Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H3457 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1292 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
3	3	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3457
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Michael S. Chaisson
8	8	_________________
9	9	To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
10	10	Court assembled:
11	11	The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
12	12	An Act relative to municipal light plants.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Michael S. Chaisson1st Bristol1/14/2025Peter J. DurantWorcester and Hampshire2/19/2025Hannah Kane11th Worcester2/18/2025 1 of 2
16	16	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1292 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
17	17	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3457
18	18	By Representative Chaisson of Foxborough, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3457)
19	19	of Michael S. Chaisson, Peter J. Durant and Hannah Kane relative to municipal light plants.
20	20	Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy.
21	21	[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
22	22	SEE HOUSE, NO. 3142 OF 2023-2024.]
23	23	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
24	24	_______________
25	25	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
26	26	(2025-2026)
27	27	_______________
28	28	An Act relative to municipal light plants.
29	29	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
30	30	of the same, as follows:
31	31	1 SECTION 1. Section 4A of Chapter 40 of the General Laws as appearing in the 2022
32	32	2Official Edition, is hereby amended by deleting in line 8 after the word “selectmen” the word
33	33	3“and ”.
34	34	4 SECTION 2. Said section of said chapter is hereby further amended by adding in line 9
35	35	5after the word “committee” the following words: , in a municipal light plant by the board or
36	36	6commission;
37	37	7 SECTION 3. Said section of said chapter is further amended by deleting in line 28 the
38	38	8word “or” the first time it appears. 2 of 2
39	39	9 SECTION 4. Said section of said chapter is further amended by deleting in line 29 “.”
40	40	10and by adding the following words: , or a municipal light plant established under chapter 164 or
41	41	11by special law.
42	42	12 Section 4. Section 47B of Chapter 164 of the General Laws as appearing in the 2022
43	43	13Official Edition is hereby amended by adding the following:
44	44	14 Any municipality acting by and through its municipal light board may provide services
45	45	15and assistance to any municipal or state utility, tribal utility as defined in 25 CFR § 169.2, or any
46	46	16other publicly-owned or operated utility, whether located inside or outside of the
47	47	17Commonwealth, and governmental units as defined in section 4A of chapter 40, to construct,
48	48	18install, alter, operate, maintain or repair utility poles and conduit, wires, cables, and equipment,
49	49	19and streetlights and traffic signals to the same extent such municipality acting by and through its
50	50	20municipal light board may provide such services within its service territory. Any such
51	51	21municipality acting by and through its municipal light board may sell, rent, or lease merchandise,
52	52	22equipment, fixtures, utensils and chattels of any description related to the provision of such
53	53	23services. Any employee providing such services entered into between the municipality acting by
54	54	24and through its municipal light board and such other public entity shall be subject to the
55	55	25provisions of chapter thirty-two, sections one to twenty-eight, inclusive, and shall have the same
56	56	26rights and privileges thereunder, as if performing the same duties within the scope of his
57	57	27employment including voluntary assignments.