Bill > S546

This bill establishes the Quabbin Host Community Trust Fund, which will receive $35 million annually from the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA), adjusted for inflation. The fund is designed to support Quabbin Reservoir watershed communities through a structured spending plan: at least 70% of the funds must be used for municipal operations and capital improvements, up to 25% can go to non-profit and cultural organizations serving health, welfare, safety, and transit needs in the Quabbin, Connecticut River Basin, and Chicopee River Basin communities, and up to 5% can be used for specific infrastructure projects. The bill also modifies existing laws to ensure that communities receive at least $50,000 annually in payments in lieu of taxes for land held by the state. Additionally, it changes the composition of the MWRA board to include three members from different Quabbin watershed counties, representing land and water resources protection and host community interests. The bill further requires the MWRA to complete a Water System Expansion Evaluation for several river basin communities by December 31, 2026, and prohibits interbasin water transfers from Quabbin Reservoir until this evaluation is finished. The Quabbin Host Community Trust Fund will be administered by the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs in consultation with local Select Boards, with annual reporting requirements to ensure transparency and accountability.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S546