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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2547 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 297
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
William J. Driscoll, Jr.
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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 relative to gateway municipalities.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :William J. Driscoll, Jr.Norfolk, Plymouth and Bristol 1 of 1
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2547 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 297
By Mr. Driscoll, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 297) of William J. Driscoll, Jr. for
legislation to define gateway municipalities. Economic Development and Emerging
Technologies.
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 relative to gateway municipalities.
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 23A, Section 3A is hereby amended by striking the definition of “gateway
2municipality” and replacing it with the following definition:
3 “gateway municipality”, a municipality that satisfies three of the following criteria: (1) a
4population of 35,000 or greater, buy less than 250,000; (2) a median household income below the
5commonwealth’s average; (3) a rate of educational attainment of a bachelor’s degree or above
6that is below the commonwealth’s average; (4) a minority population of 40 per cent or higher,
7and; (5) 15 percent or more of households identify as speaking English less than "very well.” The
8secretary of economic development shall certify which municipalities qualify as a Gateway
9municipality after each decennial census or for an individual municipality upon request by the
10city council, selectboard, or other legislative body of a given municipality.”