Press Release: 1/2/2025

Crumbling Foundations Legislation passes Senate, House Fails to Act Before Session Ends

PETER J. DURANT STATE SENATOR

WORCESTER & HAMPSHIRE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 31, 2024

STATE HOUSE, ROOM 413-A TEL (617) 722- 1540 Peter.Durant@MAsenate.gov

CONTACT: Kim Mongeau (Ring) (413) 896-0794

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts State Senate

State House, Boston, MA 02133-1054

BOSTON – While the State Senate on Monday approved legislation that would have created a committee to address how best the state can help homeowners whose foundations are crumbling due to pyrrhotite, the House of Representatives failed to take up the matter which will new be refiled in the upcoming legislative session.

“It is extremely disappointing that our colleagues in the House have let down the residents of Massachusetts who are struggling to keep their homes,” State Sen. Peter Durant, R-Spencer, said. “Anyone who has seen the devastation caused by crumbling foundations can understand the urgent need for this legislation.”

Durant has likened the problem of crumbling foundations to a natural disaster and, alongside several colleagues on both sides of the aisle, has made the issue a top priority during his first year in the Senate.

Homeowners with crumbling foundations are unable to file insurance claims in order to fix the damage to their homes created by pyrrhotite which causes concrete to fail. Residents often find it difficult to fund the raising of their homes and complete replacement of their foundations at costs of more that $200,000 because their homes lack equity and borrowing becomes impossible.

The creation of a committee to study the best ways to help homeowners would have moved the process forward at no cost to taxpayers.

"This legislation is very important to certain residential homeowners in Dracut and to many homeowners in Worcester County,” Sen. Ed Kennedy, D-Lowell said. “I am very disappointed that the House failed to take any action on the legislation that would have set up a commission charged with addressing the crumbling concrete foundation problem."

Sen. Michael Moore, D-Millbury echoed the feelings of disappointment.

“Faulty foundations are putting the homes and life savings of thousands of Massachusetts families across the Commonwealth at risk, at no fault of their own,” Moore said. “I’m proud to have partnered with Senator Durant, Senator Fattman, and Representative Ashe to put forward a bill to create the Crumbling Concrete Assistance Fund — a priority of former Worcester Senator Anne Gobi — as a first step to making homeowners whole for foundation repairs and replacements due to the presence of pyrrhotite. While I am incredibly disappointed we were not able to get this legislation past the finish line this term, I am hopeful that we will finally address the crumbling foundation crisis next session.”

Sen. Ryan Fattman, R-Sutton, has also been pushing for passage of the bill.

“The passage of this bill (in the Senate) today marks an important step toward providing relief for homeowners with crumbling concrete foundations,” Fattman, said on Monday, urging House members to also swiftly act on the bill.

Durant said the bill will be refiled and will remain a priority for him in the upcoming session.

Crumbling foundations have been discovered in homes in Western and Central Massachusetts and have been found in 40 communities including Boxford and Dracut. Experts say the problem will only become more widespread, impacting communities by lowering property values and prompting local tax abatements to impacted homeowners.