WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HD 6026

A communication from the Executive Office of the Trial Court (see Section 15(c) of Chapter 239 of the General Laws, as amended by Section 64 of Chapter 28 of the Acts of 2023) submitting its report on filings, actions, and dispositions of summary process cases relative to permanent rental protections

194th Legislature (2025-2026)

Massachusetts requires monthly Trial Court reports on eviction filings, outcomes, and stays, including emergency rental assistance impacts and mediation participation.

Placed on file
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HD 6026

Overview

  • Jurisdiction: Massachusetts
  • Bill: HD 6026, Session 194th
  • Title: A communication from the Executive Office of the Trial Court submitting its report on filings, actions, and dispositions of summary process cases relative to permanent rental protections (see Section 15(c) of Chapter 239 of the General Laws, as amended by Section 64 of Chapter 28 of the Acts of 2023)
  • Committee to receive the report: House Ways and Means; Senate Ways and Means; Joint Committee on Housing; Joint Committee on the Judiciary
  • Purpose in brief: Provide monthly, data-driven reporting from the Trial Court on eviction (summary process) filings, outcomes, and related data, with emphasis on temporary/permanent rental protections and emergency rental assistance programs.

What the bill does

  • Requires the Massachusetts Trial Court, via the Executive Office of the Trial Court, to submit a monthly report to the specified clerks and committees.
  • The report aggregates and presents data on summary process (eviction) filings, actions, and dispositions for January 2025 through February 2026, consistent with General Laws Chapter 239, Section 15.
  • The report is organized to cover a broad set of data points across multiple pages, including:
    • Page 1: Number of summary process actions filed in each court with jurisdiction.
    • Page 2: Default judgments, broken down by the reason for the eviction filing.
    • Page 3: Executions for possessions orders granted, broken down by filing reason.
    • Page 4–5: Data related to continuances and stays granted or issued due to pending applications for short-term emergency rental assistance (Section b of subsection).
    • Page 6: Average length of continuances and stays granted under the emergency rental assistance provision.
    • Page 7: Stays or other action under sections 9 and 10 of Chapter 239 (eviction-related stays).
    • Page 8: Participation in pre-trial mediation by landlords and tenants, and, when possible, mediation outcomes.
    • Page 9: Numbers of landlords and tenants receiving legal representation or legal services through on-site court diversion and support resources.
  • Additional context notes that data on eviction filings, tier-1 and tier-2 events, and executions is available via a Tableau data source.

Key provisions and data themes

  • Monthly reporting cadence to enhance transparency and oversight of eviction activity.
  • Stratified data by court, filing reason, and disposition type (e.g., default judgments, executions for possession).
  • Incorporation of emergency rental assistance program implications, including:
    • Tracking continuances and stays tied to pending short-term emergency rental assistance applications.
    • Measuring durations of these continuances and stays to assess impact and timeliness.
  • Mediation and legal services reporting:
    • Engagement levels in pre-trial mediation between landlords and tenants.
    • Access to legal representation and on-site legal resources, including court diversion and support services.

Who is affected

  • Landlords and tenants involved in eviction proceedings:
    • Gains enhanced visibility into trends, outcomes, and mediation engagement.
  • Courts and the Trial Court system:
    • Responsible for compiling, maintaining, and publishing monthly data consistent with the statute.
  • State policymakers and committees:
    • House Ways and Means; Senate Ways and Means; Joint Committee on Housing; Joint Committee on the Judiciary receive the data to inform oversight, budget, and policy discussions.
  • Agencies implementing emergency rental assistance:
    • Data will reflect the interplay between eviction cases and emergency rental assistance programs, informing program effectiveness and wait times.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • The report is to be submitted monthly, covering data from January 2025 through February 2026.
  • The document is to be sent to:
    • Clerk of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
    • Clerk of the Massachusetts Senate
    • House Committee on Ways and Means
    • Senate Committee on Ways and Means
    • Joint Committee on Housing
    • Joint Committee on the Judiciary
  • The action history indicates: “2026-05-14: Placed on file” (the report has been filed or otherwise acknowledged).
  • Basis for reporting: General Laws Chapter 239, Section 15, as amended by Section 64 of Chapter 28 of the Acts of 2023, with a focus on fostering transparency around permanent rental protections and emergency rental assistance.

Why this matters

  • Enhances accountability and data-driven policy assessment for eviction proceedings and rental protections.
  • Helps track the effectiveness and timeliness of emergency rental assistance in preventing displacements.
  • Provides a clearer view of how mediation and access to legal resources influence eviction outcomes.
  • Supports legislative and budgetary decision-making with concrete, monthly eviction data.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.