Massachusetts Senate Bill S66

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/27/25
• Refer: 2/27/25

Caption

Relative to a municipality’s right of first refusal of agricultural and recreational land

Impact

The proposed amendments include significant changes to the timelines required for landowners to respond to purchase and sale contracts for properties classified under these laws. Specifically, the bill increases the response time from 120 days to 180 days and from 90 days to 120 days in relevant contexts. This adjustment is designed to provide municipalities with more time to evaluate and act upon potential acquisitions of land crucial for community agricultural and recreational use, ensuring that such lands are preserved for public benefit.

Summary

Bill S66, titled 'An Act relative to a municipality’s right of first refusal of agricultural and recreational land,' seeks to amend existing laws within chapter 61A and chapter 61B of the Massachusetts General Laws. The core purpose of this bill is to enhance municipalities' options to preserve agricultural and recreational lands by adjusting the timeframes associated with a landowner's response to a purchase contract, thereby ensuring municipalities have adequate opportunity to consider exercising their right to purchase land that meets these classifications before it is sold to third parties.

Contention

While the bill aims to bolster local control over land preservation, it may face scrutiny regarding its implications for landowners. Opponents of the bill might argue that extending response times could frustrate sales and complicate private land transactions. Proponents, including local government representatives, are likely to emphasize the necessity of these changes as a means to safeguard local agricultural resources and recreational spaces against the pressures of urban development and private real estate expansion. As the bill advances, a careful balancing of municipal interests and private property rights will be critical.