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H3996 • 2025

An Act relative to Massachusetts Solar Access Law

An Act relative to Massachusetts Solar Access Law

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Active

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

Sponsor
Michelle L. Badger
Last action
2026-04-13
Official status
Accompanied a study order, see H5352 (under House Rule 27)
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 Massachusetts Solar Access Law

An Act relative to Massachusetts Solar Access Law By Representative Badger of Plymouth, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.

What This Bill Does

  • An Act relative to Massachusetts Solar Access Law By Representative Badger of Plymouth, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
  • 3996) of Michelle L.
  • Badger relative to zoning restrictions for solar systems.
  • 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. 2026-04-13 House

    Accompanied a study order, see H5352 (under House Rule 27)

  2. 2025-10-03 Joint

    Hearing scheduled for 10/15/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-1

  3. 2025-07-10 Senate

    Senate concurred

  4. 2025-07-07 House

    Discharged to the committee on Housing

  5. 2025-04-07 Senate

    Senate concurred

  6. 2025-04-03 House

    Referred to the committee on Municipalities and Regional Government

  7. House

    Reported by committee to Clerk’s Office for processing, will accompany a study order

Official Summary Text

An Act relative to Massachusetts Solar Access Law
By Representative Badger of Plymouth, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3996) of Michelle L. Badger relative to zoning restrictions for solar systems. Municipalities and Regional Government.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
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Bill H.3996

SECTION 1. The ninth paragraph of section 3 of Chapter 40A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following 2 sentences:- Any damage to the public health, safety and welfare shall be proven in a court of law by local authorities that seek to restrict the use of solar systems attached to permanent buildings. No home owners' association or other owner’s organization shall unreasonably refuse or unreasonably delay the installation of solar energy systems or the building of structures that facilitate the collection of solar energy on roofs pursuant to section 25 of chapter 183A.

SECTION 2. Chapter 183A of the General Laws, as amended by section 47 of chapter 150 of the acts of 2024, is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

Section 25. No home owners' association or organization of owners shall unreasonably refuse or unreasonably delay the installation of solar energy systems or the building of structures that facilitate the collection of solar energy on roofs. A home owners' association or organization of owners may impose reasonable restrictions on installation of solar energy systems or the building of structures that facilitate the collection of solar energy on roofs.

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