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Bill

HD 1646

An Act to improve the accuracy of the counting of existing affordable housing stock

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Norm Orrall

Massachusetts bill requiring statewide standardized inventory of affordable housing stock to improve policy decisions and accurately measure housing availability.

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Bill Summary · HD 1646

Legislative bill overview

HD 1646 directs the state to conduct a comprehensive inventory and standardized count of existing affordable housing units across Massachusetts. The bill aims to establish clearer definitions and uniform methodology for what qualifies as "affordable housing" and requires regular reporting on the state's actual affordable stock.

Why is this important

Accurate data on affordable housing availability is foundational for effective policy-making, funding allocation, and understanding whether the state is meeting housing needs. Currently, fragmented counting methods across municipalities and agencies make it difficult to assess real progress or identify gaps in the affordable housing supply.

Potential points of contention

  • Implementation costs: Conducting a comprehensive statewide inventory requires significant state resources and may impose reporting burdens on municipalities and housing authorities
  • Definition disputes: Stakeholders may disagree on what qualifies as "affordable"—income thresholds, rent-to-income ratios, and inclusion of subsidized versus market-rate units can be contentious
  • Data access and privacy: Balancing transparency about housing inventory with privacy concerns of property owners and residents in affordable units

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

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