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S 1004

An Act to create affordable homes for persons with disabilities

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Nick Collins and 7 co-sponsors

Massachusetts creates the Alternative Housing Voucher Program to expand affordable rentals for low-income adults with disabilities via mobile and project-based vouchers.

Bill reported favorably by committee as changed and referred to the committee on Senate Ways and Means
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Bill Summary · S 1004

Summary — S 1004: "An Act to create affordable homes for persons with disabilities"

Note on source material: The documents provided include text from two different jurisdictions with the same bill number. One set (RS31891 / S 1004) is Idaho legislation amending the Idaho Human Rights Act to add sexual orientation and gender identity. The other (Senate Docket No. 1708 / S.1004) is a Massachusetts bill titled “An Act to create affordable homes for persons with disabilities,” which matches the title you requested. The summary below focuses on the Massachusetts bill (affordable housing for persons with disabilities) and flags the cross‑jurisdictional inconsistencies where relevant.

Purpose

Establish a state program to increase affordable rental housing for low‑income adults with disabilities by creating mobile and project‑based voucher assistance targeted to this population.

Key provisions

  • Creates an Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP) administered by the state Department of Housing (subject to appropriation) and implemented through administering agencies (local housing authorities, regional housing agencies, etc.).
  • Program includes mobile vouchers and project‑based vouchers; it incorporates existing vouchers funded through budget line‑item 7004‑9030 as of the bill’s effective date.
  • Payment standards:
    • Default: payment standards must be between 110% and 120% of HUD Fair Market Rent (FMR) or Small Area FMR for each unit size.
    • Agencies may request exception payment standards; the department may approve payment standards >120% as a reasonable accommodation for a person with a disability.
  • Participant tenant share:
    • At least 25% of net income if utilities are NOT provided by the unit owner.
    • At least 30% of income if utilities ARE provided by the unit owner.
  • Eligible costs that may be paid in advance: first month’s rent, last month’s rent, security deposit, and moving expenses.
  • Eligibility:
    • Household income at or below 80% of Area Median Income (AMI) (HUD definition).
    • Head of household must be a person with a disability, aged 18–62.
    • Households must meet program and regulatory eligibility standards.
  • Administrative and fiscal rules:
    • Department must set voucher amounts so appropriations are not exceeded.
    • Unspent funds appropriated under line‑item 7004‑9030 do not revert to the General Fund and remain available for the item in the next fiscal year.
    • Department to promulgate implementing regulations.
  • Section 1 strikes Section 16 of Chapter 179 (1995) and related regulations (760 C.M.R. 53) — removing prior statutory/regulatory provisions tied to older programs.

Who is affected

  • Primary beneficiaries: low‑income households headed by adults (18–62) with disabilities who meet income and program criteria.
  • Administering agencies: local housing authorities and regional housing agencies that will operate vouchers.
  • State budget/appropriations: program operation is subject to available appropriations (line‑item 7004‑9030 referenced).

Procedural status & timeline (from provided material)

  • Filed/introduced in Massachusetts legislative docket as Senate Docket No. 1708 / S.1004 (petitioned by Senator Robyn K. Kennedy and others).
  • Hearing scheduled: 06/25/2025, 1:00 PM–5:00 PM in B‑1 (per provided schedule).
  • Related matter: listed as replacing SD 1708 in one document.

Important notes & inconsistencies

  • Some provided documents and metadata instead describe an Idaho bill (RS31891 / S1004 by Senator Wintrow) that would add “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” to the Idaho Human Rights Act. That is separate legislation and unrelated to the Massachusetts housing bill.
  • Sponsor lists in the provided packet include federal legislators (e.g., Amy Klobuchar, Tim Scott) and Idaho sponsors; these appear to be misattributed and should be confirmed with the official Massachusetts legislative docket for S.1004 (Senate Docket No. 1708) for accurate sponsor and status information.

If you want, I can:
- Extract the exact statutory text change draft for insertion into Chapter 121B (ready for legislative review).
- Produce a one‑page fact sheet for constituents or administration with eligibility flowcharts and sample voucher calculations.

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

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