An Act relative to maintaining adequate water supplies through effective drought management
This bill establishes a new drought management task force within the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency to coordinate responses to water shortages. The task force will include representatives from various state agencies, professional organizations, and the public, and it must meet at least quarterly or monthly when a drought is declared. Its primary duties involve collecting data, making recommendations on drought levels and responses, and updating a statewide drought management plan every five years. Additionally, the bill grants the agency secretary the authority to order uniform water conservation measures, such as limiting nonessential outdoor water use, across specific drought-affected regions to protect public health and the environment.
Bill status
passed
3 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2023
Committee Review
Feb 2024
Senate Passage
Feb 2023
Governor
Introduced Feb 16, 2023
Last action Feb 5, 2024
Floor votes
How they voted
This bill passed the Senate. No roll call record of that vote is available.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
4
Key actions
2
Committee
2
Feb 5, 2024
Lower · Passed
Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Ways and Means
lower
Feb 16, 2023
Upper · Passed
Senate concurred
upper
Feb 16, 2023
Committee
Referred to the committee on Environment and Natural Resources
lower
1 primary · 37 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Joan Meschino
DDemocratic
Co
Aaron Saunders
DDemocratic
Co
Adrianne Ramos
DDemocratic
Co
Bill Galvin
DDemocratic
Co
Brad Jones
RRepublican
Co
Bruce Tarr
RRepublican
Co
Dave Rogers
DDemocratic
Co
David Linsky
DDemocratic
Co
Denise Garlick
DDemocratic
Co
Dylan Fernandes
DDemocratic
Co
Hannah Kane
RRepublican
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