An Act establishing a rent stabilization commission

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Tara Hong

Creates an 11-member commission to study feasibility, design, and impacts of rent stabilization in Massachusetts, delivering recommendations by 12/31/2026.

Purpose and Intent

HD 391 proposes to create a specialized, independent commission to study the feasibility, impact, and design of a rent stabilization law for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The goal is to assess whether, how, and under what parameters rent stabilization could be implemented, informed by data, experiences in other jurisdictions, and input from a broad range of stakeholders.

Key Provisions

Establishment of a Special Commission: A commission of 11 members will be formed to conduct the study and develop policy recommendations on rent stabilization.

Public Composition and Leadership:

The chair will be the secretary of the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (or the secretary’s designee).
Free-standing appointments include: 2 members appointed by the governor; 2 members from housing nonprofit organizations in the Commonwealth; 1 member from a public housing development organization; 1 member from a private housing development organization; 3 members from communities affected by rent stabilization; and 1 member with a background in real estate.

Study Scope: The commission will examine:

The impact of rent increases on housing affordability, with focus on high-demand areas (e.g., Boston, Lowell, Cambridge) and other gateway cities.
How rent stabilization models operate in other states/municipalities, including successes, challenges, and applicability to Massachusetts.
Economic implications for tenants, landlords, and the broader housing market.
Comprehensive data on rental trends, vacancy rates, displacement, and housing supply to inform policy recommendations.

Public Engagement: The commission shall hold public hearings to incorporate community input into the study.

Reporting: A department (implicitly the relevant housing department) will prepare a report detailing activities, findings, and recommendations. The report will be submitted to:

The Governor;
Chairs of the Joint Committee on Housing;
Chairs of the Senate and House Committees on Ways and Means;
Offices of the House and Senate clerks.
Deadline: on or before December 31, 2026.

Affected Parties

Directly Affected: No immediate policy changes; the bill establishes a study process. The commission’s work and recommendations would influence future housing policy decisions.

Stakeholders Involved:

Government officials (secretary of EOHLC; governor);
Housing advocacy groups and nonprofits;
Public and private housing developers;
Municipal officials and residents in rent-stabilization-affected communities;
Real estate professionals.

Procedural and Timeline Details

Effective Date: The act would take effect 90 days after passage.

Timeline for Output: Public hearings during the study period; final comprehensive report due by December 31, 2026.

Status and Timing: The bill is presented as a proposed measure. Introduced and filed dates shown in the accompanying material indicate 2025–2026 session activity (house docket numbers and sponsor details are provided).

Summary

HD 391 would not enact rent stabilization immediately but would create a structured, multi-stakeholder commission to study its feasibility and design. The commission would produce evidence-based recommendations by late 2026, grounded in data, comparative analysis, and community input, to inform potential future legislation.

Bill