An Act relative to the Great Barrington Fire District

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Leigh Davis

Authorizes the Great Barrington Fire District to supply water to town residents for domestic and other uses, with the district setting pricing and terms.

Read third and passed to be engrossed

Summary: House Bill 924 — An Act relative to the Great Barrington Fire District

Overview

Bill Number: H 924

Title: An Act relative to the Great Barrington Fire District

Purpose: Authorize the Great Barrington Fire District to supply water to the inhabitants of the town of Great Barrington for domestic and other purposes, under terms set by the district.

Status: Read second and ordered to a third reading (as of latest actions)

Introduced: February 27, 2025

Filed: January 16, 2025

Committee: Environment and Natural Resources

What the bill would do

The bill proposes amending Chapter 335 of the acts of 1905 by replacing Section 4 with new language.

New Section 4: “The Great Barrington Fire District may supply any of the inhabitants of the town of Great Barrington with water for domestic and other purposes, upon such terms as the fire district may determine.”

In short, the Great Barrington Fire District would be explicitly authorized to provide water to town residents, with pricing and other terms established by the district itself.

Effective Date: The act would take effect upon passage.

Key provisions and changes

Authority to supply water: Removes ambiguity and codifies authority for the Fire District to act as a water supplier to Great Barrington residents.

Terms determined by district: The district would set rates, conditions, and management terms for water supply.

Scope of use: Domestic and “other purposes” are included, potentially covering residential, commercial, and other uses as determined by the district.

Legal basis: Replaces the current statutory language in Section 4 of Chapter 335 of 1905, aligning it with the district’s expanded role.

Who is affected

Inhabitants of Great Barrington: Potentially gain a rural/municipal water provider option, subject to district terms.

Great Barrington Fire District: Gains statutory authority to supply water and to set terms, which may impact revenue, rate-setting, and service operations.

Existing water providers (if any): Could experience changes in market dynamics or service options, depending on district adoption and pricing.

Procedural and timeline notes

February 27, 2025: Referred to the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources.

October 9, 2025: Reported favorably by the committee and referred to House Steering, Policy and Scheduling.

November 6, 2025: Behind-the-scenes actions taken to place the measure in the Orders of the Day; rules suspended; read second and ordered to a third reading.

Related action: HD 2478 is listed as a related/replacing measure.

Current status: As of the latest docket, the bill has advanced toward a third reading.

Potential implications (neutral, non-partisan)

Could provide an additional water service option for Great Barrington residents.

The district’s ability to set terms may affect pricing, service standards, and potential revenue for the district.

Likely considerations include rate fairness, water-quality standards, and potential coordination with other municipal or county water systems.

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary for a specific audience (e.g., residents, local officials, or policymakers) or add a brief comparison with similar district-authority water supply bills.