Who is a member?
Our members are the local governments of Massachusetts and their elected and appointed leadership.
The House on June 17 passed a $3.5 billion, multi-year environmental bond bill, with authorizations for key climate, resilience, and environmental priorities.
The borrowing bill includes funding to strengthen infrastructure, invest in farms and local economies, protect water sources and the environment, reform permitting for housing and environmental initiatives, and support the western and central regions of the state.
Known as the Mass Ready Act, the bill was initially introduced by Gov. Maura Healey last June.
The House version (H. 5518) includes $315 million for the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness program, which is in line with the governor’s proposal, but below the $500 million in the Senate bill.
The House bill includes $385 million for water pollution abatement work, including the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds. The bill includes $120 million for PFAS remediation projects.
The House’s $93.5 million authorization for inland flood and dam control projects is in line with the Senate’s figure, while the House proposed $50 million more than the Senate did for a coastal infrastructure authorization, bringing it to $250 million.
The House bill proposes several new policy provisions, including:
• An extended producer responsibility framework for a statewide mattress recycling program, a topic recently studied by the Extended Producer Responsibility Commission
• A requirement that state and municipal governments purchase lighting fixtures that conform with certain guidelines and certifications to reduce light pollution
• A new series of planning, testing and reporting requirements for water bodies and waterways impacted by combined sewers
The Senate passed its version of the bill on April 15. Some notable policy priorities in the Senate’s bill — but missing from the House’s version — include a labeling requirement for non-flushable wipe products to help consumers avoid improper disposal, and updates to the public shade tree law.
The environmental bond bill now moves to a conference committee, where the House and Senate versions will be reconciled so a final version can be enacted and sent to the governor for her consideration.