HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 435        FILED ON: 1/9/2025

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

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Sean Reid

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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 establishing a special commission to study the noise effects of hunting migratory game  birds in neighborhoods and communities within established coastal zones.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 435        FILED ON: 1/9/2025

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 establishing a special commission to study the noise effects of hunting migratory game  birds in neighborhoods and communities within established coastal zones.

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. There is hereby established a special commission to study the noise effects of hunting migratory game birds in neighborhoods and communities located in established coastal zones.

SECTION 2. The commission shall study and assess the impacts, specific to noise, that persons hunting migratory game birds from a water craft have on the residents of neighborhoods and communities immediately located within the coastal zones established by the Department of Fish and Games. The commission shall also study the regulated distance that a person hunting from a water craft is required to be located from land to determine if this amount needs to be increased.

SECTION 3. The commission shall consist of a member of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate; a member of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of  the House of Representatives; a member of the Senate appointed by the Senate Minority Leader; a member of the House of Representatives appointed by the House Minority leader; the Secretary of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs or his designee who shall serve as Chairman of the commission; the Commissioner of the Department of Fish and Game or his designee; The Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Revenue or his designee; a representative from the sports hunting industry to be appointed by the Commissioner of the Department of Fish and Game; The members of the commission shall be appointed not later July 3, 2026.

SECTION 4. The commission shall hold public meetings in Newburyport, Nahant, Marshfield and Cape Cod to assist in the collection and evaluation of data and testimony.

SECTION 5. The commission shall prepare a written report detailing its findings and recommendations, if any, together with drafts of legislation necessary to carry those recommendations into effect. The commission shall submit its report to the governor, the secretary of the commonwealth, the Senate President and Speaker of the House, the Chairmen of the Joint Committee on Natural Resources, the House and Senate Chairman of the Ways and Means Committees, the Chairmen of the Joint Committee on Revenue, and the Chairmen of the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development not later than December 31, 2026.