S 1968 Massachusetts Senate · 193rd Legislature (2023-2024)

An Act relative to certain easements

This bill clarifies land ownership for Native American communities in Massachusetts by declaring that specific lots at Chappaquiddick, Dudley, Gay Head, Herring Pond, and Mashpee are owned in fee simple absolute, meaning owners have full rights to sell or transfer the property without restrictions. To ensure these owners can access their land, the legislation directs the superior court to create 40-foot wide easements for vehicle travel and underground utilities if no such access currently exists. These new easements would connect the private lots to the nearest public road, treating them as existing public ways for the purposes of local zoning and subdivision laws.
Bill status passed 3 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2023
Committee Review
Feb 2024
House Passage
Feb 2023
Governor
Introduced Feb 16, 2023 Last action Feb 22, 2024
Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the House. No roll call record of that vote is available.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
4
Key actions
2
Committee
2
Feb 22, 2024
Upper · Passed
Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Senate Ways and Means
upper
Feb 16, 2023
Lower · Passed
House concurred
lower
Feb 16, 2023
Committee
Referred to the committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors