Bill > S563

This bill addresses Massachusetts' water infrastructure needs through a comprehensive capital outlay program that allocates nearly $2.8 billion across multiple funding initiatives. The legislation establishes several key programs and funds, including a $138 million allocation to the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust to support water infrastructure improvements, prioritizing municipalities with affordability challenges. A significant $2 billion is dedicated to expanding the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority's capacity, with a focus on increasing housing capacity and improving drinking water quality in communities affected by PFAS contamination. The bill also creates a $375 million HousingWorks infrastructure program to provide grants for sewer, septic, and water infrastructure upgrades that support housing development, with specific incentives for cities and towns meeting certain zoning and housing production requirements. Additionally, the legislation establishes an Interbasin Transfer Review Commission to analyze and recommend updates to water resource transfer regulations, creates a water infrastructure advisory committee to monitor funding gaps and infrastructure challenges, and develops a grant program to address workforce shortages in water infrastructure-related fields. The bill includes provisions for research on biosolids, grants for infrastructure adaptation planning, and evaluation of current funding allocation processes, demonstrating a comprehensive approach to addressing the Commonwealth's water infrastructure needs.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S563