(BOSTON 2/13/2026) — Today, the Massachusetts Senate took action to give everyone a fair shot at access to housing.

Illegal discrimination continues to hamper many homebuyers’ and renters’ ability to find a home. The legislation – S.2947, An Act regarding fair housing practices in the Commonwealth – takes aim at discrimination in the housing market by mandating fair housing training for all real estate agents and strengthening state enforcement of fair housing law.

“Housing discrimination has no place in Massachusetts. In a moment where the Trump Administration is abandoning its responsibility to investigate and prosecute even the most blatant examples of discrimination based on skin color, ethnicity, or housing voucher use, we will step in to protect our neighbors,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “Here in the Commonwealth, fairness and equity are two of our most closely held values. Anyone who violates these core principles must be held responsible.”

In a 2020 study by the Boston Foundation and Suffolk University, researchers found that 71% of Black participants faced housing discrimination and were 30% more likely to be “ghosted” by real estate agents. The same study found that renters of all backgrounds with housing vouchers were highly likely to be prevented from even seeing apartments.

The legislation would toughen penalties for second-offense fair housing law violations, increasing a current 90-day license suspension to 180 days. Violations include discrimination against potential renters or buyers based on characteristics such as their color, ancestry, marital status, or use of a housing voucher. In cases where violations occur, the bill bridges an existing gap in the license suspension process by allowing the Attorney General and fair housing agencies to directly refer findings of violations to the Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons.

The legislation comes after the Trump Administration abandoned its responsibility to enforce federal fair housing law, and instead vilified equity measures and the City of Boston for “discriminating against white people”.

Under the bill, applicants for a real estate license would, as part of their broader educational requirements, receive four hours of classroom instruction on fair housing law and current real estate agents would receive two hours of instruction as part of their license renewal process. The training would help agents avoid discrimination against potential buyers or renters based on demographics like race, national origin, religion, disability, or age, all of which is illegal under state and federal law.

Full details of the legislation are available in a fact sheet in the Senate’s press room.

The Senate passed the bill 38-0 and sent it to the House of Representatives for further review.

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