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H4614 • 2025

An Act in relation to James J. O'Neil Park

An Act in relation to James J. O'Neil Park

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

Sponsor
Reyes, Estela A.
Last action
2025-12-04
Official status
Referred to House Committee on Bills in the Third Reading
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 in relation to James J. O'Neil Park

An Act in relation to James J.

What This Bill Does

  • An Act in relation to James J.
  • O'Neil Park By Representatives Reyes of Lawrence and Moran of Lawrence, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
  • 4614) of Estela A.
  • Reyes and Frank A.

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. 2025-12-04 House

    Committee reported that the matter be placed in the Orders of the Day for the next sitting

  2. 2025-12-04 House

    Rules suspended

  3. 2025-12-04 House

    Read second and ordered to a third reading

  4. 2025-11-13 House

    Bill reported favorably by committee as changed and referred to the committee on House Steering, Policy and Scheduling

  5. 2025-10-31 Joint

    Hearing scheduled for 10/31/2025 from 11:00 AM-02:00 PM in Written Testimony Only

  6. 2025-10-16 Senate

    Senate concurred

  7. 2025-10-15 House

    Referred to the committee on Municipalities and Regional Government

Official Summary Text

An Act in relation to James J. O'Neil Park
By Representatives Reyes of Lawrence and Moran of Lawrence, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 4614) of Estela A. Reyes and Frank A. Moran (with the approval of the mayor and city council) that the city of Lawrence be authorized to transfer a certain parcel of park land at the James J. O'Neil Park in said city. Municipalities and Regional Government. [Local Approval Received.]
Status:
Referred to House Committee on Bills in the Third Reading

Current Bill Text

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Bill H.4614

SECTION 1. Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary and pursuant to the provisions of Article 97 of the Amendments to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and in recognition of the fact that the transfer of right, title and interest in and to the below-described land by the City of Lawrence will not derogate from or otherwise impact the protections of Article 97 which limit and restrict the use of said property to use for open space, conservation and passive recreation purposes, consistent with the provisions of Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 40, Section 8C and said Article 97, the City Council and Conservation Commission of the City of Lawrence are hereby authorized to transfer and convey by sale or exchange a portion of that certain parcel of City owned park land designated on the Lawrence Assessors' Map 128 Lot 39, located at the James J. O'Neil Park at the intersection of Lawrence Street and Chestnut Street-consisting of Seventy-seven (77) square feet, more or less, as shown on the Plan of Land dated February 9, 2023 and titled Amesbury Street Right of Way Plans-Lawrence Property Plans, and in consideration of said transfer, the City shall be authorized to acquire title to a portion of that certain parcel of land designated as Parcel X consisting of Three Hundred and Thirty Three (363) square feet, more or less, as more specifically shown on said Plan by purchase from or exchange with owners thereof for recreation purposes, consistent with the provisions of Mass. Gen. Laws. Ch. 40, Section &C and Article 97 of the Amendments to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

SECTION 2. No document or instrument conveying any interest in the subject property described hereinabove shall be valid unless such document or instrument provides that the interest in the land designated on Lawrence's Assessors' Map 128 Lot 39, presently located at Lawrence Street, shall, upon transfer to the City of Lawrence, be held and maintained by the City solely for open space, conservation and passive recreation purposes, consistent with the provisions of Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 40, Section &C and Article 97 of the Amendments to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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