Bill
S 1022
The bill reduces eviction risk and housing instability for households with pets by prohibiting pet-based evictions, capping pet-related rent, and banning breed- or size-based housi
Status & procedural notes
- Bill number: S 1022 (Massachusetts Senate docket No. 817)
- Primary sponsor/petitioner (as filed): Senator Pavel M. Payano (with multiple co-petitioners listed)
- Hearing scheduled: 10/15/2025, 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM (A‑1)
- Filed/referred: Filed 1/14/2025; referred to Housing and related committees per docket
- Related: SD 817 appears in the materials as related/replaced legislation
- Important: The materials provided also include an unrelated Idaho bill that shares the S 1022 number (an Idaho “Idaho Bill of Patient Medical Rights”). This summary focuses on the Massachusetts housing/pets bill.
Purpose and intent
The bill aims to reduce eviction and housing instability for households with pets, expand access to pet-friendly lodging and affordable housing, restrict breed- or size-based exclusions, and limit insurers and housing providers from discriminating against renters because of animals.
Key provisions (by section)
- Eviction protection (Section 1)
- Landlords may not initiate eviction actions based solely on the presence of a pet without written permission until one year after the end of a declared state of emergency.
- Exception: if the pet causes harm to other residents’ safety.
- Hotels (Section 2)
- Hotels (per chapter 140, §12A definition) may not unreasonably refuse pets during a state of emergency, except where the pet demonstrates a noise or safety threat.
- Condominium rules (Section 3)
- Amends condo law to prohibit declarations, bylaws, or rules that ban dogs by breed, size, weight, or appearance.
- Public housing pet program (Section 4)
- Allows establishment of a pet-ownership program for residents of state‑aided public housing.
- Pet rent cap (Section 5)
- Landlords may charge additional rent for household pets subject to caps:
- Dogs: not more than 1% of the first full month’s rent per dog.
- All other common household pets: cumulative cap of 1% of the first full month’s rent.
- Service or assistance animals (reasonable accommodations) may not be charged additional pet rent.
- Insurance restrictions (Section 6)
- Homeowners/renters insurers cannot refuse, cancel, or raise premiums solely because of harboring a specific dog breed.
- Insurers may inquire if a dog is known to be dangerous or designated as a dangerous dog, but not ask breed/mix generally.
- Exception: insurers may act when a dog is legally designated dangerous.
- Public housing admissions (Section 7)
- Housing authorities may not deny tenancy or continued tenancy based on a dog’s breed, size, weight, or appearance.
- Effective timing (Section 8)
- Section 5 (pet rent caps) applies to new leases beginning six months after the act’s effective date.
Who is affected
- Tenants with pets (including those in private rental housing, condominiums, hotels, and state‑aided public housing)
- Landlords, condominium associations, and housing authorities
- Insurance companies offering homeowners/renters policies
- Service/assistance animal users (expressly protected)
- Broader community/public safety actors (through carveouts for dangerous animals)
Potential impacts and considerations
- Likely reduces pet‑related evictions and may improve housing stability for pet owners, especially during/after emergencies.
- Limits landlord discretion and potential pet-related revenue (pet rent capped).
- Insurance underwriting practices may need to change; insurers retained ability to act where dogs are legally dangerous.
- Implementation questions: enforcement mechanisms, definitions (e.g., “unreasonable refusal”), interaction with local ordinances, and the bill’s timeline for different provisions.
- Sectional exceptions for safety and dangerous‑dog designations preserve some public‑safety authority.
If you want, I can: (a) produce a one‑page plain‑language factsheet for renters/landlords, (b) map how this bill would change current Massachusetts statutes, or (c) draft pros/cons for committee review.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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