Massachusetts requires free broadband internet in public housing and orders health study

Original title: An Act establishing free broadband internet access in public housing

Last action · October 14, 2025: Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Ways and MeansSponsors: Dan Sena and 5 others

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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What This Bill Would Do

Massachusetts requires public housing authorities to provide free broadband internet in all units, defines such access as a requirement for a decent dwelling, and orders a state health study on internet access.

Why it matters

Public housing residents gain guaranteed access to no-charge broadband internet, while the state legislature must appropriate funds to subsidize housing bodies for the implementation and maintenance costs.

Who It Would Affect

Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

public housing residents

Residents receive broadband internet in their units at no charge.

Directly affected

housing authorities

Authorities must provide free broadband in all units and receive state-appropriated subsidies for implementation and maintenance.

Directly affected

Department of Public Health

The department is tasked with conducting a study into broadband internet access and public health objectives.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will public housing residents have to pay for broadband internet?

No, the bill requires broadband internet to be available in all units at no charge to residents.

How will housing authorities pay for providing free internet?

Funds to subsidize housing authorities and public housing bodies for the implementation and maintenance of free broadband will be appropriated by the and administered by the undersecretary.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.

Procedural history

4 actions

Oct 14, 2025HouseCommittee
Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Ways and Means
Jun 30, 2025Joint
Hearing scheduled for 07/10/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2
Feb 27, 2025Senate
Senate concurred
Feb 27, 2025HouseCommittee
Referred to the committee on Advanced Information Technology, the Internet and Cybersecurity

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

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