SENATE DOCKET, NO. 804        FILED ON: 1/14/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

John J. Cronin

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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:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 804        FILED ON: 1/14/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  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 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.