Campaign History
- May 25, 2017
Senator Spilka makes the case for housing court expansion on the Senate Floor and housing court proceeds to Conference Committee.
October 20, 2016
Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Gants delivers Annual State of the Judiciary Address sponsored by the Massachusetts Bar Association stating: "We hope that the Legislature this year will rectify the injustice that nearly one in three of our residents are denied access to a Housing Court." - June 30, 2016
FY17 Budget Conference Committee cut $415 million, given significant projected revenue shortfalls, and housing court expansion was not included in final FY17 budget. - June 21, 2016
Metropolitan Mayors Coalition sends letter to FY17 Budget Conference Committee urging authorization and funding for housing court expansion. Click to see the Growing List of Municipal Supporters. - June 2, 2016
Senate passes FY17 budget and sends Senate Outside Sections 140-145, which would authorize housing courts statewide, and Line Item 0336-0003 with start-up funding in the amount of $1.2 million to FY17 Budget Conference Committee. - May 17, 2016
Senate Ways and Means reports includes in its FY17 budget both the authorization (Outside Sections 43-47) and start-up funding in the amount of $1.2 million for the expansion (Line Item 0336-0003). Click to see excerpt of Chairwoman Senator Spilka's exchange with Minority Leader Senator Tarr. - April 22, 2016
Rep Walsh files Amendment #1176 to expand the Housing Court effective January 1, 2017 and Amendment #1180 to provide $1.2 million in start-up funds. Rep Kaufman also files housing court expansion amendments. 47 Representatives sign-on to the amendments and many more supported it. Amendments were not passed. - March 8, 2016
Rep Walsh delivers letter signed by 49 Reps to House Ways & Means Chairman Dempsey urging expansion and funding of housing court expansion in FY17 budget. - March 3, 2016
Chelsea Collaborative delivers letter from children in Chelsea thanking Governor Bakers for including housing court in the FY17 budget. - February 23, 2016
SJC Chief Justice Gants and Trial Court Chief Justice Carey testify before Joint Committee on Ways & Means that housing court is a priority. - February 12, 2016
Boston Globe Op-Ed: Massachusetts needs to have a statewide housing court by SJC Chief Justice Gants - January 27, 2016
Governor Baker includes in FY17 Budget $1 million and authorization for expansion of the housing court statewide through Outside Section 15, Outside Section 16, Outside Section 17, and Outside Section 46 (setting effective of July 1, 2016) - June 17, 2015
House of Representatives Letter to House Ways & Means - June 3, 2015
Access to Justice Commission Letter to Conference Committee - May 2015
Amendment 115 (2nd Draft): Senate Ways & Means FY16 Budget (passed Senate) - March 2015
Chief Justice Gants testimony Joint Committee on Ways and Means - February 2015
58 Senators and Representatives co-sponsors housing bills - November 2014
Bill submitted to Senator Spilka and Rep Walsh - October 2014
Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice State of the Judiciary Address - June 2014
House of Representatives Letter - 35 Reps Urge Passage of Original Amendment 118 - May 2014
Redrafted Amendment 118: Senate Ways & Means FY15 Budget (passed Senate) - May 2014
Original Amendment 118: Senate Ways & Means FY15 Budget - March 2014
Access to Justice Commission's Sign-On Letter - February 2014
Comprehensive Housing Court Expansion Bill Language Submitted to Judiciary Committee
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Senator Spilka makes the case for housing court expansion on the Senate Floor and housing court proceeds to Conference Committee.
October 20, 2016
Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Gants delivers Annual State of the Judiciary Address sponsored by the Massachusetts Bar Association stating: "We hope that the Legislature this year will rectify the injustice that nearly one in three of our residents are denied access to a Housing Court."
FY17 Budget Conference Committee cut $415 million, given significant projected revenue shortfalls, and housing court expansion was not included in final FY17 budget.
Metropolitan Mayors Coalition sends letter to FY17 Budget Conference Committee urging authorization and funding for housing court expansion. Click to see the Growing List of Municipal Supporters.
Senate passes FY17 budget and sends Senate Outside Sections 140-145, which would authorize housing courts statewide, and Line Item 0336-0003 with start-up funding in the amount of $1.2 million to FY17 Budget Conference Committee.
Senate Ways and Means reports includes in its FY17 budget both the authorization (Outside Sections 43-47) and start-up funding in the amount of $1.2 million for the expansion (Line Item 0336-0003). Click to see excerpt of Chairwoman Senator Spilka's exchange with Minority Leader Senator Tarr.
Rep Walsh files Amendment #1176 to expand the Housing Court effective January 1, 2017 and Amendment #1180 to provide $1.2 million in start-up funds. Rep Kaufman also files housing court expansion amendments. 47 Representatives sign-on to the amendments and many more supported it. Amendments were not passed.
Rep Walsh delivers letter signed by 49 Reps to House Ways & Means Chairman Dempsey urging expansion and funding of housing court expansion in FY17 budget.
Chelsea Collaborative delivers letter from children in Chelsea thanking Governor Bakers for including housing court in the FY17 budget.
SJC Chief Justice Gants and Trial Court Chief Justice Carey testify before Joint Committee on Ways & Means that housing court is a priority.
Boston Globe Op-Ed: Massachusetts needs to have a statewide housing court by SJC Chief Justice Gants
Governor Baker includes in FY17 Budget $1 million and authorization for expansion of the housing court statewide through Outside Section 15, Outside Section 16, Outside Section 17, and Outside Section 46 (setting effective of July 1, 2016)
House of Representatives Letter to House Ways & Means
Access to Justice Commission Letter to Conference Committee
Amendment 115 (2nd Draft): Senate Ways & Means FY16 Budget (passed Senate)
Chief Justice Gants testimony Joint Committee on Ways and Means
58 Senators and Representatives co-sponsors housing bills
Bill submitted to Senator Spilka and Rep Walsh
Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice State of the Judiciary Address
House of Representatives Letter - 35 Reps Urge Passage of Original Amendment 118
Redrafted Amendment 118: Senate Ways & Means FY15 Budget (passed Senate)
Original Amendment 118: Senate Ways & Means FY15 Budget
Access to Justice Commission's Sign-On Letter
Comprehensive Housing Court Expansion Bill Language Submitted to Judiciary Committee