HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1392 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1542
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Meghan K. Kilcoyne
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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 to study single-stair residential buildings.
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PETITION OF:
Name: | District/Address: | Date Added: |
Meghan K. Kilcoyne | 12th Worcester | 1/14/2025 |
Steven Owens | 29th Middlesex | 2/13/2025 |
Christine P. Barber | 34th Middlesex | 2/13/2025 |
John Francis Moran | 9th Suffolk | 2/13/2025 |
Marjorie C. Decker | 25th Middlesex | 2/26/2025 |
Samantha Montaño | 15th Suffolk | 2/26/2025 |
Mike Connolly | 26th Middlesex | 2/26/2025 |
Lindsay N. Sabadosa | 1st Hampshire | 3/14/2025 |
Manny Cruz | 7th Essex | 3/14/2025 |
Natalie M. Higgins | 4th Worcester | 5/30/2025 |
James B. Eldridge | Middlesex and Worcester | 6/13/2025 |
Christopher M. Markey | 9th Bristol | 6/30/2025 |
James C. Arena-DeRosa | 8th Middlesex | 6/30/2025 |
Kevin G. Honan | 17th Suffolk | 10/15/2025 |
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1392 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1542
By Representative Kilcoyne of Clinton, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1542) of Meghan K. Kilcoyne and others for legislation to establish a special commission to study and define conditions under which single-stair multi-family residential buildings up to six stories shall be legalized. 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 to study single-stair residential buildings.
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. (a) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, there shall be a special commission to study and define conditions under which Single-Stair Multi-Family Residential buildings up to six stories shall be legalized in Massachusetts. The commission shall produce a building code amendment that allows single-stair multi-family residential buildings of up to six stories, including measures for mitigating any adverse health and safety impacts unique to single-stair multi-family residential buildings.
(b) The commission shall consist of 1 member representing the Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts, 2 members of the American Institute of Architects, 1 member who is a practicing fire engineer representing the National Fire Protection Association, 2 members representing the Board of Building Regulations and Standards, 1 member representing the American Planning Association Massachusetts Chapter, 1 member representing the Home Builders and Remodelers Association, 1 member representing NAIOP, 1 member representing the Center for Building in North America, 1 member representing a building official employed by a municipality with a Class 1 Fire Department, and 1 member representing Abundant Housing Massachusetts.
(c) The study shall build on the report Legalizing Mid-Rise Single-Stair Housing in Massachusetts produced by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, Boston Indicators, and Utile and shall include, but not be limited to: a technical study into the safety of single-stair residential buildings compared to two-staircase buildings, and a process map and timeline for implementation of the building code amendment.
(d) For costs associated with developing the study and its recommendations, $250,000 shall be allocated from the General Fund.