HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 5553

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, June 30, 2026.

 The committee on Ways and Means to whom was referred the Bill authorizing the division of capital asset management and maintenance to take by eminent domain certain land in the town of Norwood (House, No. 5192), reports recommending that the same ought to pass with an amendment substituting therefor the accompanying bill (House, No. 5553).

For the committee,

AARON MICHLEWITZ

        FILED ON: 6/30/2026

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 5553

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 authorizing the division of capital asset management and maintenance to take by eminent domain certain land in the town of Norwood.

 Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to authorize and direct forthwith the division of capital asset management and maintenance to take a certain parcel of land in the town of Norwood, therefore it is hereby declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health.
 

 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. (a)(1) Notwithstanding section 2 of chapter 79 of the General Laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, the division of capital asset management and maintenance shall, subject to appropriation, take by eminent domain, pursuant to said chapter 79 and for the purpose of ensuring access to health care for the public, a certain parcel of land, commonly known as Norwood hospital, owned by MPT of Norwood-Steward, LLC located at 800 Washington street in the town of Norwood identified on the town of Norwood assessor’s map as map 2, lot 6-1 and being 1 of the parcels described in a deed recorded with the Norfolk county registry of deeds in book 36099, page 419.

 (2) The division of capital asset management and maintenance shall, subject to appropriation, take by eminent domain pursuant to chapter 79 of the General Laws any parcels of land adjacent to the parcel of land pursuant to paragraph (1) that is owned by MPT of Norwood-Steward, LLC as necessary to effectuate the purposes of this act.

 (b) Notwithstanding chapter 7C of the General Laws or any general or special law to the contrary, upon the completion of the taking, pursuant to subsection (a), the division of capital asset management and maintenance shall transfer control of the parcels of land so taken to the department of public health. The department of public health may sell, lease or otherwise convey the parcels of land so taken and transferred, or any portion thereof, to a qualified nonprofit hospital operator, upon such terms and conditions as the department considers appropriate, in order to effectuate the purpose of ensuring access to health care for the public.