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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2459 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2300
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Kristin E. Kassner
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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 relative to local option for associate members of planning boards.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Kristin E. Kassner2nd Essex1/16/2025Natalie M. Blais1st Franklin1/25/2025 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2459 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2300
By Representative Kassner of Hamilton, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2300) of
Kristin E. Kassner and Natalie M. Blais relative to local option for associate members of
planning boards. Municipalities and Regional Government.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 3555 OF 2023-2024.]
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 relative to local option for associate members of planning boards.
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. Section 9 of chapter 40A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022
2Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking the eleventh paragraph.
3 SECTION 2. Section 81A of chapter 41 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022
4Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the first paragraph the following
5paragraph:-
6 Zoning ordinances or by-laws may provide for associate members of a planning board.
7One associate member may be authorized when the planning board consists of five members,
8and two associate members may be authorized when the planning board consists of more than
9five members. A city or town which establishes the position of associate member shall determine 2 of 2
10the procedure for filling such position. If provision for filling the position of associate member
11has been made, in the case of absence, inability to act, conflict of interest on the part of any
12member of the planning board, or in the event of a vacancy on the board the chairman of the
13planning board may designate an associate member to sit on the board for the purposes of acting
14on any matter under its jurisdiction including but not limited to this chapter, chapter 40A or
15under its home rule powers.