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HD 1388

An Act authorizing and directing the director of the Division of Waterways to dredge the harbor area surrounding Houghs Neck in the city of Quincy

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Tackey Chan

Authorizes the Division of Waterways director to dredge the Quincy harbor around Houghs Neck, with funding up to $800,000 from appropriations to improve local harbor navigation.

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Bill Summary · HD 1388

Summary: An Act authorizing and directing the director of the Division of Waterways to dredge the harbor area surrounding Houghs Neck in the city of Quincy (HD 1388)

Purpose and intent

  • The bill would authorize and direct the director of the Division of Waterways, within the Department of Environmental Quality Engineering, to dredge the harbor area surrounding Houghs Neck in Quincy, Massachusetts.
  • It aims to facilitate dredging operations by giving formal statutory authority to proceed, presumably to address harbor maintenance, navigation, and waterway accessibility needs in that area.

Key provisions

  • Section 1: Authorization and directive
    • The director of the Division of Waterways is authorized and directed to dredge the harbor area surrounding Houghs Neck in Quincy.
  • Section 2: Funding authorization
    • The director shall expend such sums as may be appropriated for the dredging, with a cap not to exceed eight hundred thousand dollars ($800,000).

Funding and fiscal impact

  • Maximum appropriation: $800,000 for the dredging project.
  • The language indicates funding would come from appropriated sums, meaning actual expenditures depend on future budget appropriations approved by the Legislature.
  • No additional funding mechanisms or cost-sharing details are specified in the bill.

Who is affected

  • Local government and residents of Quincy, particularly the Houghs Neck area, which would be the focus of dredging activities.
  • The Division of Waterways within the Department of Environmental Quality Engineering would undertake the dredging.
  • Harbor users (e.g., boaters, commercial or recreational users) who rely on navigable harbor areas may be directly impacted by changes in harbor depth or channel maintenance.
  • Environmental permitting and oversight bodies would typically be involved as part of standard dredging processes (though the bill itself does not prescribe these steps).

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Sponsor and committee: Introduced by Rep. Tackey Chan (Quincy) with referral to the Environment and Natural Resources Committee.
  • Legislative history: The bill is filed as House Docket No. 1388 (House No. 906 in the 194th General Court, 2025-2026). A similar matter was previously filed in the 2023-2024 session as House No. 762.
  • Status: The provided text identifies the bill as a proposed measure without a current status update. Enactment would require passage by both the Massachusetts Senate and House, and approval by the Governor, with funding contingent on future appropriations.

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

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