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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1292 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3457
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Michael S. Chaisson
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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:Michael S. Chaisson1st Bristol1/14/2025Peter J. DurantWorcester and Hampshire2/19/2025Hannah Kane11th Worcester2/18/2025 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1292 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3457
By Representative Chaisson of Foxborough, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3457)
of Michael S. Chaisson, Peter J. Durant and Hannah Kane relative to municipal light plants.
Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 3142 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 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 Chapter 40 of the General Laws as appearing in the 2022
2Official Edition, is hereby amended by deleting in line 8 after the word “selectmen” the word
3“and ”.
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” the first time it appears. 2 of 2
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.
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:
14 Any municipality acting by and through its municipal light board may provide services
15and assistance to any municipal or state utility, tribal utility as defined in 25 CFR § 169.2, or any
16other 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.