H 4614 Massachusetts House · 194th Legislature (2025-2026)

An Act in relation to James J. O'Neil Park

HD 5228 authorizes the City of Lawrence to exchange a 77-square-foot portion of James J. O'Neil Park (at Lawrence Street and Chestnut Street) for a 363-square-foot parcel of adjacent land. The swap must be for recreation purposes, with both parcels remaining protected for open space, conservation, and passive recreation under Massachusetts law. The bill ensures the transferred park land continues to comply with constitutional protections (Article 97) and Chapter 40, Section 8C, which restrict park use to conservation and recreation. This procedural bill directly affects Lawrence’s City Council and Conservation Commission by enabling a specific land exchange. It does not create new policy but formalizes a limited, constitutionally compliant land transfer.
Bill status passed 3 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Oct 2025
Committee Review
Dec 2025
Senate Passage
Oct 2025
Governor
Introduced Oct 15, 2025 Last action Jun 24, 2026
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
9
Key actions
4
Committee
3
Amendments
1
Jun 24, 2026
Lower · Passed
Amended by substitution of bill with the same title, see H5531
lower
Dec 4, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee reported that the matter be placed in the Orders of the Day for the next sitting
lower
Nov 13, 2025
Lower · Passed
Bill reported favorably by committee as changed and referred to the committee on House Steering, Policy and Scheduling
lower
Oct 16, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senate concurred
upper
Oct 15, 2025
Committee
Referred to the committee on Municipalities and Regional Government
lower
0 primary · 2 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.