Bill
H 3990
Massachusetts amendment loosens eligibility for homelessness prevention: no landlord “notice to quit” required, with new criteria for homelessness risk developed with public input.
Overview
- H 3990 is a hybrid docket entry that, as filed, contains two distinct items:
1. A short amendment to Massachusetts Item 7004‑9316 (section 2 of chapter 140 of the acts of 2024) titled “An Act relative to stabilizing tenants and small property owners,” and
2. A separate House resolution from South Carolina recognizing Harriette “Sister” Heath Wimberly on her retirement.
- This summary focuses on the substantive policy change in the Massachusetts amendment and also notes the attached ceremonial South Carolina resolution.
Key provisions (Massachusetts amendment)
- Inserts the following requirements into Item 7004‑9316 (adding to existing program language):
- The Executive Office shall not require a landlord-issued “notice to quit” for a household to be eligible for assistance.
- The Executive Office must, in consultation with the Joint Committee on Housing, establish criteria for demonstrating that a household is experiencing homelessness or is at risk of homelessness.
- The Executive Office must solicit public feedback when developing those criteria.
- The insertion follows the phrase “processing time” in the referenced item, meaning it modifies administrative eligibility and procedural rules for housing assistance funded or administered under that item.
Intent and likely impact
- Purpose: broaden access to homelessness prevention or rental assistance by removing a blanket requirement that applicants present a landlord’s “notice to quit,” and strengthen transparency and stakeholder input into how “homelessness” or “at risk” status is determined.
- Practical effects:
- More households may qualify for assistance earlier (before receiving formal eviction notices), enabling preventive interventions.
- Program administrators will need to create objective criteria to demonstrate homelessness or imminent risk, in consultation with the legislature’s Joint Committee on Housing and after public input.
- Landlords (including small property owners) may see changes in when assistance is available to tenants; small owners may be affected indirectly through program eligibility and payment processes.
Who is affected
- Primary: households seeking homelessness prevention or rental assistance in Massachusetts.
- Secondary: the Executive Office (housing agency responsible for program administration), the Joint Committee on Housing, landlords (including small property owners), and community stakeholders who will be invited to provide feedback.
Procedural / timeline information
- Filed/Introduced (Massachusetts docket): 01/16/2025 (House Docket No. 2413 / House Bill No. 3990).
- Referred to Committee on Housing: 04/03/2025.
- Senate concurred: 04/07/2025.
- Hearing scheduled: 11/19/2025, 11:00 AM–5:00 PM (Gardner Auditorium).
- The accompanying South Carolina House resolution recognizing Harriette “Sister” Heath Wimberly was introduced and adopted 02/13/2025; it honors her retirement effective May 22, 2025.
Notes and ambiguity
- The file combines two unrelated measures (a Massachusetts administrative amendment and a South Carolina ceremonial resolution). The substantive policy change described above applies to Massachusetts funding/program language only.
- Specifics of how the Executive Office will define “experiencing homelessness” or “at risk” are not included in this text; those criteria will be developed through the required consultation and public-feedback process.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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