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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2742 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 308
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Todd M. Smola
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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 to establish to an industrial mill building task force.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Todd M. Smola1st Hampden1/16/2025 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2742 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 308
By Representative Smola of Warren, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 308) of Todd
M. Smola for legislation to establish an industrial mill building revitalization task force
(including members of the General Court) to stimulate the re-development, rehabilitation and
revitalization of industrial mill buildings and surrounding areas in the Commonwealth.
Community Development and Small Businesses.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 236 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 to establish to an industrial mill building task force.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 There shall be an industrial mill building revitalization task force to stimulate the re-
2development, rehabilitation and revitalization of industrial mill buildings and surrounding areas
3in the commonwealth. The task force shall: (i) review current laws and regulations beneficial the
4revitalization of mill buildings and surrounding areas, including, but not limited to, federal and
5state tax incentives and renewable energy production; (ii) create a list of existing mill buildings,
6their locations, whether they are active or inactive and current uses, if applicable, in the
7commonwealth; (iii) investigate potential new uses for mill buildings based on market conditions
8that increase economic development; (iv) identify strategies to improve mill building energy
9efficiency and prevent further structural and environmental degradation; (v) explore innovative 2 of 2
10permitting processes, zoning regulations and building codes to encourage redevelopment; and
11(vi) consider any other action in furtherance of its purpose.
12 (b) The task force shall consist of the secretary of housing and economic development, or
13a designee, who shall serve as chair; the secretary of energy and environmental affairs, or a
14designee; the chairs of the joint committee on economic development and emerging
15technologies, or their designees; the director of Massachusetts Development Finance Agency, or
16a designee; 2 members of the house of representatives who represent communities with mill
17buildings, designated by the speaker of the house of representatives; 2 members of the senate
18who represent communities with mill buildings, designated by the senate president; the director
19of the Massachusetts clean energy center, or a designee; 2 residents of the commonwealth who
20own mill buildings, 1 active and 1 inactive, designated by the chair; 1 representative of a
21Massachusetts utility company, designated by the chair; 1 representative from an economic
22development organization, designated by the chair; 3 representatives of Massachusetts planning
23organizations, 1 of whom shall be from the western region of the state, 1 of whom shall be from
24the central region of the state and 1 of whom shall be from the eastern region of the state,
25designated by the chair.
26 (c) The task force shall submit its report and recommendations, together with drafts of
27legislation to carry its recommendations into effect, to the chairs of the joint committee on
28economic development and emerging technologies and the clerks of the house of representatives
29and the senate not later than August 1, 2025.