HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4102        FILED ON: 1/17/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 490

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Kristin E. Kassner

_________________

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 preparing Massachusetts for the next economy.

_______________

PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4102        FILED ON: 1/17/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 490

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 3822 OF 2023-2024.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

_______________

An Act preparing Massachusetts for the next economy.

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

(a) There shall be established a special commission on preparing the built environment for the next economy, including an inventory of infrastructure, buildings, and land use regulations. The goal of this special commission is to link government, utilities, business, and educational postgraduate institutions in the commonwealth to create a realistic plan to strengthen the economy, provide housing, and opportunities for emerging technologies while protecting our environment and open space.  

(b) The Massachusetts: NEXT special commission shall consist of the Secretaries of the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities and the Executive Office of Economic Development or their designees; at least two members from the Massachusetts Association of Regional Planning Agencies; one member from the Massachusetts Municipal Association; at least two members that serve on regional water authorities; one member from NAIOP, two members appointed by the Speaker of the Massachusetts House; and two members appointed by the Massachusetts Senate President. The special commission shall also include a minimum of two (2) institutional partners, including University of Massachusetts, and additional universities selected by the Speaker and Senate President. The special commission shall be staffed by a director appointed by the Secretaries.

(c) The special commission shall collect data regarding the availability of water, wastewater, electricity, transportation access, and proximity to food and medical resources, local land use regulations, the existing built environment, and local limitations to diversity in the economy.

(d) The special commission shall hold at least one public hearing and may hold additional hearings as necessary at which members of the public shall have an opportunity to speak.

(d) Not later than June 30, 2026, the special commission shall file a report on its findings, including recommendations to implement said findings, with the clerks of the House and Senate, the Secretaries of Housing and Livable Communities and Economic Development, and the House and Senate committees on Ways and Means. The report shall include an inventory of current land use and natural resources; housing and business needs, infrastructure, land use regulations, and recommendations to balance preservation and growth opportunities for housing, economic development and associated infrastructure.