BOSTON, MA – The Massachusetts Senate passed S.3050, An Act to build resilience for Massachusetts communities or the “Mass Ready Act”, with bipartisan support. This environmental bond bill makes critical investments in climate resilience, environmental protection, and infrastructure to help communities prepare for and respond to the impacts of climate change.
“The passage of the Mass Ready Act helps our district support climate resilience, clean water, and coastal protection,” said Senator Fernandes. “Communities across the Cape and South Shore are already experiencing the real effects of climate change, and this legislation provides the resources to protect our vulnerable communities while also supporting clean water and removing harmful PFAS. I was proud to help secure provisions focused on addressing ocean acidification which will help our local shellfishing industry adapt to oceans that are rapidly becoming more acidic.”
You can watch Senator Fernandes’ full remarks on the ocean acidification amendment.
In total, the legislation authorizes $3.94 billion in authorizations for future state spending on targeted projects, including local planning to withstand extreme weather events, the remediation of PFAS (forever chemicals) from drinking water supplies, and maintenance of roads and dams. The bill also delivers practical solutions to urgent environmental challenges, including reducing single-use plastics, improving recycling, and strengthening protections against flooding and coastal erosion.
The details of the legislation are below:
Investing in a Resilient and Accessible Environment
• $500 million for the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) program, supporting climate resiliency planning in cities and towns
• $450 million for the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust to protect access to clean water across the Commonwealth, in addition to $120 million for PFAS remediation in public and private wells
• $800.5 for properties and roadways owned and managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR)
• $521.6 million for state and municipally owned dams across the Commonwealth
• $132.5 million for the Food Security Infrastructure Grant (FSIG) program including $5 million for the Massachusetts Food Trust Program (MFTP) to increase access to healthy, affordable food
• $225 million for coastal infrastructure and resilience
• $125.5 million to support resource conservation and preservation initiatives, including $5.5 million for the Healthy Soils Grant Program
• $50 million for MassTrails Grants, including $10 million for accessibility upgrades that protect access to trails for all Massachusetts residents
• $30 million for tree-planting initiatives across the Commonwealth
• $20 million for capital investments to support the growth and economic competitiveness of the Commonwealth’s agricultural, commercial fishing and cranberry-growing sectors
• $20 million to support the biodiversity goals of the Department of Fish and Game (DFG)
• $15 million for a pilot program to advance the deployment of geothermal technology in furtherance of the Commonwealth’s 2050 net zero goals
Prioritizing Active Solutions to Environmental Risks
Reduces Wasteful Single-Use Plastics. Responds to increasing amounts of litter and pollution by prohibiting single-use plastic bags at retail stores. Shoppers will instead be able to check out with a recyclable paper bag or a reusable plastic bag. Massachusetts residents are estimated to use billions of plastic bags per year. A plastic bag tossed to the side of a road can pose immediate risks, such as the suffocation or starvation of wildlife, while also fragmenting over time into microplastics that pollute the earth.
Encourages Positive Ecological Projects. Reforms permitting requirements to reduce timelines for qualifying projects, including nature-based projects that include ecosystem, marsh and wetland restoration.
Fast-Tracks Culvert Replacement Projects. Authorizes expedited permitting and timelines for municipal culvert replacements.
Informs Home-Buyers of Potential Flood Risks. Requires that home sellers and landlords inform prospective homebuyers and tenants about the flood risk of a residential property, along with any history of flooding on the property. Sellers and landlords would be required to disclose documentation of past flood damage or mitigation, details of flood insurance, and whether the property is located in a flood plain.
Maintains Public Beach Access. Preserves waterfront access for the general public in the event of shifting sands. Declares that public land continues to be public even if a neighboring barrier beach—a narrow strip of sand or dunes—shifts its location through natural processes and moves onto an existing public beach.
Lines Up Support for Dairy Farmers. Authorizes the Milk Producers Security Fund to support dairy farmers through grant programs.
Investigates Nitrogen Pollution Solutions. Establishes a special legislative commission to study and recommend solutions for essential wastewater infrastructure improvements in response to nitrogen pollution in southeastern Massachusetts.
Creates Support Program for Municipal Projects. Establishes a Resilience Revolving Fund to support resilience projects through low-interest loans to municipalities, public water and wastewater districts, and tribal governments.
Regionalizes Western Mass. Flood Strategy. Establishes the Connecticut River Valley Resilience Commission to empower communities to collaboratively develop a regional strategy to address flood risk and update infrastructure.