Bill H.1689 193rd (Current)

Emergency Preamble

Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to reverse the impact of structural racism in the illegal lending and taking of title to property and myriad associated damages and to end the lengthy delay of justice that thus far has meant justice denied. Whereas, the deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose,  which is like that of the first true Massachusetts recording act, “For avoiding all fraudulent conveyances, and that every man may know what estate or other interest other men may have in any houses, lands, or other hereditaments they are to deal in….” 1 Mass. Colonial Records 306 (1640); including to facilitate the accurate determination of title to real estate in the commonwealth; to enable every homeowner with a mortgage on real property to know at all times who holds the mortgage and who owns the mortgage note; to enable municipalities to know who is liable for real estate taxes and other charges pertaining to properties; to provide certain foreclosure-related criminal provisions, and to re-establish the settled meanings of certain terms defined herein, therefore it is hereby declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public convenience.