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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2776 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2331
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Aaron L. Saunders
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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 allowing municipalities to reasonably regulate solar siting.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Aaron L. Saunders7th Hampden1/16/2025 1 of 1
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2776 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2331
By Representative Saunders of Belchertown, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2331)
of Aaron L. Saunders relative to zoning ordinances for the regulation of the installation of solar
energy systems. Municipalities and Regional Government.
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 allowing municipalities to reasonably regulate solar siting.
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 3 of chapter 40A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition,
2is hereby amended by striking out the ninth paragraph, in lines 123 to 126, inclusive, and
3inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:-
4 No zoning ordinance or by-law shall prohibit or unreasonably regulate the installation of
5solar energy systems or the building of structures that facilitate the collection of solar energy for
6residential purposes except where necessary to protect the public health, safety or welfare.
7Commercial, governmental, and non-residential solar energy structures and systems may be
8reasonably regulated for purposes of (i) protecting public health, safety and welfare; (ii)
9preserving forested lands, agricultural lands, or wetlands; or (iii) ensuring compatibility with
10municipal zoning.