Rep. Natalie Higgins

By Representatives Khan of Newton and Livingstone of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3183) of Kay Khan, Jay D. Livingstone and Mike Connolly relative to the electrification of new and substantially remodeled or rehabilitated buildings. Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy.

By Representatives Barber of Somerville and Meschino of Hull, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3139) of Christine P. Barber, Joan Meschino and others relative to setting deadlines to electrify school buses and public fleets and establishing programs to encourage private fleet electrification. Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy.

By Representatives Lewis of Framingham and Meschino of Hull, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3186) of Jack Patrick Lewis, Joan Meschino and others for legislation to include miniatures, so-called, in the bottle deposit law. Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy.

By Representatives Higgins of Leominster and Kushmerek of Fitchburg, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3171) of Natalie M. Higgins, Michael P. Kushmerek and others relative to establishing the gateway cities renewable, efficient, and electrified neighborhoods initiative. Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy.

By Representative Meschino of Hull, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3192) of Joan Meschino and others relative to building energy and decarbonization. Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy.

By Representatives Sabadosa of Northampton and Garballey of Arlington, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3225) of Lindsay N. Sabadosa, Sean Garballey and others for legislation to encourage solar energy development on buildings and disturbed land. Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a temporary halt on approving new natural gas infrastructure projects in Massachusetts until at least 2026. It directly affects utility companies and local governments by prohibiting the construction of new facilities or expansions of existing ones, with the sole exception being projects deemed necessary for public safety. The legislation also prevents towns without current gas service from digging up streets to build new gas lines. By amending existing state laws, the bill aims to pause the development of oil, natural gas, renewable natural gas, and hydrogen distribution systems during this period.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Massachusetts' bottle bill by replacing existing definitions with new ones that clarify what counts as a beverage and its container. It specifically includes glass, plastic, and metal containers between 50 milliliters and 3 liters while excluding items like cartons, pouches, and dairy products. The legislation also establishes stricter rules for recyclability, requiring that containers be recyclable in current markets without removing attached components like labels or filters. Additionally, the bill introduces a new definition for "recycle" to ensure materials are converted into raw materials for new products rather than simply downcycled. These changes aim to modernize the law's language and ensure it reflects current recycling capabilities and environmental standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to prevent utility companies from passing the costs of building or expanding interstate gas pipelines onto their customers. Specifically, it prohibits the Department of Public Utilities from approving contracts for gas purchases or storage if those agreements involve new construction or expansion of interstate infrastructure. The legislation directly affects utility providers and the ratepayers who pay for their services by ensuring that expansion costs are not included in bills.

By Representative Chan of Quincy, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3152) of Tackey Chan and others relative to the use of double utility poles of distribution or telephone companies. Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy.