| 1 | 1 | | 1 of 1 |
|---|
| 2 | 2 | | HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1053 FILED ON: 1/14/2025 |
|---|
| 3 | 3 | | HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 971 |
|---|
| 4 | 4 | | The Commonwealth of Massachusetts |
|---|
| 5 | 5 | | _________________ |
|---|
| 6 | 6 | | PRESENTED BY: |
|---|
| 7 | 7 | | Daniel J. Hunt and Sean Garballey |
|---|
| 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 establishing a pilot program for nature-based solutions to climate change. |
|---|
| 13 | 13 | | _______________ |
|---|
| 14 | 14 | | PETITION OF: |
|---|
| 15 | 15 | | NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Daniel J. Hunt13th Suffolk1/14/2025Sean Garballey23rd Middlesex1/15/2025Kevin G. Honan17th Suffolk3/10/2025Thomas M. Stanley9th Middlesex3/10/2025Samantha Montaño15th Suffolk3/10/2025 1 of 2 |
|---|
| 16 | 16 | | HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1053 FILED ON: 1/14/2025 |
|---|
| 17 | 17 | | HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 971 |
|---|
| 18 | 18 | | By Representatives Hunt of Boston and Garballey of Arlington, a petition (accompanied by bill, |
|---|
| 19 | 19 | | House, No. 971) of Daniel J. Hunt, Sean Garballey and others for legislation to establish a |
|---|
| 20 | 20 | | climate change superfund and promoting polluter responsibility. Environment and Natural |
|---|
| 21 | 21 | | Resources. |
|---|
| 22 | 22 | | The Commonwealth of Massachusetts |
|---|
| 23 | 23 | | _______________ |
|---|
| 24 | 24 | | In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court |
|---|
| 25 | 25 | | (2025-2026) |
|---|
| 26 | 26 | | _______________ |
|---|
| 27 | 27 | | An Act establishing a pilot program for nature-based solutions to climate change. |
|---|
| 28 | 28 | | Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority |
|---|
| 29 | 29 | | of the same, as follows: |
|---|
| 30 | 30 | | 1 Section 1. (a) The executive office of energy and environmental affairs shall establish a |
|---|
| 31 | 31 | | 2pilot program for research activities and demonstration projects for nature-based solutions, as |
|---|
| 32 | 32 | | 3defined in section 1 of chapter 21N of the General Laws. The program shall: (i) define categories |
|---|
| 33 | 33 | | 4of nature-based solutions and develop standards for their use; (ii) coordinate, streamline and |
|---|
| 34 | 34 | | 5expedite the permitting and review process for activities and projects; and (iii) prioritize |
|---|
| 35 | 35 | | 6activities and projects that advance scientific knowledge, provide conservation benefits, and |
|---|
| 36 | 36 | | 7minimize impacts to existing wetlands. The secretary of energy and environmental affairs and |
|---|
| 37 | 37 | | 8commissioners/directors of permitting agencies may modify specific performance standards for |
|---|
| 38 | 38 | | 9nature-based solutions. |
|---|
| 39 | 39 | | 10 (b) The pilot program shall commence upon the effective date of this Act and operate for |
|---|
| 40 | 40 | | 115 years. Not later than one year from the effective date of this Act, and annually thereafter, the |
|---|
| 41 | 41 | | 12secretary shall file a report with the clerks of the senate and house of representatives and the joint 2 of 2 |
|---|
| 42 | 42 | | 13committee on environment and natural resources that: (i) details the categories of nature-based |
|---|
| 43 | 43 | | 14solutions; (ii) analyzes the approval time for all permits required for each approved research |
|---|
| 44 | 44 | | 15activity or demonstration project; (iii) specifies any specific performance standards modified for |
|---|
| 45 | 45 | | 16each approved research activity or project; and (iv) provides data about the effectiveness of each |
|---|
| 46 | 46 | | 17approved research activity or project. |
|---|