SECTION 1. Chapter 184 of the General Laws is hereby amended adding the following section:-

Section 36. Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Pilot Program

(a) Municipalities may, pursuant to section 4 of chapter 4, establish a five-year tenant opportunity to purchase pilot program; provided, the executive office of housing and livable communities shall promulgate regulations setting forth eligibility criteria by zip code.

Eligibility criteria shall including the following by zip code: (1) no less than 70 per cent of housing units are rental units; (2) high rates of displacement, indicated by disproportionately high eviction rate and applications for supportive housing programs; and (3) a high poverty rate measured by the percentage of individuals or families living at or below the federal poverty line. 

Upon the conclusion of the municipality’s five-year pilot program under this section, the municipality shall produce a report indicating effectiveness, including but not limited to the number of housing units purchased, number of evictions or other displacement avoided, and recommendations for implementing a permanent tenant opportunity to purchase program.

SECTION 2. The office shall promulgate regulations by December 31, 2027, and shall start accepting applicants by June 30, 2028