H3449 — An Act to further empower local climate action

Summary

An Act to further empower local climate action

Bill Text

• Full text Current

AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

The bill increases the maximum number of applications for a demonstration project from 10 to 20 and revises the local approval requirements for cities and towns to apply for acceptance into the project.

• Section 84(c)

  10 → 20

  This change doubles the maximum number of applications for the demonstration project from 10 to 20.

• Section 84(c)

  the second sentence → No city or town shall apply for acceptance into the demonstration project until it has received local approval as defined in subsection (a) of Section 84 of this act or has submitted a home rule petition to the general court on the subject matter of this section; provided, that the department shall issue approvals under this section to not more than 20 applications in the order in which cities and towns have submitted or submit applications; provided further, that the department shall, in the interest of increasing housing production in the commonwealth, withhold approval of an application by a city or town applying to participate in the demonstration project until such time as said city or town has: (i) met the 10 per cent housing affordability threshold set under chapter 40B of the General Laws or has been granted safe harbor status through an approved Housing Production Plan by the department of housing and community development; or (ii) has approved a zoning ordinance or by-law that provides for at least 1 district of reasonable size in which multi-family housing is permitted as of right; provided, that such multi-family housing shall be without age restrictions and shall be suitable for families with children; provided further, that a city or town that met the 10 per cent affordability threshold as of December 21, 2020, shall be deemed to have satisfied the requirements of this paragraph.

  This change establishes new local approval requirements for cities and towns applying for the demonstration project.

• Section 84(c)

  of home rule petitions to the general court

  This change removes the phrase regarding home rule petitions, streamlining the language of the requirement.

• The department of energy resources, in consultation with the executive office of energy and environmental affairs and the executive office of housing and economic development, may promulgate regulations to implement this section. Said regulations shall be promulgated no later than July 1, 2026.

  This addition grants the department authority to create regulations for implementing the changes by a specific deadline.

Sponsors

• Christine P. Barber · Primary

Subjects