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S 232

Adds elderly persons to disaster preparedness registries and creates a state emergency assistance database

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jim Tedisco

Requires real estate licensees in MA to complete minimum fair housing and diversity training in pre-licensing (4 of 40 hours) and renewals (at least 2 of 6-12 hours).

REFERRED TO VETERANS, HOMELAND SECURITY AND MILITARY AFFAIRS
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Bill Summary · S 232

Summary — S.232 (2025) — Fair Housing Education for Real Estate Licensees

Note on document inconsistencies: The version of the bill text provided concerns amendments to Massachusetts real estate education requirements to add fair housing/diversity training. However, other header information (title about disaster registries), sponsor lists, and committee referrals in the supplied materials appear inconsistent or erroneous. This summary is based on the actual bill text included in the packet (amendments to chapter 112, sections 87SS and 87XX1/2).

Main purpose

Require explicit fair housing and diversity/inclusion instruction in both pre-licensing and continuing education for real estate brokers and salespeople licensed in Massachusetts, and clarify minimum classroom-hour requirements for those programs.

Key provisions

  • Pre-licensing (amendment to section 87SS, ch.112)

    • Requires proof of completion of board‑approved real estate courses totaling 40 classroom hours as a prerequisite to taking the salesperson examination.
    • At least 4 of the 40 hours must cover fair housing law or diversity and inclusion in real estate.
    • Preserves an exception allowing applicants who completed a real property course in an accredited Massachusetts law school to take the exam.

  • Continuing education (amendment to section 87XX1/2, ch.112)

    • Requires licensed brokers and salespersons to complete board‑approved continuing education within each renewal period.
    • Total continuing education attendance is set at a minimum of 6 hours and a maximum of 12 hours per renewal period, as determined by the board.
    • Curriculum must include at least 6 hours relating to compliance with laws and regulations, including:
    • At least 2 hours specifically on fair housing law or diversity and inclusion; and
    • An additional 4 hours selected from topics such as fair housing; equal employment opportunity; accessibility for the disabled; agency law; environmental issues; zoning and building codes; real estate appraisal and financing; property tax assessment and valuation; and real estate board regulations.

Who is affected

  • Primary: Individuals applying for or holding Massachusetts real estate broker or salesperson licenses.
  • Secondary: Real estate schools and continuing education providers (must adjust curricula and obtain board approval), the state real estate licensing board (oversight/approval/enforcement), and consumers (potentially improved fair housing compliance and awareness).

Potential impacts

  • Improves standardized exposure to fair housing law and diversity topics among licensees, intended to reduce discriminatory practices and enhance compliance.
  • Adds explicit minimum fair housing training hours to both pre‑licensing and renewal requirements; may increase course costs/time for applicants and licensees.
  • Administrative impact on the licensing board to approve courses and monitor compliance.

Procedural status and timeline (as provided)

  • Introduced in Senate: 01/23/2025
  • Referred to committees and hearings (dates in packet):
    • Hearing scheduled: 04/14/2025 (A‑2)
    • Referred to Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure: 02/27/2025
    • Read twice and referred to Judiciary: 01/23/2025
    • Reported favorably by committee and referred to Senate Ways & Means: 11/10/2025
  • Note: The provided materials contain duplicate and conflicting referral entries (also show referrals to Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs). Petitioners listed in the bill text are Paul R. Feeney and Pavel M. Payano; other listed sponsors in the packet appear inconsistent with a state bill and may be incorrect.

If you want, I can:
- Produce a redline showing the exact statutory language changes, or
- Draft a short explainer for real estate schools on how to update curricula to comply.

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

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