An Act banning hostile architecture targeting unhoused individuals
Generates a plain-language summary of the bill text and history.
| Date | Branch | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 12/4/2025 | House | Read second and ordered to a third reading |
| 12/4/2025 | House | Rules suspended |
| 12/4/2025 | House | Committee reported that the matter be placed in the Orders of the Day for the next sitting |
| 11/12/2025 | House | Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Steering, Policy and Scheduling |
| 9/3/2025 | Joint | Hearing scheduled for 09/09/2025 from 10:00 AM-1:00 PM in A-1 and virtual |
| 2/27/2025 | Senate | Senate concurred |
| 2/27/2025 | House | Referred to the committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight |
No additional cosponsors.
| Committee | Recommendation | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| J25 | Favorable | 1 entries |
| H52 | Place in OD | — |
Chapter 40 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-
(a) For purposes of this section, the term “Hostile architecture” shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, mean any building or structure that is designed or intended to prevent unhoused individuals from sitting or lying on the building or structure at street level; provided, that hostile architecture shall not include design elements intended to prevent individuals from skateboarding or rollerblading or to prevent vehicles from entering certain areas. (b) A municipality shall not install or construct hostile architecture in any publicly accessible building or on publicly accessible real property owned by or under the control of the municipality.
Chapter 7C of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-
(a) For purposes of this section, the term “Hostile architecture” shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, mean any building or structure that is designed or intended to prevent unhoused individuals from sitting or lying on the building or structure at street level; provided, that hostile architecture shall not include design elements intended to prevent individuals from skateboarding or rollerblading or to prevent vehicles from entering certain areas. (b) The commissioner shall not install or construct hostile architecture in any publicly accessible capital facility or on publicly accessible real property under the commissioner’s control or supervision.
Chapter 161A of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-
(a) For purposes of this section, the term “Hostile architecture” shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, mean any building or structure that is designed or intended to prevent unhoused individuals from sitting or lying on the building or structure at street level; provided, that hostile architecture shall not include design elements intended to prevent individuals from skateboarding or rollerblading or to prevent vehicles from entering certain areas. (b) The authority shall not install or construct hostile architecture in any publicly accessible mass transportation facilities under the authority’s control or supervision.
Chapter 265 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-
(a) For purposes of this section, the term “Hostile architecture” shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, mean any building or structure that is designed or intended to prevent unhoused individuals from sitting or lying on the building or structure at street level; provided, that hostile architecture shall not include design elements intended to prevent individuals from skateboarding or rollerblading or to prevent vehicles from entering certain areas. (b) Whoever installs or constructs hostile architecture on any publicly accessible real property shall be punished by a fine of not more than $500 for each day in violation of this section.
SECTION 1. Chapter 40 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:- Section 70. (a) For purposes of this section, the term “Hostile architecture” shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, mean any building or structure that is designed or intended to prevent unhoused individuals from sitting or lying on the building or structure at street level; provided, that hostile architecture shall not include design elements intended to prevent individuals from skateboarding or rollerblading or to prevent vehicles from entering certain areas. (b) A municipality shall not install or construct hostile architecture in any publicly accessible building or on publicly accessible real property owned by or under the control of the municipality. SECTION 2. Chapter 7C of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:- Section 73. (a) For purposes of this section, the term “Hostile architecture” shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, mean any building or structure that is designed or intended to prevent unhoused individuals from sitting or lying on the building or structure at street level; provided, that hostile architecture shall not include design elements intended to prevent individuals from skateboarding or rollerblading or to prevent vehicles from entering certain areas. (b) The commissioner shall not install or construct hostile architecture in any publicly accessible capital facility or on publicly accessible real property under the commissioner’s control or supervision. SECTION 3. Chapter 161A of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:- Section 53. (a) For purposes of this section, the term “Hostile architecture” shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, mean any building or structure that is designed or intended to prevent unhoused individuals from sitting or lying on the building or structure at street level; provided, that hostile architecture shall not include design elements intended to prevent individuals from skateboarding or rollerblading or to prevent vehicles from entering certain areas. (b) The authority shall not install or construct hostile architecture in any publicly accessible mass transportation facilities under the authority’s control or supervision. SECTION 4. Chapter 265 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:- Section 73. (a) For purposes of this section, the term “Hostile architecture” shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, mean any building or structure that is designed or intended to prevent unhoused individuals from sitting or lying on the building or structure at street level; provided, that hostile architecture shall not include design elements intended to prevent individuals from skateboarding or rollerblading or to prevent vehicles from entering certain areas. (b) Whoever installs or constructs hostile architecture on any publicly accessible real property shall be punished by a fine of not more than $500 for each day in violation of this section.