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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 435 FILED ON: 1/9/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1026
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Sean Reid
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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 establishing a special commission to study the noise effects of hunting migratory game
birds in neighborhoods and communities within established coastal zones.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Sean Reid11th Essex1/9/2025 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 435 FILED ON: 1/9/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1026
By Representative Reid of Lynn, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1026) of Sean Reid
for an investigation by a special commission (including members of the General Court) relative
to the impacts, specific to noise, that persons hunting migratory game birds from a water craft
have within the coastal zones. Environment and Natural Resources.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act establishing a special commission to study the noise effects of hunting migratory game
birds in neighborhoods and communities within established coastal zones.
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. There is hereby established a special commission to study the noise effects
2of hunting migratory game birds in neighborhoods and communities located in established
3coastal zones.
4 SECTION 2. The commission shall study and assess the impacts, specific to noise, that
5persons hunting migratory game birds from a water craft have on the residents of neighborhoods
6and communities immediately located within the coastal zones established by the Department of
7Fish and Games. The commission shall also study the regulated distance that a person hunting
8from a water craft is required to be located from land to determine if this amount needs to be
9increased.
10 SECTION 3. The commission shall consist of a member of the Senate appointed by the
11President of the Senate; a member of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of 2 of 2
12the House of Representatives; a member of the Senate appointed by the Senate Minority Leader;
13a member of the House of Representatives appointed by the House Minority leader; the Secretary
14of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs or his designee who shall serve as
15Chairman of the commission; the Commissioner of the Department of Fish and Game or his
16designee; The Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Revenue or his designee; a
17representative from the sports hunting industry to be appointed by the Commissioner of the
18Department of Fish and Game; The members of the commission shall be appointed not later July
193, 2026.
20 SECTION 4. The commission shall hold public meetings in Newburyport, Nahant,
21Marshfield and Cape Cod to assist in the collection and evaluation of data and testimony.
22 SECTION 5. The commission shall prepare a written report detailing its findings and
23recommendations, if any, together with drafts of legislation necessary to carry those
24recommendations into effect. The commission shall submit its report to the governor, the
25secretary of the commonwealth, the Senate President and Speaker of the House, the Chairmen of
26the Joint Committee on Natural Resources, the House and Senate Chairman of the Ways and
27Means Committees, the Chairmen of the Joint Committee on Revenue, and the Chairmen of the
28Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development not later than December 31, 2026.