Bill
S 628
Creates an 11-member commission to study and boost native pollinator habitat across public/private lands, and to issue findings and legislative recommendations by Sept 1, 2026.
Status: Committed to Rules (as of 2025-06-13)
Introduced: February 19, 2025 (Senate)
Sponsor / Filing: Presented by Senator Jason M. Lewis; Senate Docket No. 2346 (filed 1/17/2025)
Report deadline from commission: September 1, 2026
Note on inconsistent metadata
- The materials provided contain conflicting titles and sponsor lists (e.g., a header referencing “Alan T. Shao II Fentanyl Public Health Emergency and Overdose Prevention Act” and a separate sponsor list including federal senators). The actual bill text and docket information show S.628 is a Resolve filed by Jason M. Lewis establishing a special commission to study and recommend measures to protect pollinator habitat. Readers should verify sponsors/titles with the official legislative website if needed.
Purpose
- Create a special commission to study statewide opportunities to improve pollinator health by increasing and enhancing native pollinator habitat across developed and natural landscapes, and to report findings and legislative recommendations.
Key provisions
- Establishes an 11‑member special commission to:
- Identify opportunities to enhance pollinator habitat in farm borders, forest edges, residential areas, parks, urban and industrial sites, energy transmission corridors, energy generating facilities, transportation corridors, and other lands.
- Consider native and managed pollinators (explicitly including wild and managed bees, butterflies, moths, beetles, ants, bats, and birds).
- Examine existing laws/regulations (in Massachusetts and elsewhere), successful public education/outreach models, funding adequacy, methods for pollinator population monitoring, and best management practices (foraging resources, plant diversity, etc.).
- Research how non‑agricultural lands (transportation and energy corridors, parks, working forests) can be used to expand forage and habitat.
- Propose ways to expand/co‑ordinate public education programs for individuals and businesses.
Commission composition
- 11 members total:
- 1 member of the House (no designating party)
- 1 member of the Senate (no designating party)
- Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs (or designee) — serves as chair
- Commissioner of Fisheries and Wildlife (or designee)
- Commissioner of Agricultural Resources (or designee)
- Six governor appointees:
- UMass faculty member specializing in pollinator science
- Representative of UMass Extension with crop/pollinator expertise
- Representative of an advocacy group for farmers
- A beekeeper representing a regional/statewide beekeeping organization
- Representative of an advocacy group for nurseries
- Representative from a membership‑based nonprofit focused on land protection
Deliverables and timeline
- The commission must report findings — including any proposed legislation — to:
- House and Senate Committees on Ways and Means
- Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture
- Final report due no later than September 1, 2026.
Procedural history (selected, as provided)
- Filed: 1/17/2025 (Senate Docket No. 2346)
- Introduced in Senate: 2/19/2025
- Referred to Committee on Environment and Natural Resources: 2/27/2025
- Hearing scheduled: 10/27/2025 (01:00–05:00 PM in A‑1)
- Reported favorably by committee and referred to Rules: 11/17/2025
- Advanced to third reading: 05/07/2025
- Committed to Rules: 06/13/2025
Potential impacts
- Could lead to coordinated state policy and legislation encouraging or funding habitat creation/restoration on public and private lands.
- May produce recommendations on monitoring, best practices, and outreach that influence agriculture, transportation, energy, municipal land management, nurseries, and conservation organizations.
- Outcomes might include regulatory changes, grant programs, public education campaigns, or guidelines for infrastructure corridors and working lands to support pollinators.
Recommendation
- Because of mixed metadata in the provided materials, confirm the official bill text, sponsor list, and current status via the Massachusetts Legislature’s official website or legislative clerk before citing sponsors or legislative stage in external materials.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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