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H 5510

Amendment H.5510

194th Legislature (2025-2026)

Allocates $3.08B in bonds to fund climate resilience, environmental protection, and equitable infrastructure—funding green projects, flood protection, and green housing through new

Published as amended, see H5518
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Bill Summary · H 5510

Overview

H 5510 (Bill: Amendment H.5510) is a Massachusetts $3.08 billion general obligation bond measure embedded in a climate resilience and adaptation package. The bill proposes authorizing a wide-ranging set of capital investments across environmental, recreational, agricultural, housing, and infrastructure programs to bolster climate change resilience, protect natural resources, and advance equitable, sustainable development. It would authorize new bonding, create related funds and advisory bodies, and enact various programmatic changes.

Main purpose and intent

  • Provide a comprehensive funding mechanism to strengthen climate resilience, adaptation, environmental protection, and related public health and equity goals.
  • Accelerate planning, design, construction, and maintenance of climate-resilient infrastructure and natural resource projects.
  • Promote green, low-carbon, and nature-based solutions across multiple state agencies and programs.
  • Embed programs that prioritize disadvantaged and environmental justice communities.

Key provisions and changes

  • Bonding authorizations: Section 1-2G authorize general obligation bonds totaling $3,078,457,500 for the described programs, with funds available through June 30, 2032.

  • Sector allocations (highlights by department):

    • Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) and Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR)
    • Land acquisition, planning, restoration, and stewardship ($40M).
    • Forestry, tree planting to address heat islands and water protection ($20M).
    • Dam and coastal infrastructure upgrades, flood control, and hazard mitigation ($308.1M).
    • Parks, recreational facilities, bike paths, and climate-mitigation compliant capital projects ($293.69M).
    • Coastal and inland access, harbor/mot shoreline improvements, and related recreational infrastructure ($10M–$176.67M range across items).
    • Environmental Protection (MassDEP) and related programs
    • Oil/hazardous material response and cleanup ($42M).
    • Capital investments for air, water, land protection, PFAS remediation, and climate programs ($27.8M; $120M; $75M, etc.).
    • Grants for municipal flood risk protection and related reporting requirements ($75M).
    • Fish and Game
    • Land acquisition and capital stewardship programs; ecosystem restoration; hatchery modernization; coastal/inland access; biodiversity initiatives ($53.5M; $15M; $40M; $10M; $5M; $20M; $20M; $20M total implied across items).
    • Agricultural Resources
    • Agricultural sustainability and resilience programs; farmland preservation; food security grants ($26M; $150M; $42M).
    • Mass Clean Water Trust and Water Infrastructure
    • Clean Water Trust funding for drinking water and PFAS remediation via revolving funds ($385M).
    • Administration and Finance; Housing and Livable Communities
    • Climate mitigation and adaptation-related grants to municipalities and regional bodies; green housing initiatives; mass trails and accessible recreation ($50M; $50M; $75M; $50M).
    • Housing and Livable Communities
    • Healthy homes, mass housing momentum fund for mixed-income housing with decarbonization criteria and energy standards ($50M; $50M).

  • New or amended authorities and programs:

    • Creation of resilience and climate-adaptation revolving funds and advisory committees (Sections 3-7, 12-13).
    • Establishment of a Resilience Revolving Fund administered by a board, enabling loans to municipalities, tribal governments, and water/wastewater districts for climate-resilient projects (Sections 13, 6-7).
    • New rules for forest reserves designation and passive management (Section 7) with criteria for carbon sequestration, biodiversity, and public recreation.
    • Air quality advisory committee to identify hotspots and propose monitoring and filtration incentives (Section 11).
    • Historic Connecticut River Water Trail Marking Fund to support river markers and navigability (Section 12).
    • Expanded septic management program and related environmental infrastructure provisions (Chapter 29F sections).

  • Project labor and equity considerations: Regulations and project labor agreement alignment, accessibility and geographic equity considerations, and prioritization for disadvantaged populations (Sections 8, 11, 2A-2G).

Who/what would be affected

  • State agencies: EE A, DEP, DCR, Fish & Game, Agricultural Resources, Housing and Livable Communities, MassClean Water Trust, and related councils.
  • Municipalities, regional planning bodies, tribal governments, water/wastewater districts, land trusts, and conservation organizations eligible for loans, grants, and capital investments.
  • Public and private buildings and infrastructure in need of resilience upgrades, flood protection, water quality improvements, biodiversity programs, and trail/access projects.
  • Environmental justice communities and vulnerable populations that would receive prioritization and targeted subsidies or incentives.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Funding availability through 2032; bond issuance to support listed programs.
  • Semi-annual reporting requirements for certain DEP flood grants (starting December 31, 2026).
  • Establishment of new funds and advisory committees with governance rules and reporting obligations.
  • Compliance with state hazard mitigation and climate adaptation plan; adherence to plan-based prioritization and project labor standards.

Note: The summary focuses on substantive programmatic elements, funding scale, and anticipated impact as encoded in the bill text.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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