In March, there were several actions related to state and federal housing policy.
Updates range from the U.S. Senate’s advancement of the Bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act – and it’s inclusion of problematic provisions impacting owners who build-to-rent; to the State’s Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities’ release of draft regulations for the disposition of surplus land; and the state legislature holding a hearing on the rent control ballot question.
In February, Housing for Massachusetts, the ballot committee created to defeat the rent control ballot question, worked with four small property owners to file a challenge to the Rent Control Ballot Question’s validity before the Supreme Judicial Court. Yesterday, the full complaint was filed.
It is critical to understand that Massachusetts has one of the most structured and constitutionally constrained ballot question processes in the country. The process follows a strict path with strict timelines. A question can only be challenged in the Courts on the Constitutional issue of whether it can be placed on the ballot and in what form, according to Article 48 of the state constitution.
This poorly written, poorly thought-out question would not only inflict lasting damage on housing in the Commonwealth, but is potentially unconstitutional and should not be placed before the voters in this or any similar form. Arguments are expected in early May, with the Court issuing its determination of whether or not this Ballot Question can advance in June.
NAIOP is committed to defeating this measure, and your continued engagement and support are critical to our success.
In December 2025, NAIOP joined other real estate groups in officially establishing Housing for Massachusetts as the official committee registered with the Office of Campaign & Political Finance to oppose the rent control ballot question.
On January 29, 2026 small property owners, local elected officials, Chamber leaders, and more joined Housing for Massachusetts to kick off the campaign to defeat what would be the most restrictive form of rent control in the nation. Housing for Massachusetts will remind voters about the state’s history with this failed policy, and the devastating impact it would have on housing creation.
The above archive includes blogs posted from December 2020 onward, and reflect NAIOP updates from July 2020 to present. For posts prior to July 2020, please visit NAIOP's archived blog.