The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Massachusetts House Bill 16 regulates county real estate sales and mandates fair market pricing for prisoner housing facilities
Last action · August 14, 2025: Accompanied a new draft, see H4392
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What This Bill Would Do
Massachusetts House Bill 16 regulates how counties may sell or lease real estate, requiring that properties formerly used for housing prisoners be sold at with proceeds dedicated to jail construction or state reimbursements. The measure also mandates that any county real estate offered for sale or lease must first be presented to the commissioner of capital asset management and maintenance and the host municipality. These provisions take effect immediately upon enactment.
Changes the rules for disposing of county-owned properties by prioritizing state and local municipal acquisition before private sale, while restricting how counties can use the financial proceeds from selling jails or correctional facilities.
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.
counties
Counties must comply with mandatory sale procedures, fair market valuation, and designated revenue re-investment rules when disposing of real estate.
cities and towns
Municipalities must be offered county real estate for sale or lease in writing if state agencies decline the property.
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
What happens to the money earned from selling a jail or correctional facility?
Who must be given the first opportunity to buy or lease county real estate?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
4 actions- Aug 14, 2025HouseAccompanied a new draft, see H4392
- Jul 9, 2025JointHearing scheduled for 07/22/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in B-1
- Feb 27, 2025SenateSenate concurred
- Feb 27, 2025HouseCommitteeReferred to the committee on Municipalities and Regional Government
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Connected Entities
Sources
malegislature.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance50How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy15Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz20Current news / social attention level
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