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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2715 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 843
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Mary S. Keefe
_________________
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 protect pollinator habitat.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Mary S. Keefe15th Worcester1/13/2023Lindsay N. Sabadosa1st Hampshire1/19/2023Daniel M. Donahue16th Worcester1/24/2023Carmine Lawrence Gentile13th Middlesex1/25/2023David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf17th Worcester1/25/2023Joseph D. McKenna18th Worcester1/30/2023John Barrett, III1st Berkshire1/30/2023Brian M. Ashe2nd Hampden1/31/2023Brian W. Murray10th Worcester2/1/2023Patricia A. Duffy5th Hampden2/2/2023David M. Rogers24th Middlesex2/3/2023Christine P. Barber34th Middlesex2/3/2023Sally P. Kerans13th Essex2/3/2023Jacob R. OliveiraHampden, Hampshire and Worcester2/6/2023Margaret R. Scarsdale1st Middlesex2/6/2023Michelle M. DuBois10th Plymouth2/7/2023Tricia Farley-Bouvier2nd Berkshire2/8/2023Susan Williams Gifford2nd Plymouth2/9/2023 2 of 2
Thomas M. Stanley9th Middlesex2/9/2023Daniel R. Carey2nd Hampshire2/10/2023Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr.12th Hampden2/11/2023Colleen M. Garry36th Middlesex2/13/2023Patrick M. O'ConnorFirst Plymouth and Norfolk2/15/2023Paul McMurtry11th Norfolk2/15/2023Patrick Joseph Kearney4th Plymouth2/16/2023Bruce E. TarrFirst Essex and Middlesex2/21/2023Erika Uyterhoeven27th Middlesex2/22/2023Bradley H. Jones, Jr.20th Middlesex2/24/2023William C. Galvin6th Norfolk3/1/2023David Paul Linsky5th Middlesex3/6/2023 1 of 3
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2715 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 843
By Representative Keefe of Worcester, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 843) of Mary
S. Keefe and others for an investigation by a special commission (including members of the
General Court) relative to opportunities for improving pollinator health. Environment and
Natural Resources.
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 protect pollinator habitat.
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 1. (a) There shall be a special commission established to study statewide
2opportunities for improving pollinator health by increasing and enhancing native pollinator
3habitat.
4 The commission shall focus on identifying statewide opportunities for enhancing and
5expanding pollinator habitat in both developed and natural areas such as farm field borders,
6forest borders, residential areas, parks, urban areas, industrial areas, energy transmission
7corridors, energy generating facilities and transportation corridors.
8 The commission shall consider enhancing and expanding pollinator habitat for a broad
9range of native and managed pollinators including but not limited to wild and managed bees,
10butterflies, moths, beetles, ants, bats and birds. 2 of 3
11 The commission shall report its findings, including any proposed legislation, to the house
12and senate committees on ways and means, and the joint committee on environment, natural
13resources and agriculture no later than March 1, 2024.
14 The commission shall consist of 11 members including:
15 1 member of the house of representatives, without a designating party; 1 member of the
16senate, without a designating party; the secretary of energy and environmental affairs or a
17designee, who shall serve as chair; the commissioner of the division of fisheries and wildlife, or a
18designee; the commissioner of agricultural resources, or a designee; and 6 members appointed by
19the governor: 1 of whom shall be a university of massachusetts faculty member specializing in
20the science of pollinator health; 1 of whom shall be a representative of the university of
21massachusetts extension with knowledge in crops which rely on pollinators and pollinator health;
221 of whom shall represent an advocacy group for farmers; 1 of whom shall be a beekeeper
23representing a regional or statewide beekeeping organization; 1 of whom shall represent an
24advocacy group for nurseries; and 1 of whom shall represent a membership based non-profit
25advocacy group dedicated to land protection.
26 (b) The special commission shall examine issues relevant to pollinator health, including:
27(i) identifying current laws and regulations in the commonwealth and other states and countries
28related to protecting pollinators and pollinator health; (ii) studying public education and outreach
29plans regarding pollinator habitat that have been successful in other states; (iii) identifying
30adequacy of funding for efforts to promote or protect pollinator habitat; (iv) investigating the
31means used by other states to gather data on populations of pollinators; (v) evaluating existing
32best management practices for promoting pollinator health including, but not limited to, foraging 3 of 3
33and proper food source diversity; (vi) studying the use of agricultural and nonagricultural lands,
34such as transportation corridors, energy transmission corridors, parks, and working forests, and
35how they may be used to provide pollinator forage and unique opportunities to increase
36pollinator populations; (vii) research and identify ways to expand and coordinate public
37education programs outlining steps individuals and businesses can take to help address the loss
38of pollinator habitat.