Order H.5323

HOUSE . . . . . . . . No. 5323

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, April 6, 2026.

The committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy, to whom were referred the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2346) of Erika Uyterhoeven relative to municipalities owning and operating broadband high speed internet infrastructure and services; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3444) of James C. Arena-DeRosa relative to bids or proposals for the installation, repair, or maintenance of security systems; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3445) of Jennifer Balinsky Armini for legislation to promote solar panel installations on school property; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3446) of Jennifer Balinsky Armini for legislation to further regulate the opening of streets or the use of public ways by gas companies; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3447) of Brian M. Ashe and Francisco E. Paulino for legislation to include nip bottles and certain other containers in the bottle law; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3448) of Christine P. Barber, Joan Meschino and others relative to setting deadlines to electrify school buses and public fleets and establishing programs to encourage private fleet electrification; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3449) of Christine P. Barber and others for legislation to regulate municipal acceptance into the demonstration project; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3450) of John Barrett, III relative to municipal access to utility poles located in municipal rights-of-way; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3451) of Natalie M. Blais and Mindy Domb that the Department of Energy Resources establish the community access to electric bicycles grant initiative; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3452) of Natalie M. Blais and others relative to protecting consumers from unreasonable utility rate increases; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3453) of Nicholas A. Boldyga for legislation to further define miniature beverage containers under the "bottle bill", so-called; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3454) of Antonio F. D. Cabral relative to offshore wind energy generation; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3455) of Daniel Cahill relative to permitting of electric vehicle charging stations; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3456) of Daniel Cahill for legislation further regulating participation in group purchasing of energy; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3457) of Michael S. Chaisson, Peter J. Durant and Hannah Kane relative to municipal light plants; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3458) of Tackey Chan relative to the use of double utility poles of distribution or telephone companies; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3461) of Tackey Chan for legislation to increase fines levied against utility companies for failing to meet service quality standards; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3462) of Michelle L. Ciccolo relative to authorizing municipalities to relocate certain utility poles, wires or attachments; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3463) of Michelle L. Ciccolo for legislation to restore the clean environmental fund using revenue from unclaimed bottle deposits; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3464) of Michelle L. Ciccolo, Joanne M. Comerford and Lindsay N. Sabadosa for legislation to update the bottle bill, so-called; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3466) of Mike Connolly for legislation to establish a task force (including members of the General Court) to study and make actionable recommendations regarding public ownership of public utilities; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3467) of Mike Connolly relative to establishing solar neighborhoods; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3468) of Rob Consalvo and Steven George Xiarhos relative to the listing on utility bill of discounts available to seniors, veterans or persons with disabilities; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3470) of Mark J. Cusack relative to transportation network driver data privacy; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3471) of Michael S. Day that retailers of home heating oil provide notices to customers of the availability of liability insurance coverage for certain claims arising out of releases of oil into the environment; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3472) of Michael S. Day that the Energy Facilities Siting Board consider requests of municipalities for reimbursement of application expenses; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3473) of Michael S. Day relative to the Energy Facilities Siting Board; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3474) of Marjorie C. Decker and others for legislation to expand the bottle bill, so-called; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3477) of Marjorie C. Decker, James B. Eldridge and Natalie M. Higgins relative to lighting and appliance efficiency standards; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3479) of Kip A. Diggs relative to the onshore siting of infrastructure associated with offshore wind projects; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3480) of Mindy Domb relative to transferring the Massachusetts Community Climate Bank to the Massachusetts Clean Energy Technology Center; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3482) of Michelle M. DuBois relative to the locating of generation facilities within one mile of certain public areas and areas of critical environmental concern; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3483) of Kirstin Beatty for legislation to establish the radiation regulatory agency; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3484) of Kirstin Beatty for legislation to limit non-ionizing radiation from technology in anchor institutions and for an investigation by a special commission (including members of the General Court) relative to changes that foster hard-wired communication and reduced exposure to electromagnetic radiation; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3486) of Kimberly N. Ferguson and others relative to municipal light plant emergency mutual aid; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3488) of Christopher Richard Flanagan relative to the cost burdens of certain incentives for statewide greenhouse gas emissions limits; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3489) of Paul K. Frost for legislation to authorize cities and towns to borrow from the Commonwealth without interest for green energy programs for such municipalities; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3490) of Paul K. Frost and Joseph D. McKenna relative to electric vehicle charging and fueling; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3491) of Paul K. Frost and Joseph D. McKenna relative to electric vehicles and electric vehicle charging stations; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3492) of William C. Galvin for legislation to provide access to fuel for private and emergency vehicles during emergencies; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3495) of Sean Garballey and Sean Reid relative to the heat-related impacts of climate change and for an investigation by a task force (including members of the General Court) relative to extreme heat task; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3496) of Carmine Lawrence Gentile and others relative to ensuring solar energy access; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3497) of Jessica Ann Giannino relative to a renewable portfolio standard review; the joint petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3498) of Homar Gómez, Adam Gomez and others for legislation to expand the low income home energy assistance program; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3500) of Richard M. Haggerty relative to local ordinances to eliminate double utility poles; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3501) of Richard M. Haggerty and others relative to offshore wind and for an investigation by a special commission (including members of the General Court) relative to the development of the supply chain supporting the deployment of offshore wind and the economic benefits; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3503) of James K. Hawkins relative to the inclusion of miniature beverage containers in the bottle law, so-called; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3504) of Natalie M. Higgins and Michael P. Kushmerek relative to establishing the gateway cities renewable, efficient, and electrified neighborhoods initiative; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3505) of Russell E. Holmes for legislation to require notification to owners of real estate in areas scheduled for certain public utility construction; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3506) of Tara T. Hong and others for legislation to establish a low-income senior internet subsidy program to provide financial assistance to eligible seniors for internet services; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3507) of Steven S. Howitt relative to towing rates for commercially registered vehicle not requiring a CDL license; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3508) of Bradley H. Jones, Jr., and others for legislation to establish a special commission (including members of the General Court) to study gasoline-focused sales-below-cost; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3510) of Bradley H. Jones, Jr., and others relative to internet service provider data; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3512) of Bradley H. Jones, Jr., and others for an investigation and study by a special legislative commission (including members of the General Court) to study small modular reactors; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3514) of Sally P. Kerans for legislation to further regulate the Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Company board of directors; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3515) of Michael P. Kushmerek and Margaret R. Scarsdale relative to municipal lighting plants of purchasing municipalities or cooperatives; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3518) of David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf and Colleen M. Garry for legislation relative to the protection of propane gas ratepayers; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3519) of Jack Patrick Lewis, Rodney M. Elliott and James C. Arena-DeRosa for an investigation and study by a special commission to study the feasibility of authorizing the installation of rooftop solar energy systems; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3523) of Jay D. Livingstone relative to the electrification of new and substantially remodeled or rehabilitated buildings; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3525) of Joseph D. McKenna and Alyson M. Sullivan-Almeida for legislation to further define miniature beverage containers under the "bottle bill", so-called; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3526) of Paul McMurtry relative to large-scale solar energy installations on agricultural or recreational land of the Commonwealth; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3527) of Rita A. Mendes relative to broadband service for low-income consumers; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3528) of Joan Meschino relative to advanced natural gas leak repair technology and renewable thermal energy infrastructure; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3529) of Joan Meschino and others relative to building energy and decarbonization; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3530) of Frank A. Moran, Marjorie C. Decker and others relative to the use of contractors for repairing or performing work on public utility infrastructure; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3531) of Frank A. Moran relative to natural gas workforce safety; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3532) of Frank A. Moran and Rodney M. Elliott relative to renewable energy production technologies; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3533) of Frank A. Moran for legislation to provide for field safety in gas infrastructure by requiring that the Department of Public Utilities promulgate regulations establishing requirements for the maintenance, timely updating, accuracy, and security of gas LDC maps and records; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3535) of David K. Muradian, Jr., Bradley H. Jones, Jr., and Joseph D. McKenna relative to the sale of zero-emission vehicles; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3536) of David K. Muradian, Jr. relative to directory assistance charges for handicapped or elderly persons; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3537) of James M. Murphy relative to ensuring ratepayer and community representation in utility company regulatory proceedings; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3539) of Steven Owens, Samantha Montaño and others relative to clean thermal energy; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3540) of Steven Owens and others relative to advancing clean energy equity; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3541) of Steven Owens relative to carbon dioxide equivalents and factors that impact statewide greenhouse gas emissions; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3544) of Alice Hanlon Peisch relative to energy efficiency funds generated by municipal light plants; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3547) of Adrianne Pusateri Ramos, Carmine Lawrence Gentile and others relative to preventing gas expansion and the creation of a just transition office for employment and training opportunities for certain displaced workers; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3550) of Estela A. Reyes relative to a cap on gas delivery fees by gas companies; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3553) of David Allen Robertson relative to the reform of class 2 renewable energy generating resources; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3554) of David M. Rogers, Christine P. Barber and Manny Cruz relative to achieving a green future with infrastructure and workforce investments; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3557) of Jeffrey N. Roy relative to reporting on double poles; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3558) of Jeffrey N. Roy relative to electric vehicle charging stations; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3559) of Lindsay N. Sabadosa, Sean Garballey and others for legislation to encourage solar development on buildings and disturbed land; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3560) of Lindsay N. Sabadosa for legislation to allow all green communities grants to be used for solar panels on municipal rooftops and land; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3561) of Lindsay N. Sabadosa for legislation to establish group purchasing programs for solar, heat pumps and insulation; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3562) of Lindsay N. Sabadosa that the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs perform a study on the feasibility of installing solar panels on municipal and state buildings and land; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3563) of Lindsay N. Sabadosa for legislation to establish a carbon fee and cash-back program; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3564) of Amy Mah Sangiolo relative to natural gas infrastructure replacement projects; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3565) of Amy Mah Sangiolo, Michael D. Brady and Patrick Joseph Kearney relative to Mass Save assessments; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3567) of Aaron L. Saunders relative to energy generation payments; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3568) of Aaron L. Saunders relative to prohibiting public utility and ratepayer funding of clearcutting forests and woodlands; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3569) of Aaron L. Saunders relative to carbon emission reduction and advanced nuclear energy generation; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3570) of Aaron L. Saunders relative to vehicle emissions standards for public and utility infrastructures; the petition (accompanied by resolve, House, No. 3571) of Margaret R. Scarsdale and Manny Cruz for legislation to establish a special commission (including members of the General Court) to consider the inclusion of nuclear energy in Massachusetts' future energy planning; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3572) of Michael J. Soter and others relative to the sale of zero-emission vehicles; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3573) of Kenneth P. Sweezey for legislation to include nip bottles and certain other containers in the bottle law; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3574) of Justin Thurber for legislation to further regulate the carbon dioxide cap and trade program; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3575) of Jeffrey Rosario Turco relative to Mass Save program rebates; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3577) of Andres X. Vargas, Manny Cruz and others for legislation to establish a zero carbon renovation fund to provide for the costs associated with energy efficiency renovations of certain existing buildings; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3578) of Marcus S. Vaughn relative to the definition of beverage under the "bottle bill", so-called; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3579) of Marcus S. Vaughn relative to providing for a study of the potential environmental impact of the installation and operation of offshore wind turbines; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3580) of Tommy Vitolo and Kevin G. Honan relative to non-emitting thermal energy; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3581) of Tommy Vitolo relative to electrical load aggregation programs; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3582) of Bud L. Williams for legislation to establish a moratorium on new gas system expansion; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3583) of Bud L. Williams relative to establishing a moratorium on new gas system expansion; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3584) of Bud L. Williams for legislation to further regulate gas facilities; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3585) of Steven George Xiarhos and Steven J. Ouellette for legislation to establish a special commission to study the potential risks to cities and towns from the onshore electrical infrastructure supporting offshore wind energy generation projects; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3951) of Mike Connolly relative to municipal fossil fuel free building construction and renovation demonstration projects; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3972) of Mindy Domb, Joanne M. Comerford and Natalie M. Blais relative to utility shutoff protections during periods of extreme heat; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3974) of Hadley Luddy relative to cellular coverage; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 4036) of Tommy Vitolo (by vote of the town) that the town of Brookline be authorized to adopt green zoning by-laws and regulations in said town; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 4052) of Tommy Vitolo and others relative to a specialized stretch energy code; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 4084) of Tommy Vitolo and Jack Patrick Lewis relative to a surcharge on the 988 system; the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 4689) of Kelly W. Pease and Lindsay N. Sabadosa for legislation to establish buffer zones for battery storage facilities; and the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 4690) of Kelly W. Pease, Lindsay N. Sabadosa and Donald R. Berthiaume, Jr. relative to lithium battery storage facilities, reports recommending that the accompanying order (House, No. 5323) ought to be adopted.

For the committee,

MARK J. CUSACK.