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| 2 | 2 | | HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 555 FILED ON: 1/10/2025 |
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| 3 | 3 | | HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3996 |
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| 4 | 4 | | The Commonwealth of Massachusetts |
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| 5 | 5 | | _________________ |
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| 6 | 6 | | PRESENTED BY: |
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| 7 | 7 | | Michelle L. Badger |
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| 8 | 8 | | _________________ |
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| 9 | 9 | | To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General |
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| 10 | 10 | | Court assembled: |
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| 11 | 11 | | The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill: |
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| 12 | 12 | | An Act relative to Massachusetts Solar Access Law. |
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| 13 | 13 | | _______________ |
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| 14 | 14 | | PETITION OF: |
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| 15 | 15 | | NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Michelle L. Badger1st Plymouth1/10/2025 1 of 2 |
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| 16 | 16 | | HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 555 FILED ON: 1/10/2025 |
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| 17 | 17 | | HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3996 |
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| 18 | 18 | | By Representative Badger of Plymouth, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3996) of |
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| 19 | 19 | | Michelle L. Badger relative to zoning restrictions for solar systems. Municipalities and Regional |
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| 20 | 20 | | Government. |
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| 21 | 21 | | The Commonwealth of Massachusetts |
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| 22 | 22 | | _______________ |
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| 23 | 23 | | In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court |
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| 24 | 24 | | (2025-2026) |
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| 25 | 25 | | _______________ |
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| 26 | 26 | | An Act relative to Massachusetts Solar Access Law. |
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| 27 | 27 | | Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority |
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| 28 | 28 | | of the same, as follows: |
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| 29 | 29 | | 1 SECTION 1. The ninth paragraph of section 3 of Chapter 40A of the General Laws, as |
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| 30 | 30 | | 2appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following 2 sentences:- |
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| 31 | 31 | | 3Any damage to the public health, safety and welfare shall be proven in a court of law by local |
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| 32 | 32 | | 4authorities that seek to restrict the use of solar systems attached to permanent buildings. No |
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| 33 | 33 | | 5home owners' association or other owner’s organization shall unreasonably refuse or |
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| 34 | 34 | | 6unreasonably delay the installation of solar energy systems or the building of structures that |
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| 35 | 35 | | 7facilitate the collection of solar energy on roofs pursuant to section 25 of chapter 183A. |
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| 36 | 36 | | 8 SECTION 2. Chapter 183A of the General Laws, as amended by section 47 of chapter |
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| 37 | 37 | | 9150 of the acts of 2024, is hereby amended by adding the following section:- |
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| 38 | 38 | | 10 Section 25. No home owners' association or organization of owners shall unreasonably |
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| 39 | 39 | | 11refuse or unreasonably delay the installation of solar energy systems or the building of structures |
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| 40 | 40 | | 12that facilitate the collection of solar energy on roofs. A home owners' association or organization 2 of 2 |
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| 41 | 41 | | 13of owners may impose reasonable restrictions on installation of solar energy systems or the |
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| 42 | 42 | | 14building of structures that facilitate the collection of solar energy on roofs. |
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