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H2248 • 2025

An Act relative to the building or rebuilding of bridges on land that falls under the jurisdiction of more than one municipality

An Act relative to the building or rebuilding of bridges on land that falls under the jurisdiction of more than one municipality

Active

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

Sponsor
Bruce J. Ayers
Last action
2026-02-19
Official status
Accompanied a study order, see H5118
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 relative to the building or rebuilding of bridges on land that falls under the jurisdiction of more than one municipality

An Act relative to the building or rebuilding of bridges on land that falls under the jurisdiction of more than one municipality By Representative Ayers of Quincy, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.

What This Bill Does

  • An Act relative to the building or rebuilding of bridges on land that falls under the jurisdiction of more than one municipality By Representative Ayers of Quincy, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
  • 2248) of Bruce J.
  • Ayers relative to the building or rebuilding of bridges on certain land that falls under the jurisdiction of more than one municipality.
  • Municipalities and Regional Government.

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. 2026-02-19 House

    Accompanied a study order, see H5118

  2. 2025-07-09 Joint

    Hearing scheduled for 07/22/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in B-1

  3. 2025-02-27 House

    Referred to the committee on Municipalities and Regional Government

  4. 2025-02-27 Senate

    Senate concurred

Official Summary Text

An Act relative to the building or rebuilding of bridges on land that falls under the jurisdiction of more than one municipality
By Representative Ayers of Quincy, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2248) of Bruce J. Ayers relative to the building or rebuilding of bridges on certain land that falls under the jurisdiction of more than one municipality. Municipalities and Regional Government.

Current Bill Text

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Bill H.2248

Chapter 40 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2016 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 4K the following section:-

Section 40L. (a) A construction project affecting or relative to building structures in or over navigable or tide waters relating to 2 or more municipalities shall be subject to this section.

(b) No construction project shall proceed unless and until the affected municipalities in subsection (a) enter into a inter-municipal agreement pursuant to the provisions of this section. Each such inter-municipal agreement shall provide for the following:

(i) provision for a buffer zone around such construction;

(ii) a determination if an alternative inter-municipal option is available to the community other than a construction project affecting 2 or more municipalities;

(iii) an evaluation is completed of all viable options for cost and benefit of the proposal as well as environmental benefits over the short and long-term;

(iv) assisting neighboring communities and neighborhoods to address infrastructure needs;

(v) written, binding procedures for working cooperatively in joint planning for the construction project;

(vi) consideration of the needs of nearby communities on quality of life, traffic, health and environmental impact; and

(vii) an agreement to utilize state, regional and municipal planning agencies to serve as facilitators toward inter-municipal cooperation including citizen representatives and non-elected officials as participants.

(c) Each inter-municipal agreement shall contain the following:

(i) the names of each participating city and town;

(ii) the effective date and term of agreement;

(iii) the general purpose of the agreement;

(iv) state with specificity what costs will be shared, if any;

(v) state how municipalities may terminate participation;

(vi) state how the agreement may be amended;

(vii) acknowledge acceptance of liability under the agreement;

(viii) set forth specific lines of communication among participating municipalities; and

(ix) describe any applicable dispute resolution process.

(d) Once accepted by majority vote of each legislative body of the municipality, with the approval of each chief executive officer, each municipality shall petition the general court for approval of the inter-municipal agreement. Upon passage by the general court and approval by the governor, the inter-municipal agreement shall be binding on the municipalities and the construction project may begin pursuant to the inter-municipal agreement.

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