An Act to support the equitable utilization of third party consultants in land use determinations

This bill amends Massachusetts law to require municipalities to maintain a certified list of at least three qualified outside consultants for each field needed in land use reviews. It allows applicants to choose a consultant from this list and receive proposals from each before making a selection, while also ensuring that applicants are not charged for the consultants' travel expenses. Additionally, the bill mandates that different local boards coordinate their use of these consultants to prevent unnecessary duplication of reviews. These changes aim to make the process of hiring experts for land use determinations more transparent and equitable for developers and property owners.