MA H1764

Bill

MA H1764

Relative to zoning voting thresholds

Introduced
01/22/2019

In Committee
01/21/2020

Crossed Over

Passed

Dead
12/31/2020

Introduced Session

191st General Court

Bill Summary

Relative to zoning voting thresholds. Municipalities and Regional Government.

AI Summary

This bill amends Section 5 of Chapter 40A of the Massachusetts General Laws to allow municipalities to change the voting threshold for adopting or amending zoning ordinances or by-laws. Specifically, the bill allows the voting majority to be changed to a range between a simple majority and a two-thirds majority vote, with such change requiring a vote by the current voting majority and not taking effect for 6 months. However, in municipalities with fewer than 25 council members, a written protest from owners of 20% or more of the affected land can still require a two-thirds vote for any change.

Committee Categories

Government Affairs

Sponsors (5)

Dan Cahill (D), Mike Connolly (D), Marjorie Decker (D), Sean Garballey (D), Mike Soter (R),

Last Action

Committee reported that the matter be placed in the Orders of the Day for the next sitting for a second reading (on 02/24/2020)

Official Document

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/H1764

(8 Companion Bills)

Version:

Document Type	Source Location	Created
State Bill Page	https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/H1764	02/27/2019
Bill	https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/H1764.pdf	02/27/2019

Bill	Bill Name	Last Action	Type
H1765	To prevent nonprofit institutions from avoiding wetlands or natural resource protections under the so-called Dover Amendment	Accompanied a study order, see H5127	Similar To
H1766	Exempting very small communities from certain applications of the so-called Dover Amendment	Accompanied a study order, see H5127	Similar To
H187	Improving housing opportunities and the Massachusetts economy	Accompanied a study order, see H5052	Similar To
H3883	Facilitating local approval of inclusionary zoning	Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Ways and Means	Similar To
H3931	Requiring zoning for multifamily housing near transit	Accompanied a study order, see H4546	Similar To
S2369	Relative to the terms for members of the city of Somerville's Zoning Board of Appeals	Read; and referred to the committee on House Steering, Policy and Scheduling	Similar To
S794	Facilitating site plan review	Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Senate Ways and Means	Similar To
S94	To promote livable communities and zoning reform act	Accompanied a study order, see S2533	Similar To

Bill > H1764

summary

Introduced Session

Bill Summary

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Sponsors (5)

Last Action

Official Document

bill text

bill summary

bill summary

bill summary