Written By: Michael Kriesberg
The 2025–2026 Legislative Session is entering its final stretch, with formal session scheduled to conclude on July 31. As we prepare for one final advocacy push, we are focused on Governor Maura Healey’s Mass WINS economic development bill as the most promising vehicle for advancing pro-housing reforms before the Legislature adjourns.
Filed on April 16, Mass WINS combines more than $300 million in capital spending authorizations with a number of policy reforms aimed at strengthening Massachusetts’ economy and increasing housing production. This approach is not unusual, as economic development bills often serve as avenues for significant policy changes. The MBTA Communities Act, for example, was enacted as part of a previous economic development bill.
Economic development bills are also particularly important because they provide opportunities for legislators to secure funding for projects and programs that benefit their districts. As a result, these bills typically attract broad legislative interest and are among the few major pieces of legislation that reliably move through both chambers each session. This makes them an attractive option for advocates seeking to advance policy priorities.
With the Governor’s proposal now filed, attention turns to the Legislature. We expect the House to release its version of the bill later this month, followed by the Senate in July. Each chamber will then debate and pass its own version before negotiating a final compromise in a conference committee. If a compromise agreement is reached the final bill will return to both chambers for a vote before being sent to the Governor for her signature.
Our priority is ensuring that meaningful pro-housing reforms are included in both the House and Senate versions of the bill. We are working closely with coalition partners and legislative champions to advance several key proposals, including reducing parking minimums, establishing statewide standards for site plan review, enabling faith-based institutions to build multifamily housing on land they own, and reducing minimum lot-size requirements.
The coming weeks will be critical. Your advocacy can help ensure these reforms make it into the final package and become law. We will be sharing advocacy opportunities and resources soon, and we hope you will join us in making the case for housing reforms Massachusetts urgently needs.