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H 1561

An Act requiring notice to landlords relating to gas or electric shutoffs

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Jeff Roy

Utilities must notify the property owner within 14 days of tenant delinquency or scheduled shutoffs, to inform landlords who live in rental properties.

Hearing scheduled for 11/19/2025 from 11:00 AM-05:00 PM in Gardner Auditorium
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Bill Summary · H 1561

Summary: H.1561 — An Act requiring notice to landlords relating to gas or electric shutoffs

Purpose and intent

This bill would require gas and electric utilities to provide notice to the owner of a residential rental property when a tenant is delinquent on charges or when a service termination is proposed or scheduled. The aim is to ensure landlords are informed about tenants’ delinquent bills and potential shutoffs, enabling landlords to respond or intervene as appropriate.

Key provisions

  • Amends Section 124 of Chapter 164 of the General Laws by adding a new requirement that utilities must notify the owner of a rental dwelling unit when:
    • The tenant is the customer of record and there are delinquent charges.
    • The owner has written notice that the property is a residential rental property and has provided a complete and accurate mailing address.
    • The notice must be served within 14 days after charges become past due.
  • For service terminations:
    • If the tenant seeks to terminate a service agreement (or if there is no duly constituted customer of record), the utility must notify the owner of the rental property at least 14 days prior to any scheduled termination.
    • This notice also requires that the owner has provided written, complete, and accurate mailing information.
  • The bill specifies that these notices are to be sent to the owner, not directly to the tenant, under the conditions described.

Who is affected

  • Residential landlords who own properties identified as rental dwellings.
  • Gas and electric utilities operating within Massachusetts.
  • Tenants (indirectly), as their delinquency and potential shutoffs trigger landlord notifications.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introduced: February 27, 2025.
  • Referred to the House Committee on Housing (House Docket No. 512).
  • Related matter previously filed in the 2023-2024 session (House No. 1370).
  • Current status: Hearing scheduled for November 19, 2025, from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM in Gardner Auditorium.
  • Senate concurrence is noted in the bill’s record; committee action and final passage remain to be determined.

Legislative actions and sponsorship

  • Sponsor: Representative Jeffrey N. Roy (primary).
  • Legislative actions include referral to the Housing committee and upcoming hearing.

Potential impact

  • Improves landlord visibility into tenants’ delinquency and potential shutoffs, potentially enabling early landlord intervention or dispute resolution.
  • May increase administrative duties for utilities to maintain and transmit landlord contact information and timely notices.
  • Does not specify penalties or enforcement mechanisms within the bill text.

Related notes

  • The bill’s provisions are designed to apply when owners have provided written confirmation of rental-property status and mailing addresses, and when the tenant is the customer of record (for delinquency notices) or when a termination is proposed/scheduled (for shutoff notices).

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

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