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H4581 • 2025

An Act granting the city of Worcester the authority to require the adoption of institutional master plans

An Act granting the city of Worcester the authority to require the adoption of institutional master plans

Active

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

Sponsor
James J. O'Day
Last action
2026-02-19
Official status
Accompanied a study order, see H5120
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 granting the city of Worcester the authority to require the adoption of institutional master plans

An Act granting the city of Worcester the authority to require the adoption of institutional master plans By Representative O'Day of West Boylston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.

What This Bill Does

  • An Act granting the city of Worcester the authority to require the adoption of institutional master plans By Representative O'Day of West Boylston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
  • 4581) of James J.
  • O'Day (with the approval of the city council) that the city of Worcester be authorized to require the adoption of institutional master plans in said city.
  • 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 H5120

  2. 2025-10-14 Joint

    Hearing scheduled for 10/14/2025 from 02:00 PM-02:00 PM in Written Testimony Only

  3. 2025-10-06 Senate

    Senate concurred

  4. 2025-10-02 House

    Referred to the committee on Municipalities and Regional Government

Official Summary Text

An Act granting the city of Worcester the authority to require the adoption of institutional master plans
By Representative O'Day of West Boylston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 4581) of James J. O'Day (with the approval of the city council) that the city of Worcester be authorized to require the adoption of institutional master plans in said city. Municipalities and Regional Government. [Local Approval Received.]

Current Bill Text

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Bill H.4581

SECTION 1. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the city of Worcester may adopt local general or zoning ordinances to promote and facilitate the development of large- scale institutional facilities in the city of Worcester. The legislation authorizes the city of Worcester to require the adoption of an Institutional Master Plan as described below in Section 2. An Institutional Master Plan is a land-use and development plan for land owned or used by an institution within a community, that identifies existing and future growth and development of the institution. The master plan enables the community to ensure development impacts are addressed through the public review and adoption of the master plan.

SECTION 2. Notwithstanding G. L. c. VA, § 3 or any general or special law to the contrary, the city of Worcester may adopt a general or zoning ordinance imposing Institutional Master Plan review to regulate the use of land or structures for land owned, leased, or otherwise occupied by institutions such as hospitals, health care institutions, colleges, universities, and non-profit educational corporations. In the event the city of Worcester authorizes such a use by special permit, it may provide that such special permits shall expire and be renewed after 10 years and may also require that any such institution in existence at the time of such adoption shall be required to apply for such special permit within 120 days of the adoption of the local zoning ordinance.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage

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