Bill
S 2731
Massachusetts would create a Coastal Erosion Innovation Center to develop and deploy nature-based coastal protection methods, with multi-agency oversight and an advisory group.
Status and timeline
- Introduced: September 8, 2025
- Reported favorably by the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) and referred to the Senate Ways and Means Committee (with a new draft labeled S.660 accompanying the bill) on November 24, 2025.
- Related bill: Companion House bill HR 5206
- Legislative actions show a pathway from introduction to committee favorability and onward to Ways and Means, with ongoing drafting as of the latest action.
Purpose and core idea
- The bill establishes a dedicated Massachusetts Coastal Erosion Innovation Center to protect and strengthen the resilience of the Commonwealth’s coastal resources.
- The Center focuses on developing and deploying innovative methods to safeguard beaches, marshes, dunes, and coastal infrastructure, with an emphasis on natural and nature-based approaches.
Key provisions
1) Creation and governance of the Massachusetts Coastal Erosion Innovation Center
- Establishment: A new Center under the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA).
- Purpose: To identify, research, advance, and deploy innovative coastal protection methods and resilience strategies.
- Scope of protection: Beaches, marshes, dunes, and related public and private property and infrastructure.
- Administration and coordination: The Center shall be administered by EEA and include representatives from:
- Office of Coastal Zone Management
- Department of Environmental Protection
- Department of Conservation and Recreation
- Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development
- Executive Office of Administration and Finance
- Meetings: Centers’ representatives shall meet at least every 6 months, with meetings open to public observation. The Center may accept written or oral testimony with proper notice.
2) Advisory group
- An advisory group, appointed by the Governor, guides the Center.
- Composition (15 members total):
- 3 municipal officials (selected from a list proposed by the Massachusetts Municipal Association)
- 3 environmental advocacy organizations
- 3 coastal property owners
- 3 individuals with expertise in engineering, construction, or architecture
- 1 coastal geology expert
- 2 taxpayers (representing taxpayers of the Commonwealth)
- Meetings: The advisory group must meet at least every 3 months, and also meet at the request of the Innovation Center.
3) Focus and research priorities
- Center duties include identifying, developing, and researching innovative coastal protection methods, in consultation with higher education or research institutions in Massachusetts.
- Prioritization of natural and nature-based approaches, including:
- Thin-layer marsh deposition
- Living shorelines
- Vegetation-based strategies
- Eradication of invasive species (e.g., green crab)
- Other relevant methodologies
- Deliverables: An annual report detailing activities, to be provided to the chairs of the House and Senate Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, filed with clerks, and posted online.
4) Duration
- Sunset: The act (and Center) expires on December 31, 2035, unless extended, repealed, or modified.
Who is affected
- State agencies (EEA, along with the listed agencies and offices) involved in coastal management and planning.
- Municipal officials and coastal communities.
- Environmental advocacy groups and coastal property owners.
- Engineering, architectural, and coastal geology professionals.
- Taxpayers of the Commonwealth, who are represented on the advisory group.
Potential impact and considerations
- Promotes a formal, multi-agency, stakeholder-driven approach to coastal resilience.
- Emphasizes natural and hybrid solutions over hard infrastructure where feasible.
- Creates a structured mechanism for innovation, testing, and deployment of coastal protection technologies.
- Provides transparency through public meetings and annual reporting.
- Temporary framework with a defined 2035 sunset, encouraging evaluation and potential renewal or amendment.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
Sign in to ask a question.
