Bill > S648

This bill modifies the definition of "preservation" in Chapter 44B of Massachusetts law to expand the scope of what can be protected using community preservation funds. Specifically, the bill broadens the definition to explicitly include protecting personal or real property from potential damage through the construction, alteration, or rehabilitation of coastal infrastructure like beaches, dunes, and seawalls. The new definition aims to safeguard open spaces, historical resources, and community housing from risks associated with coastal threats such as flooding, sea-level rise, and storm surge. By making these changes, the bill provides local governments with more flexibility in using community preservation funds to invest in coastal resilience and protection measures, recognizing the increasing challenges posed by climate change and rising sea levels to coastal communities.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S648