Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H981 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. 1438 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
3	3	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 981
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Mary S. Keefe
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 to protect pollinator habitat.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Mary S. Keefe15th Worcester1/14/2025Brian M. Ashe2nd Hampden1/22/2025Patricia A. Duffy5th Hampden1/30/2025Carmine Lawrence Gentile13th Middlesex2/14/2025David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf17th Worcester2/10/2025Jason M. LewisFifth Middlesex3/3/2025Adrianne Pusateri Ramos14th Essex3/6/2025Bruce E. TarrFirst Essex and Middlesex2/27/2025 1 of 3
16	16	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1438 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
17	17	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 981
18	18	By Representative Keefe of Worcester, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 981) of Mary
19	19	S. Keefe and others for an investigation by a special commission (including members of the
20	20	General Court) relative to opportunities for improving pollinator health. Environment and
21	21	Natural Resources.
22	22	[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
23	23	SEE HOUSE, NO. 843 OF 2023-2024.]
24	24	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
25	25	_______________
26	26	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
27	27	(2025-2026)
28	28	_______________
29	29	An Act to protect pollinator habitat.
30	30	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
31	31	of the same, as follows:
32	32	1 (a) There shall be a special commission established to study statewide opportunities for
33	33	2improving pollinator health by increasing and enhancing native pollinator habitat.
34	34	3 The commission shall focus on identifying statewide opportunities for enhancing and
35	35	4expanding pollinator habitat in both developed and natural areas such as farm field borders,
36	36	5forest borders, residential areas, parks, urban areas, industrial areas, energy transmission
37	37	6corridors, energy generating facilities and transportation corridors.
38	38	7 The commission shall consider enhancing and expanding pollinator habitat for a broad
39	39	8range of native and managed pollinators including but not limited to wild and managed bees,
40	40	9butterflies, moths, beetles, ants, bats and birds. 2 of 3
41	41	10 The commission shall report its findings, including any proposed legislation, to the house
42	42	11and senate committees on ways and means, and the joint committee on environment, natural
43	43	12resources and agriculture no later than March 1, 2026.
44	44	13 The commission shall consist of 11 members including:
45	45	14 1 member of the house of representatives, without a designating party; 1 member of the
46	46	15senate, without a designating party; the secretary of energy and environmental affairs or a
47	47	16designee, who shall serve as chair; the commissioner of the division of fisheries and wildlife, or a
48	48	17designee; the commissioner of agricultural resources, or a designee; and 6 members appointed by
49	49	18the governor: 1 of whom shall be a university of massachusetts faculty member specializing in
50	50	19the science of pollinator health; 1 of whom shall be a representative of the university of
51	51	20massachusetts extension with knowledge in crops which rely on pollinators and pollinator health;
52	52	211 of whom shall represent an advocacy group for farmers; 1 of whom shall be a beekeeper
53	53	22representing a regional or statewide beekeeping organization; 1 of whom shall represent an
54	54	23advocacy group for nurseries; and 1 of whom shall represent a membership based non-profit
55	55	24advocacy group dedicated to land protection.
56	56	25 (b) The special commission shall examine issues relevant to pollinator health, including:
57	57	26(i) identifying current laws and regulations in the commonwealth and other states and countries
58	58	27related to protecting pollinators and pollinator health; (ii) studying public education and outreach
59	59	28plans regarding pollinator habitat that have been successful in other states; (iii) identifying
60	60	29adequacy of funding for efforts to promote or protect pollinator habitat; (iv) investigating the
61	61	30means used by other states to gather data on populations of pollinators; (v) evaluating existing
62	62	31best management practices for promoting pollinator health including, but not limited to, foraging 3 of 3
63	63	32and proper food source diversity; (vi) studying the use of agricultural and nonagricultural lands,
64	64	33such as transportation corridors, energy transmission corridors, parks, and working forests, and
65	65	34how they may be used to provide pollinator forage and unique opportunities to increase
66	66	35pollinator populations; (vii) research and identify ways to expand and coordinate public
67	67	36education programs outlining steps individuals and businesses can take to help address the loss
68	68	37of pollinator habitat.