HB4
Affordable housing; preservation, definitions, civil penalty.
Status:
In Senate
Latest Action:
Feb. 2, 2026
House: Read third time and passed House (65-Y 34-N 0-A)
Chief Patron:
Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D)
Session:
2026 Regular Session
Summary
As Introduced. Preservation of affordable housing; definitions; civil penalty.
Creates a framework for localities to preserve affordable housing by exercising a right of first refusal on publicly supported housing, defined in the bill. The bill authorizes localities to adopt an ordinance that requires an owner to accept a right of first refusal offer by the locality or qualified designee, ... (More) defined in the bill, in order to preserve affordable housing for at least 15 years. The bill requires that any locality with a population greater than 3,500 adopting such an ordinance to preserve affordable housing submit an annual report to the Department of Housing and Community Development pursuant to existing law. (Less)-
Bill History
- 11/17/2025 - House: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100154D
- 11/17/2025 - House: Referred to Committee on General Laws
- 01/19/2026 - House: Assigned HGL sub: Housing/Consumer Protection
- 01/20/2026 - House: Placed on General Laws Agenda
- 01/22/2026 - House: Subcommittee recommends reporting (7-Y 3-N)
- 01/26/2026 - House: Placed on General Laws Agenda
- 01/27/2026 - House: Reported from General Laws (15-Y 6-N)
- 01/29/2026 - House: Read first time
- 01/30/2026 - House: Read second time and engrossed
- 02/02/2026 - House: Read third time and passed House (65-Y 34-N 0-A) Close Floor Vote
