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| 2 | 2 | | SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1147 FILED ON: 1/15/2025 |
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| 3 | 3 | | SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 558 |
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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 | | Brendan P. Crighton |
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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 establishing a pilot program for nature-based solutions to climate change. |
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| 13 | 13 | | _______________ |
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| 14 | 14 | | PETITION OF: |
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| 15 | 15 | | NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Brendan P. CrightonThird EssexHadley Luddy4th Barnstable2/28/2025 1 of 2 |
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| 16 | 16 | | SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1147 FILED ON: 1/15/2025 |
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| 17 | 17 | | SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 558 |
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| 18 | 18 | | By Mr. Crighton, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 558) of Brendan P. Crighton and |
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| 19 | 19 | | Hadley Luddy for legislation to promote nature-based approaches for resiliency and climate |
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| 20 | 20 | | change adaptation throughout the Commonwealth. Environment and Natural Resources. |
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| 21 | 21 | | [SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION |
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| 22 | 22 | | SEE SENATE, NO. 458 OF 2023-2024.] |
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| 23 | 23 | | The Commonwealth of Massachusetts |
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| 24 | 24 | | _______________ |
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| 25 | 25 | | In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court |
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| 26 | 26 | | (2025-2026) |
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| 27 | 27 | | _______________ |
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| 28 | 28 | | An Act establishing a pilot program for nature-based solutions to climate change. |
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| 29 | 29 | | Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority |
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| 30 | 30 | | of the same, as follows: |
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| 31 | 31 | | 1 (a) The executive office of energy and environmental affairs shall establish a pilot |
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| 32 | 32 | | 2program for research activities and demonstration projects for nature-based solutions, as defined |
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| 33 | 33 | | 3in section 1 of chapter 21N of the General Laws. The program shall: (i) define categories of |
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| 34 | 34 | | 4nature-based solutions and develop standards for their use; (ii) coordinate, streamline and |
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| 35 | 35 | | 5expedite the permitting and review process for activities and projects; and (iii) prioritize |
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| 36 | 36 | | 6activities and projects that advance scientific knowledge, provide conservation benefits, and |
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| 37 | 37 | | 7minimize impacts to existing wetlands. The secretary of energy and environmental affairs and |
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| 38 | 38 | | 8commissioners/directors of permitting agencies may modify specific performance standards for |
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| 39 | 39 | | 9nature-based solutions. 2 of 2 |
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| 40 | 40 | | 10 (b) The pilot program shall commence upon the effective date of this Act and operate for |
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| 41 | 41 | | 115 years. Not later than one year from the effective date of this Act, and annually thereafter, the |
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| 42 | 42 | | 12secretary shall file a report with the clerks of the senate and house of representatives and the joint |
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| 43 | 43 | | 13committee on environment and natural resources that: (i) details the categories of nature-based |
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| 44 | 44 | | 14solutions; (ii) analyzes the approval time for all permits required for each approved research |
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| 45 | 45 | | 15activity or demonstration project; (iii) specifies any specific performance standards modified for |
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| 46 | 46 | | 16each approved research activity or project; and (iv) provides data about the effectiveness of each |
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| 47 | 47 | | 17approved research activity or project. |
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