Chapter 23B of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

Section 37. (a) The executive office of housing and livable communities shall promulgate regulations related to exclusionary zoning, which shall include: (i) a definition of exclusionary zoning; (ii) a process by which residents, developers and other parties that believe that a municipality is engaging in exclusionary zoning can bring a claim to the executive office; and (iii) a review process in which the executive office may make a determination that a municipality has engaged in exclusionary zoning.

(b) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, if the executive office determines that a municipality has engaged in exclusionary zoning, the executive office may take authority over the municipality’s zoning for a period of at least 4 years. After 4 years from the date of the executive office’s determination, the municipality may petition the executive office to regain control of the municipality’s zoning.