253253 223 The report shall include, but is not limited to: identification of municipalities with
254254 224approved HD zones, identification of each housing development project that has received
255255 225certification, provide information about each project such as: site address, project sponsor,
256256 226certification level (preliminary, conditional, or final), the range of rents for the residential units,
257257 227the type of residential units and number of each type of residential unit, the total amount of 12 of 12
258258 228qualified project expenditures, the tax credit amount issued or reserved, the completion or
259259 229estimated completion year, and the year the credit was issue.