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HD 4502

A monthly report of the Executive Office of the Trial Court (under Section 15 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)

Requires the Massachusetts Executive Office of the Trial Court to publish a monthly Permanent Rental Protections report on eviction filings, actions, and outcomes (Jan 2024+).

Placed on file
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HD 4502

Bill HD 4502 – Summary

Title and Purpose

  • Title: A monthly report of the Executive Office of the Trial Court submitting its report on filings, actions, and dispositions of summary process cases relative to permanent rental protections (under Section 15 of Chapter 239 of the General Laws, as amended by Section 64 of Chapter 28 of the Acts of 2023).
  • Purpose: To require the Executive Office of the Trial Court (EOTC) to prepare and submit a monthly report detailing eviction-related filings, actions, and dispositions in connection with Massachusetts’ permanent rental protections. The report is intended to support compliance with the referenced General Laws provision and provide transparency to lawmakers and the public.

Status and Legislative Context

  • Status: Placed on file (no enactment at this time).
  • Introduced: March 20, 2025.
  • Classification: Proposed bill.
  • Administrative locus for reporting: Clerks of the House and Senate, and Ways and Means (House and Senate), as well as Joint Committees on Housing and Judiciary.

Key Provisions and Requirements

  • The bill requires the Executive Office of the Trial Court to prepare a monthly report titled “Permanent Rental Protections,” compliant with Chapter 239, Section 15.
  • Scope of report: Summary statistics on eviction filings, actions, and dispositions from January 2024 through January 2025, with ongoing monthly updates.
  • Data metrics included (as described in the version text):
    • Number of summary process actions filed in each court jurisdiction (Boston Municipal Court, District Court, Housing Court, etc.).
    • Number of default judgments entered, broken down by cause (e.g., nonpayment of rent, eviction, etc.).
    • Number of executions for possession and/or money judgments, by action/type and cause.
    • Continuances and stays related to pending applications for short-term emergency rental assistance under subsection (b) of relevant statute; including counts of continuances granted/denied and stays issued.
    • Average length of time for continuances and stays granted under subsection (b), by court.
    • Number of stays requested, granted, or denied under sections 9 and 10 of Chapter 239.
    • Participation in pre-trial mediation by landlords and tenants, with outcomes where practicable.
    • Access to legal representation and legal services through on-site court diversion and support resources for landlords and tenants.
  • Data accessibility: The document references additional data on eviction filings, tier-1 and tier-2 events, and executions via a Tableau public profile (public.tableau.com/profile/drap4687).

Who Would Be Affected

  • Primary: Executive Office of the Trial Court (responsible for compiling and submitting the monthly report).
  • Secondary: Landlords and tenants involved in summary process (eviction) proceedings; housing, municipal, and district courts in Massachusetts; legislative bodies and oversight committees (Clerk of the House, Clerk of the Senate, Ways and Means, Joint Committees on Housing and Judiciary) that would receive the report.

Data, Transparency, and Timeline

  • Timeframe covered in current version: January 2024 through January 2025 (retrospective data) with ongoing monthly reporting thereafter.
  • Purpose of data collection: Monitor and evaluate the impact of permanent rental protections, especially in relation to emergency rental assistance and related court procedures.
  • Availability: The report includes a notice that additional data, including data on eviction filings and related events, is available via the referenced Tableau link.

Notable Considerations

  • The bill is a reporting obligation rather than a policy change requiring new court procedures, beyond codifying the ongoing requirement to publish these monthly statistics.
  • As introduced and placed on file, the bill does not enact new penalties or funding; it focuses on transparency and data-driven oversight.

If you’d like, I can compare this bill to prior reporting requirements or summarize how the metrics align with current eviction protections and court practices.

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

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