A Beacon Hill committee has endorsed two bills that would clear the way for rent control to return to Massachusetts more than two and a half decades after voters narrowly banned the practice statewide.
Sharing personal stories of financial strain and housing uncertainty, Massachusetts tenants argued Tuesday that a controversial proposal to revive local rent control options could help them avoid displacement.
With recent public debate focused on the lack of new and affordable housing and its impact on job growth, traffic congestion and others facets of daily life, public housing advocates reminded lawmakers on Tuesday not to neglect what the state already has.
More than two decades after voters banned local rent control, Gov. Charlie Baker signaled Tuesday he would not support a nascent push from several lawmakers to allow cities and towns to implement tenant protections, such as a limit on rent increases.
