Bill > S418

This bill aims to assist municipal and district ratepayers by addressing the costs associated with capital upgrades to public drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater systems. It defines "local mandate" as any new rule, regulation, guidance document, or policy from the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EOEEA) that imposes additional costs on cities or towns, requiring them to undertake new services, direct or indirect costs, or modify existing activities, thereby diverting funds or resources. Before any such EOEEA proposal can become effective, a comprehensive regulatory impact statement must be completed, made public, and filed with the secretary of state, detailing the problem addressed, the methodology used, affected stakeholders, financial impacts on all parties including cities and towns, and the benefits of the proposal. The EOEEA will also maintain a notification list for stakeholders and relevant legislative committees, providing preliminary notification of proposals at least thirty days before a public hearing. Furthermore, the bill ensures that EOEEA proposals must comply with the Massachusetts Administrative Procedures Act, and any entity aggrieved by non-compliance can seek relief in court.