Maddy summaryThis bill amends state law to allow Massachusetts towns and cities to pass local ordinances requiring new buildings and major renovations to be all-electric, meaning they cannot use natural gas, heating oil, or propane for heating, cooling, or cooking. The legislation defines "all-electric" as systems that rely on electricity or geothermal energy for these purposes while excluding fossil fuel infrastructure, with specific exceptions for vehicle fueling, mechanic shops, and emergency backup power. By giving municipalities the authority to mandate these standards, the bill aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by shifting energy use away from fossil fuels in residential, commercial, and public structures. The rules apply to construction projects and major renovations where building permit applications are submitted on or after January 1, 2022.
Rep. Dan Sena
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill aims to accelerate solar energy development in Massachusetts to meet the state's 2030 goal of 10,000 megawatts of solar capacity. It requires the Department of Energy Resources to create or modify incentive programs that specifically support solar canopies, environmental justice communities, pollinator habitats, municipal installations, and agrivoltaic projects. The legislation also mandates that state-protected lands cannot prohibit new solar facilities without holding public hearings and demonstrating that such a ban would hinder the state's renewable energy targets. Additionally, the bill directs the department to simplify administrative reporting for small residential and commercial solar systems and to establish a loan program funded by existing renewable energy compliance payments. Finally, it requires the department to work with municipal electric corporations to help local power plants meet greenhouse gas reduction goals and to report on program effectiveness by the end of 2023.
Maddy summaryThis bill aims to guide Massachusetts toward achieving 100% renewable electricity and net-zero carbon emissions across all sectors by 2030. It directly affects energy facilities, businesses, and workers by establishing new legal definitions for emissions and updating reporting requirements for large industrial sources. The legislation also prioritizes environmental justice for marginalized communities and mandates the creation of unionized green jobs with fair wages for workers transitioning to a clean energy economy. By amending existing state laws, the bill creates a formal registry to track greenhouse gas data and ensures that land use changes do not reduce the earth's natural ability to absorb carbon.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new $50 million fund to support Massachusetts municipal utilities in adopting clean energy technologies and reducing emissions. The fund will provide grants specifically prioritized for projects that benefit environmental justice communities, low-income housing, elderly housing, and those utilizing innovative decarbonization strategies. Additionally, the legislation allocates $7.5 million to help smaller or lower-income municipal utilities meet their renewable energy goals by 2030. The bill also requires the administering agency to publish an annual spending plan after holding a public hearing to gather community feedback.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires public colleges and universities in Massachusetts to create clear policies for granting credit for high school programs like College in the High School, Advanced Placement, and dual enrollment. It mandates that these institutions specify how they award credit for general education, major, or elective requirements and must ensure these credits can be transferred to other schools. Additionally, the law requires colleges to publish their credit policies online and submit them to the state Department of Higher Education for public posting. A new annual review process is also established, where the Board of Higher Education will evaluate how each university applies these credit policies and report its findings to the state legislature.
By Representative Sena of Acton, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2656) of Danillo A. Sena and Vanna Howard relative to benefits for certain firefighters. Public Service.
By Representative Hawkins of Attleboro, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2552) of James K. Hawkins, Danillo A. Sena and Michelle M. DuBois relative to cancer presumption for police officers. Public Service.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new fund within the Board of Higher Education in Massachusetts to support educational opportunities for caregivers of adults with disabilities. The fund will be financed through state appropriations, interest on those funds, and public or private donations, with all money held in trust for the program's use. Money from the fund can be spent without needing additional legislative approval each year and will cover both educational activities and the necessary costs to run the program.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new state fund called the Caregivers to Adults with Disabilities Fund to support the education of family members caring for adults with disabilities. The Massachusetts Board of Higher Education will manage the fund, which will be financed through state appropriations, interest, and donations, and will automatically carry over any unused money to future years. The primary goal is to help these caregivers by paying for their tuition and fees at eligible community colleges. The bill also requires the board to report annually on how the money is used and directs the state comptroller to transfer an initial $4.125 million from the General Fund to start the program.