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SD 4000

EOTC January 2025 through May 2026 Permanent Rental Protections Report

194th Legislature (2025-2026)

The bill requires the Massachusetts Trial Court to produce a monthly, data-driven report on eviction actions and rental protections from January 2025 through May 2026 to inform pol

Placed on file
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SD 4000

Overview

  • Jurisdiction: Massachusetts
  • Session: 194th
  • Bill: SD 4000
  • Title: EOTC January 2025 through May 2026 Permanent Rental Protections Report
  • Status: Placed on file (2026-06-18)

The bill appears to be a Massachusetts court-related measure that centers on a comprehensive, ongoing report regarding eviction actions (summary process) and rental protections administered by the Trial Court. It collects and presents data about eviction filings, judgments, stay/continuance orders, mediation, legal representation, and related rental assistance processes for a defined period (January 2025 through May 2026) and disseminates findings to key legislative offices and committees. The underlying document is a monthly report mandated by General Laws Chapter 239, Section 15.

Purpose and Intent

  • To provide a transparent, data-driven accounting of eviction proceedings in Massachusetts courts.
  • To document the effect of rental protections and short-term emergency rental assistance programs on eviction filings and outcomes.
  • To inform policymakers and stakeholders (House/Senate clerks, Ways and Means committees, Joint Committee on Housing, and the Judiciary) with up-to-date statistics and trends.
  • To facilitate analysis of how emergency rental assistance interacts with eviction processes and court operations.

Key Provisions and Contents

Note: The bill text primarily describes a reporting framework and data elements rather than new substantive statutory changes. The core provisions include:

  • Monthly Summary Process Report: A structured monthly report on eviction actions (summary process) filed in all courts with jurisdiction over summary process, consistent with General Laws Chapter 239, Section 15.
  • Reporting Period: January 2025 through May 2026.
  • Data Elements by Page (as outlined in the report):
    • Page 1: Count of eviction actions entered/filing by court.
    • Page 2: Default judgments, broken down by reason for filing.
    • Page 3: Executions for possessions orders, broken down by filing reason.
    • Page 4: Continuances requested/granted due to pending short-term emergency rental assistance (STRA) applications under subsection (b).
    • Page 5: Stays issued due to pending STRA applications under subsection (b).
    • Page 6: Average length of continuances and stays granted under STRA processes.
    • Page 7: Stays requested/granted/denied under sections 9 and 10 of Chapter 239.
    • Page 8: Participation in pre-trial mediation by landlords and tenants; outcomes where practicable.
    • Page 9: Access to legal representation and on-site court diversion/support resources.
  • Supplementary Information: Data and context on eviction filings, tier-1 and tier-2 events, and executions available via an online Tableau portal.
  • Schedule and Format: The report is prepared and submitted by the Massachusetts Trial Court, Executive Office of the Trial Court, and is intended for distribution to the designated legislative offices and committees (see “To” and “Submitted by” sections in the summary document).

Who/What Is Affected

  • Parties Involved in Evictions:
    • Landlords (plaintiffs in summary process actions)
    • Tenants (defendants in eviction actions)
  • Courts and Court Personnel:
    • Courts with jurisdiction over summary process
    • Clerks and staff compiling and processing eviction-related data
  • State Agencies and Programs:
    • Short-term emergency rental assistance programs and related administrative processes
    • Legal aid providers and on-site diversion resources
  • Policymakers and Legislators:
    • Massachusetts House and Senate clerks
    • Joint Committee on Housing
    • Joint Committee on the Judiciary
    • Senate and House Ways and Means Committees

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Mandatory Reporting Requirement: The Executive Office of the Trial Court must produce a monthly summary eviction report in compliance with General Laws Chapter 239, Section 15.
  • Period Covered: January 2025 through May 2026, with data snapshots and monthly increments.
  • Distribution: The report is to be shared with legislative clerks and the specified committees (Ways and Means, Housing, Judiciary).
  • Data Portal: Additional data and visuals are available via a public Tableau link, enabling ongoing access to eviction data beyond the formal monthly report.
  • Status: The bill has been placed on file, indicating it may be introduced or carried without immediate action, or the legislative body has chosen not to advance the measure at this time.

Potential Impacts and Considerations

  • Increased transparency around eviction dynamics, including how emergency rental assistance affects continuances, stays, and judgments.
  • Improved ability for policymakers to assess the effectiveness of STRA programs and rental protections over time.
  • Enhanced visibility into mediation participation and access to legal representation, potentially informing improvements in pre-trial support and court diversion services.
  • Data-driven groundwork for potential future legislative or budgetary actions tied to housing stability and eviction prevention.

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary to specific sections, compare it to related Massachusetts eviction statutes, or extract a one-page brief for a quick briefing.

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

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