SD4031 • 2025

An Act authorizing the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to acquire interests in certain portions of land owned by the town of Andover which were acquired by the town for Article XCVII purposes

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Sponsor: Barry R. Finegold
Last action: 2026-07-01
Official status: Referred to Joint Committee on Rules
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 authorizing the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to acquire interests in certain portions of land owned by the town of Andover which were acquired by the town for Article XCVII purposes

What This Bill Does

An Act authorizing the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to acquire interests in certain portions of land owned by the town of Andover which were acquired by the town for Article XCVII purposes By Mr.
Finegold, a petition (accompanied by bill) (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Barry R.
Finegold for legislation to authorize the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to acquire interests in certain portions of land owned by the town of Andover which were acquired by the town for Article XCVII purposes.
State Administration and Regulatory Oversight.

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

2026-07-01 Senate
Referred to the committee on Rules of the two branches, acting concurrently

Official Summary Text

An Act authorizing the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to acquire interests in certain portions of land owned by the town of Andover which were acquired by the town for Article XCVII purposes
By Mr. Finegold, a petition (accompanied by bill) (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Barry R. Finegold for legislation to authorize the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to acquire interests in certain portions of land owned by the town of Andover which were acquired by the town for Article XCVII purposes. State Administration and Regulatory Oversight.
Status:
Referred to Joint Committee on Rules

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Bill SD.4031

SECTION 1. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation may acquire from the town of Andover, acting by and through its conservation commission, for highway purposes interests in certain portions of land owned by the conservation commission of the town of Andover and identified as permanent easement parcel numbers 20-E-1 and 20-PUE-1-T on a plan of land entitled “Massachusetts Department of Transportation Highway Division Plan And Profile Of Tewksbury Street Over CSX Railroad (Bridge No. A-09-015) In The Town of Andover, Essex County, Preliminary Right of Way Plans”. The impact to the protected land to be acquired by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation is limited to permanent easements of approximately 704 square feet for guy wire placement, guardrail removal and bridge special slope paving.

SECTION 2. The secretary of energy and environmental affairs may waive the requirement that suitable replacement land be provided by any entity acquiring an interest in land protected by Article XCVII of the Amendments to the Constitution of the Commonwealth pursuant to clause (B) of the last sentence of subsection (a) of section 5A of chapter 3 of the General Laws. As reasons for such waiver, the land transferred pursuant to this act is of insignificant natural resource and recreation value, is less than 2,500 square feet in area and the benefit serves a significant public interest.

SECTION 3. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation shall assume all costs associated with engineering, surveys, appraisals, deed preparation and other expenses necessary to execute the conveyances authorized by this act.

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