Credit for time served

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Tommy Pope

The bill imposes graduated deed excise taxes on real estate transfers, with higher rates for pricier sales, directing the revenue 50/50 to affordable housing initiatives.

Referred to Committee on Judiciary

Overview / Purpose

H 3278 (filed as House No. 3278, filed by Rep. Christopher J. Worrell) would create a graduated deed excise (transfer) tax structure in Massachusetts that increases the tax rate on real estate conveyances as sale prices rise, and directs the revenue to affordable-housing initiatives. The bill amends section 1 of chapter 64D of the General Laws to apply multiplied rates for higher-priced sales and to allocate the resulting revenue to the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities.

Key provisions

Defines the “existing rate” (text inserts the phrase “hereafter referred to as the existing rate” into current section 1 of chapter 64D).

Establishes graduated multipliers of the existing deed excise rate based on sale price thresholds:

Sales > $250,000 and < $500,000: 1.1 × existing rate
Sales > $500,000 and < $1,000,000: 1.6 × existing rate
Sales > $1,000,000 and < $2,000,000: 1.8 × existing rate
Sales > $2,000,000: 2.0 × existing rate

Directs that the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities shall “equally divide such tax revenue” between (1) initiatives to address the housing crisis and (2) funding the Affordable Housing Act initiatives established in chapter 150 of the Acts of 2024 (i.e., a 50/50 split).

Who would be affected

Buyers/sellers and other parties to real estate transfers: higher deed excise charges on higher-priced transactions.

Real estate market participants (brokers, title companies, developers) who handle or price transactions may need to adjust closing costs and disclosures.

The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities and programs created under chapter 150 of the Acts of 2024 would receive additional, dedicated funding.

Potential impacts

Raises additional revenue targeted to affordable-housing programs; the bill does not state an overall revenue estimate.

Increases transaction costs progressively for higher-value property transfers; potential modest downward pressure on some high-end transactions or incentive to structure transactions differently (depends on tax incidence in practice).

Funds are earmarked specifically for housing initiatives (50/50 split) rather than general revenue.

Procedural status & timeline (as provided)

Prefiled: 12/05/2024

Filed / added (House docket): 01/16/2025

Introduced / read first time: 01/14/2025 (record shows both 1/14/25 and 1/16/25 filing dates)

Referred to Committee on Judiciary: 01/14/2025 and again listed 12/05/2024

Referred to Committee on Revenue: 02/27/2025

Senate concurred: 02/27/2025 (record shows concurrence; this entry may be procedural)

Hearing scheduled: 09/15/2025, 1:00–5:00 PM in A-2

Note: the legislative-action entries contain date and referral duplications/inconsistencies; consult the official legislative clerk or bill tracking site for the authoritative status and next steps.

Important caveat — unrelated text in submission

The packet provided also contains separate and unrelated South Carolina bill text (amendment to S.C. Code §24‑13‑40) concerning computation of time served and removal of explicit credit for time spent under monitored house arrest. That South Carolina text is not part of Massachusetts H 3278; it appears to be included accidentally. If you want a summary of that South Carolina provision, I can provide a brief separate summary.

Bill