{"AmendmentNumber":"522","ParentBillNumber":"S3178","Bill":null,"Sponsor":{"Id":"PRF0","Name":"Paul R. Feeney","Type":1,"Details":"https://malegislature.gov/api/GeneralCourts/194/LegislativeMembers/PRF0","ResponseDate":"2026-07-17T15:43:00.207"},"Category":null,"Action":"Rejected","RollCall":[],"Title":"Building Starter Homes, Neighborhoods, and Missing Middle Housing \r\n","Branch":"Senate","RedraftNumber":null,"IsFurther":false,"GeneralCourtNumber":194,"Text":"Mr. Feeney, Ms. Rausch and Messrs. Tarr, O'Connor and Eldridge move that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section __ the following sections:- \r\n“SECTION __. Chapter 40S of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended in section 1 by striking out the definitions of “New smart growth development” and “Smart growth zoning district” and inserting in place thereof the following:-\r\n'Addressing Barriers to Construction of Missing-Middle Starter Homes '', any new residential or commercial development, including the substantial redevelopment of existing buildings, subject to the payment of local property taxes that: (a) occurs in a smart growth or starter home zoning district after the adoption of such zoning by the community, and (b) is permitted under the provisions of the smart growth or starter home zoning district. A redevelopment shall be considered substantial if its cost exceeds 50 per cent of the building's pre-renovation assessed value or if it constitutes a change in use from nonresidential to residential.\r\n''Smart growth zoning district'', a zoning district adopted by a community and approved by the department of housing and community development which is eligible, and which remains eligible for density bonus payments under chapter 40R including without limitation smart growth zoning districts as defined in section 1 of chapter 40R and starter home zoning districts as defined in section 1 of said chapter 40Y.\r\nSECTION __. Chapter 40Y of the General Laws are hereby amended by inserting the following section:-\r\nSection 9. Addressing Barriers to Production of Missing-Middle Starter Homes.\r\n(a) There shall be a special commission to study barriers to starter home development and production as defined under section 1 of chapter 40Y.\r\n(b) The commission shall investigate: (i) barriers to starter home construction in the commonwealth; (ii) existing zoning to determine opportunities for starter home zoning districts; (iii) availability of technical assistance for starter home production; (iv) feasibility of constructing starter home lots; (v) resources needed to remove barriers to starter home production; (vi) developer costs associated with the development and construction of starter home lots and units; (vii) buyer costs associated with the purchase, maintenance and sale of a starter home unit or lot ; and (viii) additional funding needed to support construction and zoning of starter home units and lots.\r\n(c) The commission shall consist of: the secretary of housing and livable communities or a designee, who shall serve as chair of the commission; the secretary of labor and workforce development or a designee; the chairs of the joint committee on housing; 1 member appointed by the senate president who shall serve as co-chair; 1 member appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives who shall serve as co-chair; 1 member appointed by the minority leader of the senate; 1 member appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives; the president of the Home Builders & Remodelers Association of Massachusetts or a designee; the executive director of the Massachusetts Municipal Association or a designee; the chair of the Three Rivers Interlocal Council or a designee; the president of the Massachusetts Smart Growth Alliance or a designee; the president of the Associated Industries of Massachusetts or a designee; the chief executive officer of the Citizens' Housing And Planning Association or a designee; the executive director of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council or a designee; the chair of the Rural Policy Advisory Commission or a designee; the president of the Massachusetts Building Trades Council or a designee.\r\n(d) The commission shall file a report of its findings and its recommendations for proposed programs or legislation, if any, by filing the same with the clerks of the senate and house of representatives and the joint committee on housing not later than December 1, 2025.\r\nSECTION __. Chapter 40Y of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition is hereby amended by adding the following new section:-\r\nSection 10. Starter Home Pilot Program.\r\n(a) The executive office of housing and livable communities shall establish a pilot program consisting of three municipalities to incentivize the growth of Starter Home Zoning Districts, as defined in Section 1 of Chapter 40Y of the General Laws.\r\n(b) The executive office of housing and livable communities shall provide technical assistance to the municipalities to determine the feasibility, implementation mechanisms, and available funding for establishing Starter Home Zoning Districts.\r\n(c) The executive office of housing and livable communities shall issue a request for information to determine the available lots per municipality, including, but not limited to, available areas for development of starter homes.\r\n(d) The executive office of housing and livable communities shall issue a request for information for developers interested in building starter homes pursuant to chapter 40Y, including, but not limited to, the construction cost per starter home.\r\n(e) The executive office of housing and livable communities shall, based on the results of subsection (c) and subsection (d), develop reimbursement schedules for each municipality and developer who successful zones and produces new starter homes under this section.\r\n(f) The executive office of housing and livable communities shall provide technical assistance to municipalities and developers to ensure the successful construction of starter homes.\r\n(g) The executive office of housing and livable communities shall report, to the Clerk of the Senate, the Clerk of the House of Representatives, and the Chairs of the Joint Committee on Housing, on a quarterly basis, the number of Starter Home Zoning Districts that have been established in the municipalities enrolled in the pilot program.”\r\n"}