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H490 • 2025

An Act preparing Massachusetts for the next economy

An Act preparing Massachusetts for the next economy

Active

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

Sponsor
Kristin E. Kassner
Last action
2026-03-19
Official status
Accompanied a study order, see H5252 (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 preparing Massachusetts for the next economy

An Act preparing Massachusetts for the next economy By Representative Kassner of Hamilton, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.

What This Bill Does

  • An Act preparing Massachusetts for the next economy By Representative Kassner of Hamilton, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
  • 490) of Kristin E.
  • Kassner for an investigation by a special commission relative to the preparation of the built environment for the next economy, including an inventory of infrastructure, buildings, and land use regulations.
  • Economic Development and Emerging Technologies.

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. 2026-03-19 House

    Accompanied a study order, see H5252 (under House Rule 27)

  2. 2025-05-29 Joint

    Hearing scheduled for 06/05/2025 from 11:00 AM-01:00 PM in A-2

  3. 2025-02-27 House

    Referred to the committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies

  4. 2025-02-27 Senate

    Senate concurred

  5. House

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

Official Summary Text

An Act preparing Massachusetts for the next economy
By Representative Kassner of Hamilton, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 490) of Kristin E. Kassner for an investigation by a special commission relative to the preparation of the built environment for the next economy, including an inventory of infrastructure, buildings, and land use regulations. Economic Development and Emerging Technologies.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
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Bill H.490

(a) There shall be established a special commission on preparing the built environment for the next economy, including an inventory of infrastructure, buildings, and land use regulations. The goal of this special commission is to link government, utilities, business, and educational postgraduate institutions in the commonwealth to create a realistic plan to strengthen the economy, provide housing, and opportunities for emerging technologies while protecting our environment and open space.

(b) The Massachusetts: NEXT special commission shall consist of the Secretaries of the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities and the Executive Office of Economic Development or their designees; at least two members from the Massachusetts Association of Regional Planning Agencies; one member from the Massachusetts Municipal Association; at least two members that serve on regional water authorities; one member from NAIOP, two members appointed by the Speaker of the Massachusetts House; and two members appointed by the Massachusetts Senate President. The special commission shall also include a minimum of two (2) institutional partners, including University of Massachusetts, and additional universities selected by the Speaker and Senate President. The special commission shall be staffed by a director appointed by the Secretaries.

(c) The special commission shall collect data regarding the availability of water, wastewater, electricity, transportation access, and proximity to food and medical resources, local land use regulations, the existing built environment, and local limitations to diversity in the economy.

(d) The special commission shall hold at least one public hearing and may hold additional hearings as necessary at which members of the public shall have an opportunity to speak.

(d) Not later than June 30, 2026, the special commission shall file a report on its findings, including recommendations to implement said findings, with the clerks of the House and Senate, the Secretaries of Housing and Livable Communities and Economic Development, and the House and Senate committees on Ways and Means. The report shall include an inventory of current land use and natural resources; housing and business needs, infrastructure, land use regulations, and recommendations to balance preservation and growth opportunities for housing, economic development and associated infrastructure.

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