HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1431        FILED ON: 1/18/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2041

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Josh S. Cutler

_________________

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 municipal oversight of utility company vegetation management.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Josh S. Cutler

6th Plymouth

1/18/2023

Mindy Domb

3rd Hampshire

2/22/2023


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1431        FILED ON: 1/18/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2041

By Representative Cutler of Pembroke, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2041) of Josh S. Cutler and Mindy Domb relative to municipal oversight of utility company vegetation management.  Municipalities and Regional Government.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

_______________

 

An Act relative to municipal oversight of utility company vegetation management.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Section 14 of chapter 87 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following subsection:-

(h) The utility company shall submit a vegetation management plan for local approval in connection with any planned work in a municipality, regardless of any easement or right of way. The vegetation management plan shall be submitted to the local municipality and kept on record by the municipality, and shall be subject to a public comment period by impacted residents. Prior to the commencement of a project by a utility company, the vegetation management plan must receive local approval and any potential negative property damage or impact on property value shall be addressed by the utility company. A utility company in violation of this subsection shall be subject to fees and penalties, determined by the department of public utilities.