HD.1796: An Act addressing the impact of climate change on farms and fisheries
(filed in the Senate by Senator Fernandes, SD 1051)
Modeled after the successful Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Program, this bill would create an Agriculture and Fishery Vulnerability Preparedness Grant Fund to support farms and fisheries in planning and implementing climate change adaptation and resiliency initiatives. The grant program would also support technical assistance for farms and fisheries to navigate the funding landscape to support appropriate applications.
HD.1798: An Act establishing the Blue Communities Program
(filed with Representative Moakley and in the Senate by Senator Fernandes, SD322)
This bill would establish a blue communities program in order to encourage and support local action to reduce ocean acidification. The program would provide financial assistance through the establishment of a Blue Communities Fund as well as technical assistance to municipalities to undertake certain ocean acidification mitigation initiatives. The Commonwealth’s reliance on the marine economy means that the impact of the ocean acidification crisis will be felt in communities across the state, as a result maintaining and strengthening this sector is an important way to support all residents.
HD.2623: An Act to mandate the review of climate risk in order to protect public pension beneficiaries and taxpayers
This bill requires the state’s public pension fund to assess investments in fossil fuels and related industries for climate and economic risk. Based on this assessment, an investment review committee created by this bill will recommend what actions need to be taken to decarbonize the state pension fund. It supports the Commonwealth’s efforts to decarbonize by 2050 by aligning public pensioner’s investments with our state’s related climate goals.
HD.2496: An Act providing for energy assistance during the summer months
(filed with Representative Ultrino, and in the Senate by Senator Comerford as SD1513)
This bill would create an extreme heat energy assistance program to assist in paying the energy bills of income-eligible residents in Massachusetts in the summer, using similar processes to the Home Energy Assistance Program, which offers assistance for fuel assistance in the winter. This legislation is particularly urgent given changing climate and impacts on weather.
HD.909: An Act providing for utility shutoff protections during periods of extreme heat (placeholder)
(Filed in the Senate by Senator Comerford)
This bill is currently being drafted by House Counsel. Once filed, the bill will seek to provide shutoff protections for utilities during the summer and periods of extreme heat. Massachusetts currently has this protection during the winter months. This bill is especially important given the impact of our changing climate.
HD.2200: An Act relative to the pesticide board
(filed in the Senate by Senator Lewis as SD549)
This bill establishes the pesticide control modernization and environmental protection task force, which is tasked with studying and making recommendations on the Commonwealth’s statutes, regulations, and practices governing pesticide control. The task force would include members with a diverse representation of expertise on pesticides, integrated pest management and organic farming.
HD.3831: An Act relative to plastic bag reduction
(filed in the Senate by Senator Eldridge SD2377)
This bill would require retail establishments such as grocery stores, department stores, and restaurants to provide customers with recycled paper bags or reusable grocery bags and prohibit the use of single-use plastic bags statewide moving forward. As a result of advocacy from Amherst students at Crocker Farm Elementary, there is also a provision that addresses school food service vendors. It seeks to limit the distribution of single-use plastic bags, reduce the amount of plastic used in the state, and advance the Commonwealth’s climate goals.
HD.2146: An Act relative to protecting public health and reducing health care costs
(co-filed with Representative Decker)
What are the costs to the health of Massachusetts residents as a result of emissions from energy production? This bill would create an assessment tool to quantify the health impacts of emissions from energy production and the benefits of energy efficiency, conservation, and renewable energy on individual and community health.
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