Massachusetts’s highest court has blocked a statewide rent stabilization initiative from the November 2026 ballot. The unanimous ruling Tuesday by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court killed a petition that would have capped annual rent increases statewide.
The court struck down the measure on a technicality, finding that a single religious exemption violated the state’s constitution. The decision removes what would have been a high-profile ballot fight over tenant protections and landlord rights.
The ruling does not address the substance of rent control but halts the measure before it could reach voters. No other details on the proposed cap or exemption were provided.
For renters, the decision stalls a potential policy shift that would have limited annual increases. Landlords and property groups, who had opposed the ballot initiative, may view the ruling as a temporary reprieve.
Absent further legislative action or a revised ballot proposal, rent stabilization remains off the table in Massachusetts for now. The court’s narrow procedural ruling leaves open the possibility of a future, restructured measure.