BOSTON (SHNS) – With a champion for eviction record sealing now chairing the Joint Committee on Housing, tenants rights advocates are feeling a renewed hope for passage of the “HOMES Act” this session.

The bill (S 956 / H 1690), which has been filed in two previous sessions, would prevent an eviction from becoming a permanent black mark on an individual’s housing record by sealing evictions from prospective landlords, who could use old cases to deny applicants housing. It was filed this year by House Majority Leader Rep. Michael Moran and Housing Committee Co-Chair Sen. Lydia Edwards.

Edwards’ predecessor leading the committee, former Sen. Joe Boncore of Winthrop, alongside Moran, first introduced the bill in 2019. Edwards said the proposal has twice been approved by the Senate, and once by the full Legislature, but had been vetoed by former Gov. Charlie Baker.

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