HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4699

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, November 6, 2025.

The committee on Housing, to whom was referred the 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, reports recommending that the accompanying bill (House, No. 4699) ought to pass [Representative DeCoste of Norwell dissents].

For the committee,

RICHARD M. HAGGERTY.

        FILED ON: 10/31/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4699

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: 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. Said measures mitigating any adverse health and safety impacts would include general fire prevention measures, including smoke alarms, sprinkler systems, fire-resistant materials, emergency exit strategies, and any safety measures pertinent to 527 CMR 1.00.

(b) The commission shall consist of the secretary of housing and livable communities, or their designee, who shall serve as chair, 2 members of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, or their designees, 2 members of Massachusetts Senate, or their designees, 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 drafted building code amendment.

(d) Not later than July 31, 2026, the commission shall file its study with the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate and the joint committee on housing.