H 895 Massachusetts House · 193rd Legislature (2023-2024)

An Act to require separate carbon accounting for working lands and natural lands and to eliminate from Massachusetts net-zero carbon emissions goal any carbon offsets sold to entities outside of the Commonwealth

This bill requires Massachusetts to track carbon emissions from working lands and natural lands separately, distinguishing between agricultural areas, forests managed for timber, and protected reserves. It mandates that the state's net-zero carbon goals cannot be met using carbon offsets sold to entities outside the Commonwealth. By enforcing these specific accounting rules, the legislation aims to ensure that local climate targets are achieved through genuine reductions within the state rather than relying on external credits.
Bill status passed 3 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2023
Committee Review
Feb 2023
Senate Passage
Feb 2023
Governor
Introduced Feb 16, 2023 Last action May 23, 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
1
Committee
1
Feb 16, 2023
Upper · Passed
Senate concurred
upper
Feb 16, 2023
Committee
Referred to the committee on Environment and Natural Resources
lower
1 primary · 9 co-sponsors

Sponsors