HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3783        FILED ON: 1/17/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Carlos González and Patricia A. Duffy

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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 clinical or educational programs under the Dover amendment.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3783        FILED ON: 1/17/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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

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An Act relative to clinical or educational programs under the Dover amendment.

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. The second paragraph of section 3 of chapter 40A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “requirements”, in lines 60 and 61, the following words:- ; provided, further, that no such land or structures located in a low income city or town, defined for purposes of this paragraph as a city or town whose average median income is equal to 60 per cent or less of the average median income of the commonwealth, shall be used for educational purposes pursuant to this section, including, but not limited to the purpose of opening a substance abuse or alcohol rehabilitation center or a clinic, nor be exempt from zoning regulation pursuant to this section, without first obtaining the approval of the legislative body of such city or town.

SECTION 2. Said section 3 of said chapter 40A, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by adding the following paragraph:-

Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, any person, organization, institution or corporation that purchases property within a city or town to be used for educational purposes pursuant to this section, and who fails, within 2 years to substantially improve such property shall be assessed at the property's highest and best use at commercial rate for such property, with no exemption.