An Act establishing the Blue Communities Program

This bill creates the Blue Communities Program to help local governments reduce nutrient pollution and ocean acidification through grants and loans. To qualify, municipalities must adopt at least five of nine specific initiatives, such as hazardous liquid waste collection, rain barrel programs, shellfish restoration projects, and fertilizer restrictions. The program is funded by a new state fund that may draw from offshore wind contributions, fertilizer sales taxes, and other environmental revenue sources. The executive office will oversee the program, prioritize funding for environmental justice communities, and require participating municipalities to report progress every two years.