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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1066 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 557
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Brendan P. Crighton
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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 accelerating wetlands restoration projects.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Brendan P. CrightonThird EssexJoanne M. ComerfordHampshire, Franklin and Worcester2/28/2025James B. EldridgeMiddlesex and Worcester2/28/2025James K. Hawkins2nd Bristol2/28/2025Vanna Howard17th Middlesex2/28/2025Michael O. MooreSecond Worcester2/28/2025Sal N. DiDomenicoMiddlesex and Suffolk2/28/2025Manny Cruz7th Essex2/28/2025Thomas M. Stanley9th Middlesex2/28/2025Bruce E. TarrFirst Essex and Middlesex2/28/2025 1 of 3
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1066 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 557
By Mr. Crighton, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 557) of Brendan P. Crighton,
Joanne M. Comerford, James B. Eldridge, James K. Hawkins and other members of the General
Court for legislation to accelerate and streamline wetlands restoration. Environment and Natural
Resources.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 457 OF 2023-2024.]
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 accelerating wetlands restoration projects.
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. Section 18 of chapter 91 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022
2Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the fifth paragraph, the following
3paragraph:
4 No license or permit shall be required for dredge or fill, as defined by the department, as
5part of work to restore tidelands, including salt marshes; provided that such a project is permitted
6by the department or local issuing authority pursuant to section 40 of chapter 131 and applicable
7regulations; and provided further, that such a project does not impair public access or navigation
8and does not involve placement of a structure. 2 of 3
9 SECTION 2. Section 40 of chapter 131 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby
10amended by inserting after the twenty-seventh paragraph the following paragraph:
11 The notice of intention required in the first paragraph of this section shall not apply to
12targeted hand removal of invasive, non-native plants from resource areas. The department shall
13issue regulations on the scope and methods for such invasives removal, including standards to
14minimize disturbance to soils and native plants and wildlife, requirements for notification to
15conservation commissions, and the competency of individuals performing such work.
16 SECTION 3. Notwithstanding any special or general law to the contrary, the secretary of
17energy and environmental affairs shall undertake a Wetlands Restoration Streamlining Initiative
18to improve the efficiency and reduce permitting and monitoring costs for ecological restoration
19projects as defined in 310 CMR 10.04. This initiative shall include a review of laws and
20regulations governing projects in wetlands or waterways including, but not limited to, those
21overseen by the environmental policy act office, department of environmental protection, office
22of coastal zone management, division of fisheries and wildlife, natural heritage and endangered
23species program, division of marine fisheries, and division of ecological restoration. The review
24shall solicit input from experts and restoration practitioners. Not later than 12 months following
25the passage of this act, the secretary shall issue a report with recommendations for legislative and
26regulatory amendments to reduce the time, complexity, and costs of permitting ecological
27restoration projects, and maintaining important habitat.
28 SECTION 4. (a) The executive office of energy and environmental affairs shall establish
29a pilot program for research activities and demonstration projects for nature-based solutions, as
30defined in section 1 of chapter 21N of the General Laws. The program shall: (i) define categories 3 of 3
31of nature-based solutions and develop standards for their use; (ii) coordinate, streamline and
32expedite the permitting and review process for activities and projects; and (iii) prioritize
33activities and projects that advance scientific knowledge, provide conservation benefits, and
34minimize impacts to existing wetlands. The secretary of energy and environmental affairs and
35commissioners/directors of permitting agencies may modify specific performance standards for
36nature-based solutions.
37 (b) The pilot program shall commence upon the effective date of this Act and operate for
385 years. Not later than one year from the effective date of this Act, and annually thereafter, the
39secretary shall file a report with the clerks of the senate and house of representatives and the joint
40committee on environment and natural resources that: (i) details the categories of nature-based
41solutions; (ii) analyzes the approval time for all permits required for each approved research
42activity or demonstration project; (iii) specifies any specific performance standards modified for
43each approved research activity or project; and (iv) provides data about the effectiveness of each
44approved research activity or project.