This legislation would create a commission to study the impact of minimum pricing laws, especially in comparison to neighboring states.
An Act relative to smart meters
This legislation establishes ratepayer rights which include requiring utility companies to provide ratepayers with a choice of the type of utility meters to be installed and operated on their places of residence or business, the ability to retain and operate an “electromechanical analog meter” on an ongoing basis at no cost, and the right to replacement of a wireless meter with a non-transmitting electromechanical meter at no cost.
An Act relative to a municipality’s right of first refusal of agricultural and recreational land
In current Massachusetts law, cities and towns are allowed to exercise their right of first refusal of agricultural and recreational land when a property owner seeks to sell or use land for non-agricultural or recreational purposes. Existing timelines, however, are short and make it difficult for a municipality to effectively conduct the required due diligence of a potential land acquisition — particularly in communities that have a town meeting form of government.
This legislation would extend the existing time period a municipality may exercise its right of first refusal and fulfill a purchase and sale contract, if they choose to do so. The bill also establishes a 30-day timeline in which the seller may accept the purchase and sale agreement.
The bill also seeks to clarify the existing law by ensuring that communities are not required to purchase land that is not classified under Chapter 61A or Chapter 61B, even if the non-61A or non-61B property is included within the same purchase and sale agreement provided to the municipality by the landowner.
An Act updating hunter harassment laws
This legislation updates the hunter harassment law by:
Adding prohibitions against verbally or physically harassing, threatening, or intimidating individual’s lawfully engaged in fishing and hunting
Banning the use of mechanical aerial devices to drive wildlife, harass, film, photograph or otherwise intimidate
The bill also adds penalties and/or fines for violations of this law.
An Act exempting officers in the town of Millbury police department from the civil service law
This legislation would exempt officers working for the Millbury Police Department from civil service law.
An Act relative to retail liquor sales to caterers
This legislation would allow caterers to purchase alcohol from retailers in addition to wholesalers. It also sunsets the section governing caterer's alcohol licenses.
Resolve establishing a special commission on the Dover amendment
This legislation establishes a special commission to study the use and effectiveness of the zoning approval process of educational uses under the so-called Dover Amendment, section 3 of chapter 40A of the General Laws. The commission would study the impact of the education exemption provided by the Dover Amendment on municipalities and nonprofit education institutions, which shall include a review of the types of building projects sited under the protection of the Dover Amendment and the case law decided on the educational exemption.