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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2108 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 997
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Adam Gomez
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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 creating an office of tenant protections.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Adam GomezHampden 1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2108 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 997
By Mr. Gomez, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 997) of Adam Gomez for legislation
to create an office of tenant protections within the executive office of housing and livable
communities. 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 creating an office of tenant protections.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 Chapter 23B of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby
2amended by inserting the following section:-
3 Section 31. There shall be within the executive office of housing and livable communities
4an office of tenant protections. The secretary of housing and livable communities shall appoint a
5director of the office who shall serve at the pleasure of the secretary.
6 The office shall: (1) enforce, concurrent with the commissioner of public health and local
7boards of health, the minimum standards of fitness for human habitation as defined by 105 CMR
8410.000 (State Sanitary Code, Chapter II); (2) have the powers necessary to enforce the
9standards set forth in subsection (1) including: (i) the power to inspect residences as defined by
10105 CMR 410.010, (ii) the power to issue and serve orders of noncompliance with the minimum
11standards of fitness for human habitation, (iii) the power to hold hearings on the orders 2 of 2
12mentioned in clause (ii), (iv) the power to issue fines for violations 105 CMR 410.000 in
13accordance with 105 CMR 400.700 (3) enforce compliance with 940 CMR 3.17
14 Final decisions on noncompliance shall be subject to judicial appeal in the same manner
15as those made by boards of health under 105 CMR 400.600.
16 The executive office of housing and livable communities shall promulgate regulations or
17guidance to carry out this section.