American Honda

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Terry Alexander and 121 co-sponsors

Authorizes MassDOT to spend funds to mitigate impacts on small businesses within 500 feet of active construction, plus a catch-all for other necessary department expenses.

Introduced and adopted

Summary — H 4131 (2025): "An Act relative to mitigation during department of transportation projects"

Main purpose
H 4131 amends the permitted uses of certain Department of Transportation (MassDOT) funds by adding explicit authority to provide mitigation payments or expenditures to small businesses adversely affected by active MassDOT construction projects. It also adds a catch‑all authorization for other necessary departmental expenses.

Key provisions

Amends Section 4 of Chapter 6C of the Massachusetts General Laws (as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition).

Strikes the existing clause (j) in the second paragraph of that section and replaces it with:

New clause (j): authorizes expenditures to small businesses (as defined in G.L. c. 23A, §57) located within 500 feet of an active construction project operated by the department, to mitigate negative impacts resulting from the construction project.
New clause (k): authorizes expenditures for “any other expense of the department necessary to carry out its purposes” (a general catch‑all).

Also makes a minor textual edit earlier in the section (striking the word “and” at line 114).

Who is affected

Primary beneficiaries: small businesses within 500 feet of an active MassDOT construction project that experience negative impacts from that construction. Eligibility uses the small‑business definition found at G.L. c. 23A, §57.

MassDOT: gains explicit statutory authority and increased flexibility to spend departmental funds on direct mitigation and other necessary expenses.

Local communities: potential indirect benefits from measures that reduce economic harm to nearby businesses during infrastructure work.

Practical effect and fiscal implications

Enables MassDOT to provide targeted mitigation (financial assistance or other measures) to small businesses impacted by construction, which could reduce business losses, complaints, or litigation and support local economic continuity.

The bill does not specify dollar limits, qualifying criteria beyond the 500‑foot rule and the statutory small‑business definition, or administrative procedures; these details would be defined by MassDOT policy and budget decisions.

Because it broadens permitted uses of departmental funds, it could increase expenditures depending on implementation; no specific appropriation is included in the text.

Procedural / timeline notes

Introduced: 1/17/2025 (filed as House Docket No. 3902; House Bill No. 4131).

Reported actions in the provided record:

Introduced and adopted: 3/05/2025
Referred to Committee on Transportation: 5/12/2025
Senate concurred: 5/15/2025
Multiple hearing notices later scheduled/rescheduled for 10/21/2025 (times and rooms listed)

Related bill: HD 3902 (listed as replacing H 4131).

Note: The bill packet provided also includes text of an unrelated South Carolina House resolution congratulating American Honda’s South Carolina facility. That resolution appears unrelated to the Massachusetts statutory amendment above; consult the official Massachusetts legislative website or clerk’s office for the authoritative bill text and status.