Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

Massachusetts Senate Bill S1277 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1394 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
3	3	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1277
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Michael J. Barrett
8	8	_________________
9	9	To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
10	10	Court assembled:
11	11	The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
12	12	An Act relative to solar drying of laundry.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Michael J. BarrettThird Middlesex 1 of 2
16	16	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1394 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
17	17	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1277
18	18	By Mr. Barrett, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1277) of Michael J. Barrett for
19	19	legislation relative to the use of outdoor clotheslines. Municipalities and Regional Government.
20	20	[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
21	21	SEE SENATE, NO. 1319 OF 2021-2022.]
22	22	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
23	23	_______________
24	24	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
25	25	(2023-2024)
26	26	_______________
27	27	An Act relative to solar drying of laundry.
28	28	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
29	29	of the same, as follows:
30	30	1 Chapter 184 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-
31	31	2 Section 36. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall have the following
32	32	3meaning unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
33	33	4 “Association of homeowners”, a community association, condominium association,
34	34	5homeowners association, cooperative or any other nongovernmental entity with covenants, by-
35	35	6laws and administrative provisions with which the homeowner’s compliance is required.
36	36	7 “Clothesline”, a rope, cord, wire or similar device on which clothing or other items
37	37	8including, but not limited to, linens are hung outdoors to dry. 2 of 2
38	38	9 (b) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, a homeowner or tenant
39	39	10shall not be prohibited from installing or using a clothesline.
40	40	11 (c) A homeowner or an association of homeowners may adopt rules that reasonably
41	41	12restrict the placement and use of a clothesline on the premises of a residential dwelling;
42	42	13provided, however, that those restrictions shall not prohibit the use of clotheslines. No private
43	43	14entity shall assess or charge a homeowner a fee for the placement or use of a clothesline. If a
44	44	15homeowner or an association of homeowners has a contract, deed, covenant, restriction, rule, by-
45	45	16law, lease agreement or rental agreement that prohibits the use of clotheslines on the effective
46	46	17date of this act, the homeowner or association of homeowners shall hold a meeting to reconsider
47	47	18the provision prohibiting the use of clotheslines at the request of a unit owner or tenant;
48	48	19provided, however, that in the case of a tenant leasing or renting a unit in an association, the
49	49	20tenant shall make such a request to the unit owner. Any such meeting shall be held at a date and
50	50	21time agreed upon with the requesting party and after providing reasonable notice to all of the
51	51	22interested parties.
52	52	23 (d) Upon approval of this section by the legislative body of a city or town, the following
53	53	24question shall be placed on the official ballot and submitted to the voters of that city or town at
54	54	25the next regular municipal or state election:
55	55	26 “Shall (the city or town) accept Section 36 of Chapter 184 of the General Laws relative to
56	56	27the solar drying of laundry?”
57	57	28 If a majority of the voters voting on the question vote in the affirmative, this section shall
58	58	29take effect in that city or town.