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HD 1846

An Act relative to home remodeling programs for seniors and people with disabilities

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Chris Flanagan

Establishes a MA program, funded by appropriations, under EOHLC to help seniors and disabled homeowners make accessibility upgrades to their primary residence, via regulations.

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Bill Summary · HD 1846

Summary: An Act relative to home remodeling programs for seniors and people with disabilities (HD 1846)

Purpose and intent

This bill would create and operate a state program to help seniors and individuals with disabilities make accessibility improvements to their primary residences. The program would be administered by the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) and would be subject to appropriation. The overarching goal is to remove barriers to in-home accessibility, enabling affected residents to age in place and maintain safety and independence in their homes.

Key provisions

  • Establishment of a new program within Chapter 23B of the General Laws (added Section 31) to assist seniors and persons with disabilities in making accessibility modifications to their primary residence.
  • The EOHLC is required to establish and operate the program, contingent on appropriations.
  • The Secretary (or head of the EOHLC) must promulgate rules and regulations to define the program’s requirements and standards, including eligibility, allowable improvements, application procedures, and program administration.

Who would be affected

  • Primary beneficiaries: seniors and people with disabilities who own and occupy a primary residence in Massachusetts.
  • Other stakeholders: local contractors and service providers who perform accessibility modifications, and state agencies involved in housing and livable-communities programs.

Funding and implementation

  • The program would operate “subject to appropriation,” meaning it would require new or existing funding in annual state budgets to be active.
  • Regulatory framework would be established by the Secretary to govern how the program functions, including standards for eligibility and the scope of eligible improvements.
  • The bill does not specify exact modification types, funding limits, or eligibility criteria; these details would be defined in the forthcoming regulations.

Legislative and procedural context

  • The bill proposes adding a new Section 31 to Chapter 23B of the General Laws.
  • It references a similar matter previously filed in a prior session (House Bill 3855 of 2023-2024), indicating ongoing legislative interest in home-accessibility remodeling programs.
  • As introduced, the bill requires the legislature to appropriate funds and for the EOHLC to adopt rules before the program can be implemented.

Potential impact and considerations

  • Positive impacts: expands access to in-home accessibility improvements for vulnerable populations, potentially improving safety, independence, and quality of life.
  • Constraints: effectiveness depends on future appropriations and the regulatory framework; without funding, the program would not operate.
  • Implementation considerations: criteria for eligibility, the range of eligible modifications, grant or loan structure, application timeline, program administration, and oversight would be set in regulations.

Bottom line

HD 1846 would authorize (subject to funding) a Massachusetts program under the EOHLC to assist seniors and disabled residents with accessibility modifications to their primary residences, with detailed requirements established through future regulations.

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

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