Bill
S 1018
MA S.1018 lets municipalities opt to require owner-occupancy for ADUs, reversing a 2024 ban and giving local control over rental supply and housing policy.
Note on documents provided
- The materials supplied appear to combine two different bills that share the number “S 1018” but are from different jurisdictions and address entirely different subjects. One is a Massachusetts bill titled “An Act allowing municipalities to preserve owner occupancy” (MA S.1018). The other is an Idaho Senate bill that amends counseling/therapist licensing statutes to make fingerprint checks discretionary (ID SB 1018). Below are concise, separate summaries of each version and a short note on procedural/status inconsistencies to help you verify which bill you intend to track.
Purpose and intent
- To restore local discretion by allowing municipalities to adopt or retain owner-occupancy requirements for accessory dwelling units (ADUs). The change reverses part of Chapter 150 of the Acts of 2024 that limited municipal authority.
Key provision
- Amends Section 8 of Chapter 150 of the Acts of 2024 by striking “shall not” and replacing it with “may.” In practice, this changes a statewide prohibition into a permissive grant of authority, enabling municipalities to opt to preserve owner-occupancy requirements for ADUs.
Who is affected
- Municipal governments: gain explicit authority to require owner-occupancy for ADUs.
- Property owners and developers: local rules could restrict the ability to rent ADUs or use them as non-owner-occupied rental units.
- Renters and housing market: potential for reduced supply of long-term rental units in jurisdictions that adopt owner-occupancy requirements.
Procedural / timeline notes
- Filed as Senate Docket No. 2085 on 1/17/2025 (petitioned by Sen. Patrick M. O’Connor).
- Referred to committee on Housing (per provided actions).
- Hearing scheduled (per the bill information provided) for 06/25/2025, 1:00–5:00 PM in room B-1.
- Recommendation for tracking: confirm the bill number and text on the Massachusetts Legislature website to get committee reports, amendments, and final status.
Potential impacts to watch
- Local adoption: if many municipalities exercise the “may” option, ADU rental supply could decline locally.
- Housing policy trade-offs: increased local control vs. statewide housing production goals enacted in 2024.
Purpose and intent
- To make fingerprint-based criminal history background checks for counselor and therapist licensure discretionary — required only if the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL) determines fingerprinting is necessary.
Key provisions / statutory changes
- Amends Idaho Code sections 54-3405, 54-3405A, 54-3405B, and 54-3405C (which set licensure qualifications for licensed professional counselors, licensed clinical professional counselors, licensed associate marriage and family therapists, and licensed marriage and family therapists).
- Replaces blanket language requiring fingerprint-based criminal history background checks with wording that requires such checks only “if required by the division of occupational and professional licenses.”
- Includes an emergency clause making the act effective immediately upon passage.
Fiscal note / budget impact
- Fiscal note (revised) states no impact to the state General Fund, dedicated funds, or federal funds. It notes the change is responsive to a prior 2024 law (H 490) that had added fingerprinting in anticipation of an interstate compact that did not pass.
- Potential minor revenue increases noted only for certain second violations (per the fiscal note language).
Who is affected
- Applicants and licensees in counseling and marriage & family therapy professions in Idaho.
- DOPL: gains discretion to require fingerprinting where it deems necessary; otherwise fingerprinting may not be performed.
- Public safety and employers: potential changes in background check practices depending on DOPL’s implementation.
Procedural / timeline notes
- The Idaho bill text includes an emergency declaration. Fiscal note dated 02/03/2025; other Idaho legislative actions in Jan 2025 are listed in the supplied materials. Verify the Idaho Legislature records for current committee referral/status.
Recommendation
- Confirm which S 1018 (state and chamber) you want to follow. Use the appropriate state legislature website (Massachusetts General Court or Idaho Legislature) and the docket/bill number to retrieve the authoritative bill text, sponsors, committee referrals, hearing notices, and amendments. If you’d like, tell me which jurisdiction you want prioritized and I will produce a focused, updated tracking summary.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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