Press Room

 Legislation Aids Home Buyers and Renters, Auto Shoppers, and the Certified Public Accountant Workforce

(BOSTON—2/5/2026) The Senate Committee on Ways and Means today advanced three consumer protection and professional licensure bills for consideration next week by the full Senate, including a measure to combat unfair discrimination in the housing market.

Members of the Ways and Means Committee voted unanimously to report new drafts of the bills, including legislation to strengthen the state’s consumer protections for auto purchases and to help maintain the availability of the high-quality certified public accountant workforce.

During today’s session, the Senate scheduled debate on all three bills for Thursday, February 12. Senators are able to file amendments until 2:30 p.m. on Monday, February 9.

The housing anti-discrimination bill—S.2947, An Act regarding fair housing practices in the Commonwealth—would require mandatory Fair Housing Law training for real estate agents, enhance license suspensions for repeated cases of discrimination against potential buyers or tenants, and regularly make data about discrimination complaints available to the public. Originally filed by Senator Adam Gómez (D-Springfield), a version of the bill was advanced by the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure on October 28, 2025 after receiving public testimony at a hearing on July 14, 2025. (Ways and Means vote: 15-0)

The suite of protections for auto buyers—S.2945, An Act modernizing protections for consumers in automobile transactions—would create a more reasonable timeline for consumers to have their vehicle inspected under the Lemon Law, increase the maximum mileage of used car warranties, and give vehicle lessees a grace period to rectify a payment default before their auto is repossessed. The bill, sponsored by Senator Paul R. Feeney (D-Foxborough), was previously reported from the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure on November 13, 2025 following a public hearing held on October 14, 2025. (Ways and Means vote: 16-0)

The certified public accountant legislation—S.2946, An Act relative to modernizing the pathway to becoming a certified public accountant—aims to boost the CPA workforce by emphasizing on-the-job experience as a qualification for licensure when combined with collegiate education. Filed by Senator John J. Cronin (D-Fitchburg), the bill was advanced by the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure on November 13, 2025 after a public hearing held June 2, 2025.

All committee votes are publicly posted on the Legislature’s website. Fact sheets providing details of the legislation are available in the Senate Press Room.

###