An Act relative to streamline the judicial review of local land use decisions

This bill streamlines the legal process for challenging local land use decisions in Massachusetts by changing how lawsuits are filed and handled. It requires non-governmental challengers to send written notice to the original applicants and local officials within fourteen days of filing a complaint, eliminating the need for formal service of process to avoid delays. The legislation also mandates that courts review only the official record from the local board, prohibiting the introduction of new evidence, and limits the grounds for overturning a decision to whether it was arbitrary, capricious, or illegal. Additionally, the bill introduces a financial requirement where non-municipal plaintiffs must post a bond covering potential property carrying costs and legal fees, which can be forfeited if they do not substantially prevail in their appeal.