Bill > H1611

This bill aims to streamline the judicial review of local land use decisions. It amends the second paragraph of Section 17 of Chapter 40A to modify the process for filing a complaint against a land use decision. The key provisions include: requiring the plaintiff to notify all defendants within 14 days and file an affidavit within 21 days, limiting the court's review to the record of the board's proceedings, and establishing that a decision is valid if supported by substantial evidence and not arbitrary, capricious, or illegal. Additionally, the bill requires non-municipal plaintiffs seeking to reverse a project approval to post a bond to cover the property owner's carrying costs and legal fees, which would be forfeited if the plaintiff does not substantially prevail on the appeal.

Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/H1611