Massachusetts House Bill H4938

Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 7/30/24
• Engrossed: 7/30/24
• Engrossed: 7/31/24
• Chaptered: 8/8/24
• Passed: 8/8/24

Caption

Authorizing the county of Nantucket to convey certain parcels of land in the town and county of Nantucket to the town of Nantucket

Impact

The bill makes a significant amendment to local land use regulations by allowing the county to directly transfer ownership of specified land to the town. The importance of this bill lies in its streamlined approach to land conveyance, which could potentially expedite the development of public projects. By not requiring adherence to Chapter 30B of the General Laws and overriding any rights of first refusal under Section 14 of Chapter 34, the bill reduces bureaucratic obstacles that could delay local initiatives.

Summary

House Bill 4938 aims to authorize the county of Nantucket to convey certain parcels of land to the town of Nantucket. These parcels, identified as P-23, P-24, P-25, and P-28, are currently held by the county for the purpose of a bicycle path. The bill is part of a larger effort to facilitate local governance and development, especially concerning community infrastructure projects like bicycle paths that promote transportation and recreational activities.

Contention

Notably, this bill faced some dissent as evidenced by the report from the committee on Ways and Means, indicating that Representative Sullivan-Almeida of Abington dissented. While no specific reasons for the dissent were noted in the available documents, it suggests that there may be concerns or differing opinions on how land management should be handled, especially regarding the assignment of public land and potential implications for local government powers.