Bill > S597

This bill establishes the Nature for All Fund, a dedicated fund aimed at conserving and improving natural and working lands in Massachusetts. The fund will support various environmental and community goals, including creating and improving parks and green spaces in underserved neighborhoods, protecting water resources, conserving and restoring farms and forests to advance biodiversity and climate goals, connecting open spaces, and preserving lands of indigenous cultural significance. The fund will be financed through specific sales and use tax receipts, as well as public and private gifts and grants. A 15-member board, including state officials and public representatives from diverse backgrounds, will oversee the fund and approve regulations for its expenditures. The board will ensure that fund allocations prioritize environmental justice neighborhoods, indigenous land restoration, and conservation efforts that align with affordable housing development. The bill also allows the state treasurer to issue special obligation bonds backed by the fund, with certain protections to maintain the fund's financial integrity. Additionally, the executive office of energy and environmental affairs must submit an annual report detailing the proportion of funds spent in environmental justice populations, ensuring transparency and accountability in the fund's implementation.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S597