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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1571 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3680
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Natalie M. Higgins and Michael P. Kushmerek
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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 fostering intercity Passenger Rail Fund.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Natalie M. Higgins4th Worcester1/15/2025Michael P. Kushmerek3rd Worcester1/15/2025 1 of 3
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1571 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3680
By Representatives Higgins of Leominster and Kushmerek of Fitchburg, a petition (accompanied
by bill, House, No. 3680) of Natalie M. Higgins and Michael P. Kushmerek relative to the
creation of a fund to finance rail and transportation related projects. Transportation.
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 fostering intercity Passenger Rail Fund.
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. Chapter 29 of the General Laws shall be amended by adding the following
2section:-
3 2EEEEEE. There shall be established and set up on the books of the commonwealth a
4separate fund to be known as the InterCity Regional Passenger Rail Fund, which shall be used
5exclusively for financing rail transportation-related projects to expand and support
6passenger/commuter rail throughout the Commonwealth, beginning with the Route 2 Corridor.
7The fund shall be subject to appropriation and shall be used for transportation related expenses of
8the executive office of transportation or any successor agency or authority to pay for contracts,
9services and debt service on bonds issued by, the Commonwealth for InterCity Passenger Rail
10expansion or improvements. Funds may also be expended for contract assistance for providing
11such services. 2 of 3
12 SECTION 2. Chapter 23K of the General Laws shall be amended by adding the
13following section:-
14 Section 59A. There shall be established and set up on the books of the commonwealth a
15New Gaming Revenue Fund which shall receive twenty-five percent of the gross gaming
16revenues collected from the Region D gaming licensee. The commission shall be the trustee of
17the fund and shall transfer monies in the fund as follows:
18 (1) 100 per cent of the revenue received from a category 1 licensee shall be transferred to
19the InterCity Passenger Rail Fund established pursuant to section 2EEEEEE of chapter 29;
20 (2) new gaming tax revenue from other licensed gaming operations as deemed by the
21legislature.
22 SECTION 3. Subsection (a) of section 19 of chapter 23K of the general laws is hereby
23amended by striking out clause (1) and inserting in place thereof the following clause (1):
24 “(1) region A: suffolk, middlesex, essex and norfolk counties;”
25 SECTION 4. Said subsection (a) of said section 19 of said chapter 23K, as so appearing,
26is hereby further amended by striking out, at the end of clause (2), the word “and”.
27 SECTION 5. Said subsection (a) of said section 19 of said chapter 23K, as so appearing,
28is hereby further amended by striking out, at the end of clause (3), the word “counties“ and
29inserting in place thereof the following words:-
30 “counties; and” 3 of 3
31 SECTION 6. Said subsection (a) of said section 19 of said chapter 23K, as so appearing,
32is hereby further amended by inserting after clause (3) the following clause (4):
33 “(4) region D: consisting of the cities and towns located in the Worcester Northern
34District Registry of Deeds, being Ashburnham, Fitchburg, Leominster, Lunenburg, and
35Westminster.”
36 SECTION 7. Said section 19 of said chapter 23K, as so appearing, is hereby further
37amended by inserting a new subsection (h), which shall provide as follows:
38 “(h) No gaming license shall be issued by the commission in region D unless it shall be
39situated on a site containing not less than 70 contiguous acres.”