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H 1476

An Act to codify pet-friendly elderly housing policies and ensure pet parity across housing authorities

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Jim Arciero and 32 co-sponsors

Codifies pet-friendly policies in state-aided elderly housing, banning breed bans and high pet deposits, and prevents eviction solely for pet ownership.

Reporting date extended to Wednesday, December 3, 2025
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Bill Summary · H 1476

Summary of House Bill H.1476: An Act to codify pet-friendly elderly housing policies and ensure pet parity across housing authorities

Overview and purpose

H.1476 seeks to codify pet-friendly policies for residents of state-aided public housing for the elderly and to promote pet parity across housing authorities. The bill would add a formal program and set of protections to ensure that elderly residents may keep domesticated pets in state-aided housing, subject to regulations updated by the executive office of housing and livable communities (EOHLC).

Key provisions

Creation of a pet ownership program (Section 5C of Chapter 23B)

  • The EOHLC is authorized and directed to continue and maintain a program of pet ownership for residents of state-aided public housing for the elderly.
  • Definitions: A “pet” means any domesticated animal commonly kept in a household.
  • Protections for residents:
    • State-aided housing facilities may not prohibit keeping dogs based on breed, size, weight, or appearance.
    • Pet declawing cannot be required.
    • Pet deposits greater than $160 or more than one month’s rent (whichever is less) cannot be imposed.
    • Eviction solely based on the presence of a pet is prohibited.
  • Exceptions: A dog declared dangerous by a municipality under section 157 of Chapter 140 need not reside in state-aided housing.
  • Regulations: The department must update regulations relating to pet ownership in state-aided housing.
  • Enforcement: Violations are subject to penalties established in Section 5C of Chapter 23B.

Advisory group (Section 2)

  • An advisory group with specified members to assist with policy and regulatory developments:
    • Secretary or designee of the EOHLC
    • Local housing authority representative
    • Two representatives of a local tenant organization in state-aided housing
    • Representative of the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination
    • Representative of a tenants’ rights organization
    • Animal control officer
    • Representative of the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA)
    • Representative of the Animal Rescue League of Boston
  • The group appoints a chair and advises on:
    • Updating pet ownership regulations
    • Developing pet policies for various housing types
    • Guidance for pet committees and grievance panels at housing authorities
    • Data collection needs from housing authorities and residents
    • Aggregation of pet adoption, ownership, and care resources
    • Legislative recommendations related to pets in state-aided housing

Who is affected

  • Residents of state-aided public housing for the elderly (plea for pet-friendly policies)
  • Housing authorities administering state-aided elderly housing
  • Animal welfare organizations and advocates participating in advisory and support roles

Procedural and timeline details

  • Introduced: February 27, 2025
  • Referred to: Committee on Housing
  • Legislative actions indicate multiple extensions of the reporting date; the most recent extension sets the reporting date to Wednesday, December 3, 2025.
  • Related actions show concurrent Senate concurrence and ongoing committee scheduling adjustments.

Related information

  • Related Bill: HD 1307 (replaces)
  • The bill would amend Chapter 23B to formalize pet Ownership policies and create governance structures for ongoing updates and implementation.

Potential impact

  • Increased pet-friendly options for elderly housing residents.
  • Clear, standardized protections against breed-based bans, onerous pet deposits, and eviction solely for pet ownership.
  • Structured oversight and guidance through an advisory group to tailor policies to different housing types and resident needs.
  • Requires ongoing regulation updates and data collection to monitor and improve pet-related housing practices.

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

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