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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2181 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 236
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Todd M. Smola
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act to establish to an industrial mill building task force.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Todd M. Smola1st Hampden1/12/2023 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2181 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 236
By Representative Smola of Warren, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 236) of Todd
M. Smola for legislation to establish an industrial mill building revitalization task force
(including members of the General Court) to stimulate the re-development, rehabilitation and
revitalization of industrial mill buildings and surrounding areas in the Commonwealth.
Community Development and Small Businesses.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 299 OF 2021-2022.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act to establish to an industrial mill building task force.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION XXXX. (a) There shall be an industrial mill building revitalization task force
2to stimulate the re-development, rehabilitation and revitalization of industrial mill buildings and
3surrounding areas in the commonwealth. The task force shall: (i) review current laws and
4regulations beneficial the revitalization of mill buildings and surrounding areas, including, but
5not limited to, federal and state tax incentives and renewable energy production; (ii) create a list
6of existing mill buildings, their locations, whether they are active or inactive and current uses, if
7applicable, in the commonwealth; (iii) investigate potential new uses for mill buildings based on
8market conditions that increase economic development; (iv) identify strategies to improve mill
9building energy efficiency and prevent further structural and environmental degradation; (v) 2 of 2
10explore innovative permitting processes, zoning regulations and building codes to encourage
11redevelopment; and (vi) consider any other action in furtherance of its purpose.
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13 (b) The task force shall consist of the secretary of housing and economic development, or
14a designee, who shall serve as chair; the secretary of energy and environmental affairs, or a
15designee; the chairs of the joint committee on economic development and emerging
16technologies, or their designees; the director of Massachusetts Development Finance Agency, or
17a designee; 2 members of the house of representatives who represent communities with mill
18buildings, designated by the speaker of the house of representatives; 2 members of the senate
19who represent communities with mill buildings, designated by the senate president; the director
20of the Massachusetts clean energy center, or a designee; 2 residents of the commonwealth who
21own mill buildings, 1 active and 1 inactive, designated by the chair; 1 representative of a
22Massachusetts utility company, designated by the chair; 1 representative from an economic
23development organization, designated by the chair; 3 representatives of Massachusetts planning
24organizations, 1 of whom shall be from the western region of the state, 1 of whom shall be from
25the central region of the state and 1 of whom shall be from the eastern region of the state,
26designated by the chair.
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28 (c) The task force shall submit its report and recommendations, together with drafts of
29legislation to carry its recommendations into effect, to the chairs of the joint committee on
30economic development and emerging technologies and the clerks of the house of representatives
31and the senate not later than August 1, 2023.