HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4956        FILED ON: 3/18/2020

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4718

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Lindsay N. Sabadosa and Paul W. Mark

_________________

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 providing for a rent increase freeze in response to COVID-19.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Lindsay N. Sabadosa

1st Hampshire

3/18/2020

Paul W. Mark

2nd Berkshire

3/20/2020

Tami L. Gouveia

14th Middlesex

3/18/2020

Nika C. Elugardo

15th Suffolk

3/19/2020

Marcos A. Devers

16th Essex

3/19/2020

Mike Connolly

26th Middlesex

3/19/2020

Maria Duaime Robinson

6th Middlesex

3/19/2020

Denise Provost

27th Middlesex

3/19/2020

Christine P. Barber

34th Middlesex

3/19/2020

Elizabeth A. Poirier

14th Bristol

3/19/2020

Brian M. Ashe

2nd Hampden

3/19/2020

Jack Patrick Lewis

7th Middlesex

3/20/2020

José F. Tosado

9th Hampden

3/20/2020

Anne M. Gobi

Worcester, Hampden, Hampshire and Middlesex

3/20/2020

Adrian C. Madaro

1st Suffolk

3/20/2020

Tricia Farley-Bouvier

3rd Berkshire

3/20/2020

Christopher M. Markey

9th Bristol

3/20/2020

Kay Khan

11th Middlesex

3/20/2020

John H. Rogers

12th Norfolk

3/23/2020

Natalie M. Higgins

4th Worcester

3/23/2020

Mary S. Keefe

15th Worcester

3/23/2020

Alan Silvia

7th Bristol

3/25/2020

Patrick M. O'Connor

Plymouth and Norfolk

3/25/2020

James B. Eldridge

Middlesex and Worcester

3/25/2020

Michelle M. DuBois

10th Plymouth

3/25/2020

Steven Ultrino

33rd Middlesex

3/25/2020

Sean Garballey

23rd Middlesex

3/25/2020

Bud L. Williams

11th Hampden

3/26/2020

Natalie M. Blais

1st Franklin

3/26/2020

David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf

17th Worcester

3/26/2020


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4956        FILED ON: 3/18/2020

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4718

By Representatives Sabadosa of Northampton and Mark of Peru, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Lindsay N. Sabadosa, Paul W. Mark and others relative to rent freeze and rent control during the state and federal state of emergency declarations of March, 2020.  Housing.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)

_______________

 

An Act providing for a rent increase freeze in response to COVID-19.

 

Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to ensure residents of the Commonwealth are able to remain safely housed during the COVID-19 pandemic, therefore it is hereby declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, safety, health and convenience.
 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1-Chapter 40P of the General Laws is hereby suspended in Sections 2, 3, and 4 for the duration and 30 days following the COVID-19 state and federal state of emergency declarations of March, 2020.

SECTION 2-Chapter 40P of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

Section 6. (a) The Department of Housing and Community Development shall be empowered to issue, maintain, and enforce a rent freeze and/or rent control within the Commonwealth for the duration and 30 days following the COVID-19 state and federal state of emergency declarations of March, 2020.

(b) A city or town may enact, maintain, or enforce rent freezes and/or rent control for the duration and 30 days following the COVID-19 state and federal state of emergency declarations of March, 2020.