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H1027 • 2025

An Act to streamline permitting for rail electrification

An Act to streamline permitting for rail electrification

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Sean Reid
Last action
2026-02-26
Official status
Accompanied a study order, see H5149
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

An Act to streamline permitting for rail electrification

An Act to streamline permitting for rail electrification By Representative Reid of Lynn, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.

What This Bill Does

  • An Act to streamline permitting for rail electrification By Representative Reid of Lynn, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
  • 1027) of Sean Reid relative to environmental impact statements for zero- or near-zero emission rail infrastructure.
  • Environment and Natural Resources.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-26 House

    Accompanied a study order, see H5149

  2. 2025-08-21 Joint

    Hearing scheduled for 09/02/2025 from 1:00 PM-5:00 PM in A-1

  3. 2025-02-27 House

    Referred to the committee on Environment and Natural Resources

  4. 2025-02-27 Senate

    Senate concurred

Official Summary Text

An Act to streamline permitting for rail electrification
By Representative Reid of Lynn, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1027) of Sean Reid relative to environmental impact statements for zero- or near-zero emission rail infrastructure. Environment and Natural Resources.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
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Bill H.1027

SECTION 1. Section 62 of Chapter 30 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting the following definitions:-

“Near-zero-emission rail infrastructure”, any infrastructure that supports light rail, heavy rail, regional rail, commuter rail, or intercity rail services which combine a conventional gasoline, diesel or natural gas-powered engine with a battery that can be charged from the electrical grid.

“Zero-emission rail infrastructure”, any infrastructure that supports light rail, heavy rail, regional rail, commuter rail, or intercity rail services which produce zero exhaust emissions of any pollutant or greenhouse gas under all possible operational modes or conditions.

SECTION 2. Chapter 30 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

Section 62E1/2.

(a) Notwithstanding section 62B of chapter 30 or any other general or special law to the contrary, any project involving the construction of zero-emission or near-zero-emission rail vehicle infrastructure, or the upgrade of infrastructure into zero-emission or near-zero-emission rail vehicle infrastructure shall be exempted by the executive office of environmental affairs from the requirement to produce environmental impact reports, as specified under section 62E of chapter 30.

(b) Notwithstanding section 62B of chapter 30 or any other general or special law to the contrary, any project involving the construction of infrastructure to power zero-emission or near-zero-emission rail vehicles, or the upgrade of existing power infrastructure to support zero-emission or near-zero-emission rail vehicles shall be exempted by the executive office of environmental affairs from the requirement to produce environmental impact reports, as specified under section 62E of chapter 30.

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