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H 4887

An Act authorizing the town of Plymouth to establish a special revenue account for land acquisition

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Michelle Badger and 1 co-sponsor

Plymouth may establish a Land Acquisition Fund funded by state-revenue streams (Ch. 61, 61A, 61B) to buy land for recreation, open space, and municipal needs.

Signed by the Governor, Chapter 133 of the Acts of 2026
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Bill Summary · H 4887

Summary: H 4887 – An Act authorizing the town of Plymouth to establish a special revenue account for land acquisition

Overview

  • Bill number: H 4887
  • Title: An Act authorizing the town of Plymouth to establish a special revenue account for land acquisition
  • Introduced: December 24, 2025
  • Status: Referred to the Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government
  • Related bill: HD 5442 (the House docket number 5442; notes indicate this version replaces or accompanies the bill)

Purpose and intent

The bill would authorize the Town of Plymouth to create a dedicated special revenue account, called the Land Acquisition Fund, within the town treasury. The fund is intended to support acquisition of land for recreation, open space, and other municipal purposes. The act aims to provide a protected, dedicated funding stream specifically for land conservation and related municipal uses.

Key provisions

  • Establishment of a special fund: Plymouth may establish and maintain a “Land Acquisition Fund” in the town treasury as a special revenue account.
  • Authority to appropriate funds: The town may appropriate monies from the Land Acquisition Fund to acquire interests in land for recreation, open space, and other municipal purposes.
  • Source of deposits: The fund must receive deposits from:
    • Amounts the town receives under Section 7 of Chapter 61 of the General Laws
    • Amounts the town receives under Section 13 of Chapter 61A of the General Laws
    • Amounts the town receives under Section 8 of Chapter 61B of the General Laws
  • Interest handling: Interest earned on the fund shall remain in and become part of the Land Acquisition Fund (i.e., compounding within the fund).
  • Legal flexibility: The act provides that, notwithstanding Section 53 of Chapter 44 of the General Laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, Plymouth may establish and operate this fund, suggesting a degree of local autonomy regarding the fund’s creation and management.
  • Effective date: The act takes effect upon passage.

Who is affected

  • Municipality: Town of Plymouth (local government)
  • Residents/landscape outcomes: Potentially greater capacity for acquiring lands for recreation, conservation, open space, and municipal needs within Plymouth.
  • State-revenue interactions: Deposits to the fund will come from specific state or quasi-state revenue streams tied to Chapter 61, 61A, and 61B (property tax-related relief/abatement and exemptions). These flows depend on the town’s receipt of those revenues as defined by state law.

Procedural and timeline considerations

  • Status in committee: Referred to the Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government (as of the latest status).
  • Local approval note: The petition indicates local approval was received, which is typical for enabling local creation of a special fund.
  • Effective date: To take effect upon passage if enacted.
  • Relation to other measures: Listed as related to House Docket 5442 (HD 5442); the documents indicate this bill version may replace or be linked to that docket.

Potential impact and considerations

  • Creates a dedicated, protected funding mechanism for land conservation and open-space initiatives in Plymouth.
  • Provides a clear statutory path for depositing certain state-revenue receipts into the fund, potentially improving planning and timing for land acquisitions.
  • The broad authorization to bypass certain general laws suggests simpler local governance for fund creation, but may warrant scrutiny of long-term accountability and fiscal management.
  • Because the bill is at the committee stage, timeline to enactment depends on committee action and subsequent floor votes in both chambers.

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

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