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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1380 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3513
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Sally P. Kerans and Joan B. Lovely
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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 ensure notice to abutter communities of applications to the department of public
utilities.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Sally P. Kerans13th Essex1/14/2025 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1380 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3513
By Representative Kerans of Danvers and Senator Lovely, a joint petition (accompanied by bill,
House, No. 3513) of Sally P. Kerans relative to notice to abutter communities of applications to
the Department of Public Utilities. Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 3800 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 ensure notice to abutter communities of applications to the department of public
utilities.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 Chapter 25 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-
2 Section 24. (a) Every applicant seeking a permit from the department for any project
3shall, within 30 days of filing the application, notify the city or town in which the proposed
4project will be located, to be known for the purposes of this section as the "host community", and
5all abutting cities and towns of the proposed project application. Acceptable forms of notice shall
6include email communication to the mayor and city council of the host community and all
7abutting cities and the select board and town administrator or town manager of the host
8community and all abutting towns. The words "Proposed Project Siting" shall appear in the
9subject line of the notice email. 2 of 2
10 (b) The department shall send, within 60 days of receipt of any application for a permit or
11approval of a proposed project, written notice to the mayor or town administrator or town
12manager, city council or select board and the state representatives and state senators of the host
13community and abutting cities and towns of the application for the proposed project. The written
14notice pursuant to this subsection shall include the applicant name, address and contact
15information and shall state the right of the public to give testimony on the project and shall
16include instructions for participating in the public hearing, including the date, time and location
17of the hearing.
18 (c) Any applicant for a permit or approval from the department shall appear as requested
19at a public hearing convened by the legislative body of a host community or abutting city or
20town to describe the proposed project. Failure to appear as requested shall be communicated by
21the legislative body requesting the hearing and shall be grounds for the department to grant
22intervenor status to any entity that was previously excluded from the meeting.