By Mr. Crighton, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 557) of Brendan P. Crighton, Joanne M. Comerford, James B. Eldridge, James K. Hawkins and other members of the General Court for legislation to accelerate and streamline wetlands restoration. Environment and Natural Resources.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires hand-counted audits for specific races after every biennial state election and primary, directly affecting municipalities and election officials. It mandates audits for congressional races, state legislative contests with multiple candidates, one randomly selected statewide race or ballot question, and the governor's race, with audits conducted in public view starting 15 days post-election. The state secretary must compare hand-count results to original tallies, publish discrepancy findings online within 30 days, and maintain reports for six years. A workgroup will also study risk-limiting audits and provide recommendations by 2027 to improve future processes.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Massachusetts Coastal Erosion Innovation Center within the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. The center will develop and deploy natural, innovative methods to protect coastal resources like beaches, marshes, and infrastructure from erosion and sea-level rise, directly affecting coastal communities, property owners, and environmental groups. Key provisions include creating an advisory group with diverse stakeholders (municipal officials, environmental advocates, property owners, and experts), authorizing up to 20 annual pilot projects for shoreline resilience (with 3-year limits), and requiring annual public reports. The center must prioritize natural approaches such as living shorelines and vegetation, while ensuring projects include monitoring and restoration plans. The program expires on December 31, 2035.
By Mr. Moore, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2180) of Michael O. Moore, Brian W. Murray, James K. Hawkins, Susannah M. Whipps and other members of the General Court for legislation to define fraud in public construction bid laws. State Administration and Regulatory Oversight.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires municipalities to adjust traffic signal timing at crosswalks to accommodate pedestrians who walk slower due to age, mobility aids, or transporting others. It mandates that towns create lists of high-traffic crosswalk locations where these pedestrians frequently cross, then extend walk clearance times to ensure safe crossing. The policy directly affects slower-walking pedestrians and local governments, which must implement these changes by January 1, 2027. The Department of Highways must issue implementing regulations by January 1, 2026.
Senate, November 24, 2025 -- The committee on Environment and Natural Resources to whom was referred the petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 660) of Bruce E. Tarr and Steven George Xiarhos for legislation to protect coastal resources by establishing the Massachusetts Coastal Erosion Innovation Center, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2731).
By Mr. Lewis, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 618) of Jason M. Lewis, Michael O. Moore, Michael D. Brady, James K. Hawkins and other members of the General Court for legislation to ban the retail sale of dogs, cats, rabbits, and guinea pigs in pet shops. Environment and Natural Resources.
By Mr. O'Connor, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 651) of Patrick M. O'Connor, Michael O. Moore, Marcus S. Vaughn, Michael D. Brady and other members of the General Court for legislation to ban the retail sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in new pet shops. Environment and Natural Resources.
By Mr. Moore, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 644) of Michael O. Moore, Carmine Lawrence Gentile, David T. Vieira, Paul W. Mark and other members of the General Court relative to pesticides. Environment and Natural Resources.
By Mr. O'Connor, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 650) of Patrick M. O'Connor, Michael O. Moore, Michael D. Brady, James K. Hawkins and other members of the General Court for legislation banning the retail sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in pet shops. Environment and Natural Resources.
