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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 553 FILED ON: 1/10/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3330
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Kimberly N. Ferguson
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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 municipal light plants.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Kimberly N. Ferguson1st Worcester1/10/2025Hannah Kane11th Worcester1/16/2025Kelly W. Pease4th Hampden1/14/2025Patricia A. Duffy5th Hampden2/18/2025Peter J. DurantWorcester and Hampshire2/19/2025Bradley H. Jones, Jr.20th Middlesex1/21/2025Joan Meschino3rd Plymouth2/19/2025Adrianne Pusateri Ramos14th Essex3/6/2025Adam J. Scanlon14th Bristol2/27/2025 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 553 FILED ON: 1/10/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3330
By Representative Ferguson of Holden, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3330) of
Kimberly N. Ferguson and others relative to municipal light plants. State Administration and
Regulatory Oversight.
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 municipal light plants.
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 4A of Chapter40 of the General Laws as appearing in the 2022
2Official Edition, is hereby amended by deleting in line 8 after the word “selectmen” the words “,
3and ”
4 SECTION 2. Said section of said chapter is hereby further amended by adding in line 9
5after the word “committee” the following words: , in a municipal light plant by the board or
6commission;
7 SECTION 3. Said section of said chapter is further amended by deleting in line 28 the
8word “or”
9 SECTION 4. Said section of said chapter is further amended by deleting in line 29 “.”
10and by adding the following words: , or a municipal light plant established under chapter 164 or
11by special law. 2 of 2
12 Section 4. Section 47B of Chapter 164 of the General Laws as appearing in the 2022
13Official Edition is hereby amended by adding the following subsection:-
14 (b) Any municipality acting by and through its municipal light board may provide
15services and assistance to any municipal or state utility, tribal utility as defined in 25 CFR §
16169.2, or any other publicly-owned or operated utility, whether located inside or outside of the
17Commonwealth, and governmental units as defined in section 4A of chapter 40, to construct,
18install, alter, operate, maintain or repair utility poles and conduit, wires, cables, and equipment,
19and streetlights and traffic signals to the same extent such municipality acting by and through its
20municipal light board may provide such services within its service territory. Any such
21municipality acting by and through its municipal light board may sell, rent, or lease merchandise,
22equipment, fixtures, utensils and chattels of any description related to the provision of such
23services. Any employee providing such services entered into between the municipality acting by
24and through its municipal light board and such other public entity shall be subject to the
25provisions of chapter thirty-two, sections one to twenty-eight, inclusive, and shall have the same
26rights and privileges thereunder, as if performing the same duties within the scope of his
27employment including voluntary assignments.