1 of 1
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3783 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2276
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Carlos González and Patricia A. Duffy
_________________
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 relative to clinical or educational programs under the Dover amendment.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Carlos González10th Hampden1/17/2025 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3783 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2276
By Representatives González of Springfield and Duffy of Holyoke, a petition (accompanied by
bill, House, No. 2276) of Carlos González relative to zoning for clinical or educational programs.
Municipalities and Regional Government.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
_______________
An Act relative to clinical or educational programs under the Dover amendment.
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. The second paragraph of section 3 of chapter 40A of the General Laws, as
2appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the word
3“requirements”, in lines 60 and 61, the following words:- ; provided, further, that no such land or
4structures located in a low income city or town, defined for purposes of this paragraph as a city
5or town whose average median income is equal to 60 per cent or less of the average median
6income of the commonwealth, shall be used for educational purposes pursuant to this section,
7including, but not limited to the purpose of opening a substance abuse or alcohol rehabilitation
8center or a clinic, nor be exempt from zoning regulation pursuant to this section, without first
9obtaining the approval of the legislative body of such city or town.
10 SECTION 2. Said section 3 of said chapter 40A, as so appearing, is hereby further
11amended by adding the following paragraph:- 2 of 2
12 Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, any person, organization,
13institution or corporation that purchases property within a city or town to be used for educational
14purposes pursuant to this section, and who fails, within 2 years to substantially improve such
15property shall be assessed at the property's highest and best use at commercial rate for such
16property, with no exemption.