Bill
S 1001
Lowell housing bill S.1001 swaps numeric thresholds in Chapter 193 (2000): 45→40, 180→187, 81→75, potentially changing deadlines or permitting for developers.
Purpose
- The bill is intended to increase housing production in the City of Lowell by amending numeric thresholds or timeframes in Chapter 193 of the Acts of 2000 (as amended by Chapter 97 of the Acts of 2002). The legislative text makes three specific numeric substitutions intended to change how the existing local statute operates.
Key provisions (textual changes)
- Section 1: Amends Section 2 of Chapter 193 (as appearing in Chapter 97 of the Acts of 2002) by replacing every occurrence of the figure “45” with “40.”
- Section 2: Amends Section 3 of Chapter 193 by replacing the figure “180” with “187.”
- Section 3: Further amends Section 3 of Chapter 193 by replacing the figure “81” with “75.”
What these changes do (as drafted)
- The bill makes targeted numeric edits to the local enabling statute for Lowell. The language supplied does not explain what each numeric figure represents (e.g., days, unit counts, percentage thresholds, or other statutory limits). Therefore the practical effects depend on the role those numbers play in Chapter 193 — for example, they could alter deadlines, counts, percentage thresholds, or other regulatory triggers that affect permitting, development timelines, or housing unit targets in Lowell.
Who is affected
- Primarily the City of Lowell, local officials administering whatever program or exemptions are governed by Chapter 193, and developers, property owners, and residents subject to the statute being amended. The precise group affected (e.g., prospective builders, tenants, or municipal departments) depends on the underlying statutory context for the altered numbers.
Legislative status & sponsors
- Filed with the Senate Docket on 01/16/2025. Petitioners/sponsors listed in the docket: Senator Edward J. Kennedy (primary), with petitioners/cosponsors Vanna Howard, Rodney M. Elliott, and Tara T. Hong. The bill caption lists “Housing” as the subject. The file notes this is similar to S.2977 from the 2023–2024 session.
- Procedural entries in the provided materials indicate referral to the committee with jurisdiction over housing; further committee action and floor action are not documented in a coherent, single timeline in the packet supplied.
Potential impact and considerations
- Because the bill only substitutes numeric values without explanatory text in the excerpt provided, the scope of impact cannot be precisely determined from the excerpt alone. If the numbers represent thresholds that enable or expand development rights, even small numeric changes could change the quantity or timing of permitted housing. Stakeholders (city planning, municipal counsel, developers, neighborhood groups) would need to review Chapter 193 in full to determine the operational impact.
- No fiscal estimates specific to this Massachusetts measure are included in the supplied text.
Important note about the packet provided
- The documents provided with the request also include unrelated materials from other jurisdictions (notably an Idaho “Uniform Public Expression Protection Act” / anti‑SLAPP bill labeled S1001 and assorted legislative action logs that appear to mix multiple legislatures). Those materials are unrelated to the Massachusetts S.1001 (Lowell housing) and were not used to infer the intent of the Lowell bill beyond what is present in the Massachusetts docket and bill text excerpt. If you want a precise impact analysis, please provide the full text of Chapter 193 (Acts of 2000, as amended) so the meaning of the numerals can be tied to specific statutory provisions.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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