HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 5732        FILED ON: 3/4/2026

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Kate Hogan, (BY REQUEST)

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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 relative to survivor sustainability and financial independence.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 5732        FILED ON: 3/4/2026

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

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 relative to survivor sustainability and financial independence.

 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. Statutory Subtraction Rule (Amendment to M.G.L. c. 151B, §4)

 It shall be a per se violation of Chapter 151B for any housing provider—including private developments, Chapter 40B projects, and tax-credit properties—to apply a rent-to-income ratio to the total rent of a subsidy recipient. The subsidy MUST be subtracted from the rent before testing income. Current verified funds (HomeBASE/RAFT) shall be the sole metric for financial eligibility. "Speculative sustainability" or "income longevity" shall not be used as a basis for rejection.

 SECTION 2. Mandatory Acceptance at Regulated Complexes

 Any housing development receiving state or local tax credits, or utilizing government housing navigation platforms, is prohibited from rejecting a Priority 4C survivor based on the time-limited nature of their subsidy. These complexes provide the corporate oversight and security required for survivor safety and must remain accessible regardless of current employment status.

 SECTION 3. The Financial Abuse & "Ghost Metric" Clause

 Rent contribution calculations for survivors of coercive control shall be based on "Liquid Available Assets" rather than gross income. Any funds practically controlled by an abuser or required to mitigate coercion-based debt shall be excluded from the calculation.

 SECTION 4. Neuro-Inclusive Resident Continuity & School Protection

 Survivors have a statutory right to remain in their resident school systems to prevent the traumatic uprooting of children. The Commonwealth shall adjust HomeBASE stipends to match the Fair Market Rent (FMR) of the survivor's home municipality. The arbitrary 24-month stipend cliff shall be replaced by flexible, non-linear stabilization timelines for neurodivergent (AuDHD) and disabled households.

 SECTION 5. Anti-Discouragement Mandate

 No state-contracted stabilization agent or diversion specialist shall discourage an applicant from pursuing housing for which they possess verified funds, nor shall they suggest a waiver of rights under M.G.L. c. 151B based on personal opinions regarding "long-term affordability."