Bill > S462

This bill aims to assist municipal and district ratepayers by addressing the significant and increasing costs associated with capital upgrades to public drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater systems. The key provisions of the bill are as follows: 1. Any proposal initiated by the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EOEEA) that results in additional costs for cities or towns is considered a "local mandate," which includes any rule, regulation, guidance document, or policy that requires a city or town to undertake a new service or cost obligation. 2. Before any EOEEA-initiated proposal can become effective, a regulatory impact statement must be completed and made public, detailing the problem being addressed, the methodology used, the stakeholders affected, the financial impacts on various parties, and the specific benefits of the proposal. 3. The EOEEA must maintain a notification list of stakeholders who request preliminary notification of any proposals, and must provide such notification at least 30 days prior to the public hearing on the proposal. 4. The EOEEA must comply with the Massachusetts Administrative Procedures Act when implementing any proposals, and entities claiming lack of compliance can file a petition for relief with the superior court. The overall goal of the bill is to ensure that the costs and benefits of EOEEA-initiated proposals are thoroughly considered and transparent to the affected municipal and district ratepayers.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/S462