Massachusetts Lawmaker Pushes Fair Housing Bill After Personal Experience

Senator Adam Gomez's bill aims to strengthen enforcement and training around housing discrimination

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Massachusetts State Senator Adam Gomez is sponsoring a bill to address housing discrimination in the state, citing his own personal experience of being denied an apartment viewing due to his appearance. The bill would increase anti-discrimination training for real estate professionals, strengthen penalties for repeat offenders, and require more transparency around Fair Housing Law violations.

Why it matters

Gomez's bill is a response to a 2020 study that found widespread discrimination against renters using public housing vouchers and racial minorities in the Greater Boston housing market. The legislation aims to close enforcement gaps and make it harder for housing providers to discriminate with little consequence.

The details

Gomez's bill would require new real estate license applicants to complete 4 hours of fair housing training, and license renewals to include 2 hours of refresher training. It would also increase the suspension period for second-time offenders from 90 days to 180 days, and require the state's Real Estate Brokers Registration Board to publish an annual list of brokers/salespeople whose licenses were revoked due to Fair Housing Law violations.

  • In 2016, Gomez experienced housing discrimination when a rental agent denied him an apartment viewing based on his appearance.
  • In 2020, a study by Suffolk University Law School found high rates of discrimination against public housing voucher holders and racial minorities in the Greater Boston housing market.
  • Gomez's fair housing bill is scheduled for a vote in the Massachusetts Senate on Thursday, February 11, 2026.

The players

Adam Gomez

A Massachusetts state senator representing Hampden County, who is sponsoring the fair housing bill after experiencing housing discrimination himself as a city council member.

The Boston Foundation

A nonprofit organization that participated in the 2020 housing discrimination study that informed Gomez's bill.

Keith Mahoney

A representative of The Boston Foundation, who argues that housing discrimination makes it even harder for people to access affordable housing.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“That story always held dear to my heart. And I looked at this piece of policy, and said, 'Hey, listen, if this can happen to me, and I know that it's happening all over. ... I had to answer with a piece of legislation that's going to have an impact for my community.'”

— Adam Gomez, Massachusetts State Senator (MassLive)

“If you've already gone through the hurdles to get the vouchers to support your needs and then have the rental blocked by discrimination, it's just not just right.”

— Keith Mahoney, Representative, The Boston Foundation (MassLive)

What’s next

Assuming the bill clears the Massachusetts Senate, it will need to be approved by the state House of Representatives and signed into law by Governor Maura Healey.

The takeaway

Gomez's personal experience of housing discrimination inspired him to sponsor legislation that aims to strengthen enforcement of fair housing laws and increase accountability for real estate professionals who violate them. The bill is a response to persistent discrimination uncovered in a recent housing market study, underscoring the need for policy solutions to address this longstanding issue.