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H 3554

Campaign Contribution Limits

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Brandon Newton and 2 co-sponsors

Establishes a Green Infrastructure Fund to invest market-derived proceeds in decarbonization, clean energy, and equitable, job‑focused infrastructure across MA.

Referred to Committee on Judiciary
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Bill Summary · H 3554

Bill Summary — H 3554 (House No. 3554)

Title (as filed): An Act achieving a green future with infrastructure and workforce investments
Filed/Introduced: Prefiled 12/05/2024; Introduced 01/14/2025; Referred 02/27/2025
Committees: Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy; also appears referred to Judiciary in some records
Sponsor(s): Rep. David M. Rogers; Rep. Christine P. Barber; Rep. Manny Cruz
Status (selected actions provided): Referred to committee(s); hearings scheduled for 10/16/2025 (per docket)

Note on source material: The file provided includes the Massachusetts bill text establishing a Green Infrastructure Fund (House No. 3554) but also contains unrelated South Carolina campaign contribution amendments. This summary focuses on the Massachusetts bill text (the substantive text in House No. 3554).

Main purpose and intent

H 3554 creates a statewide Green Infrastructure Fund and related governance, and amends definitions in chapter 25A of the Massachusetts General Laws to incorporate environmental justice and income-quintile terminology. The intent is to collect proceeds from market‑based mechanisms (under chapter 21N) and direct those proceeds into targeted investments that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, accelerate clean energy deployment, and support workforce development and equitable outcomes.

Key provisions

  • Definitions added to chapter 25A (section 3):
    • Establishes terms including “environmental justice population,” “environmental justice council,” “environmental justice principles,” “revenue commissioner,” “secretary” (EOEEA), and household income quintiles (Quintile 1 and Quintile 2 limits set and updated annually by the Department of Revenue).
  • Establishes 25A:13A — Green Infrastructure Fund:
    • A separate fund on Commonwealth books, administered by the Secretary of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EOEEA). The secretary may delegate administration to state agencies, regional authorities, municipalities, or other public institutions. Proceeds may not be used for general government operations except reasonable administrative costs.
    • Revenue sources: proceeds remaining from market‑based mechanisms under clause (ii), (iii), and (iv) of subsection (a) of section 7 of chapter 21N after initial statutory distributions (notably after distributions to the household green dividend fund and other specified funds).
    • Eligible uses: investments that directly or indirectly reduce GHG emissions, including (but not limited to): public transit and low‑carbon buses/trucks; electric vehicles and charging infrastructure; transit‑oriented affordable housing; in‑state renewables, battery storage, and community microgrids; energy efficiency and electrification in housing, municipal infrastructure, and public schools; technology R&D and commercialization; clean energy/climate investments in rural communities.
    • Explicitly allows funding of existing state programs such as Mass Save, grid-level energy storage programs, battery rebate programs, offshore wind workforce and supply-chain development, and commercialization efforts for building decarbonization.
  • Governance — Green Infrastructure Fund Board:
    • An 18‑member board chaired by the EOEEA Secretary. Membership includes agency representatives (Transportation, DEP, DOER, DHCD, MassCEC), the Environmental Justice Council, representatives for organized labor, large and small business, low‑income residents, the clean energy industry, youth (≤25 years old), and two regional planning association representatives. Additional members: one appointed by the Speaker of the House, one by the Senate President, and one by the State Treasurer. (Text truncated in the file; additional governance details may follow in full bill.)

Who is affected

  • Residents of Massachusetts: households across income quintiles (with special attention to Quintile 1 and environmental justice populations) may see program investments, rebates/dividends, and infrastructure improvements.
  • Municipalities, regional authorities, state agencies, and public institutions that could receive fund allocations or administer programs.
  • Clean energy and construction industries, workforce training providers, transit agencies, and utilities—potential recipients of contracts, grants, and workforce investments.
  • Low‑income households and environmental justice communities are explicitly prioritized through definitions and eligible uses.

Procedural / timeline notes

  • Prefiled 12/05/2024; introduced 01/14/2025. Referred to Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy on 02/27/2025 (records also show Judiciary referrals). Hearings have been scheduled and rescheduled for October 16, 2025 (per docket entries).
  • The draft text in the packet is truncated; some sections (e.g., remainder of board duties, allocation process, reporting, and accountability measures) are not visible and should be reviewed in the full bill text before final analysis.

Potential fiscal and policy implications (high‑level)

  • Funding source: market‑based mechanisms (e.g., chapter 21N carbon pricing proceeds) — provides a dedicated revenue stream for clean energy and climate investments without using general fund dollars (subject to statutory distribution priorities).
  • Programmatic impact: could accelerate electrification, transit upgrades, energy efficiency, storage, and workforce development across the state.
  • Equity focus: includes environmental justice language and explicit attention to low‑income households, transit‑oriented affordable housing, and rural communities.
  • Implementation details (allocation rules, project selection criteria, evaluation metrics) are central to outcomes but are not fully visible in the excerpt provided.

Recommendation: Review the full, non‑truncated bill text (and any committee reports or fiscal notes) for final governance rules, funding formulas, oversight, and implementation timelines. Also confirm and remove the unrelated South Carolina campaign finance text present in the packet.

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

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