2026 Legislative Priorities

>> Allow single-family and small multi-family homes on modestly sized lots where water and sewer are available

>> Create more affordable homeownership opportunities  

>> Conserve land and reduce sprawl

>> Cap excessive requirements that derail housing projects or add thousands of dollars in cost

>> Modeled on recent laws passed by New Hampshire and Connecticut

>> Allow cities and towns to petition the Department of Housing for exemptions that meet local needs

>> Create a new gap financing program that helps convert vacant offices, former schools, and former nursing homes into new homes

>>Incentivize projects that prioritize housing for health and education workers

>> Create good-paying construction jobs and leverage union pension fund investments through strong labor standards

>> Clarify provisions of the accessory dwelling unit (ADU) law and close the “build-to-convert” loophole for detached accessory structures

>> Address how subdivision laws apply to substandard lots containing multiple residential buildings, encouraging reinvestment in these properties

>> Spell out how last year’s single-family townhomes bill interacts with local regulations, making implementation easier for cities and towns

>> Allow faith-based institutions to build affordable housing with property they own

>>Creates a streamlined approval process for affordable housing development on faith-based institutional land

>>Aligns with the state and federal low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC) rules and regulations