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H 3491

Constitutional amendment

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Gilda Cobb-Hunter

Shifts two Mass. EV deadlines from 2035 to 2050 in Chapter 179, delaying timelines for state agencies, automakers, dealers, and EV charging infrastructure alike.

Referred to Committee on Judiciary
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · H 3491

Summary — H.3491 (House Docket No. 2614)

Title: Constitutional amendment (classified as joint resolution) — “An Act relative to electric vehicles.”

Note: The primary Massachusetts bill text is brief and narrowly focused. A longer, unrelated South Carolina joint resolution text appears in the supplied materials but is not part of H.3491; this summary treats only the Massachusetts measure.

Main purpose

H.3491 would modify two numeric deadlines in chapter 179 of the Acts of 2022 related to electric vehicles (EVs) and EV charging stations by replacing the year “2035” with “2050.” In effect, the bill delays the specific statutory year(s) referenced in those two subsections.

Key provisions

  • Section 1: Amends subsection (a) of Section 81 of chapter 179 (Acts of 2022) — strikes the figure “2035” and inserts “2050.”
  • Section 2: Amends Section 96 of chapter 179 — strikes the figure “2035” and inserts “2050.”

The bill text contains only these two targeted substitutions; it does not otherwise amend the substantive provisions of chapter 179.

Who would be affected

  • State agencies charged with implementing chapter 179 (Acts of 2022) — they would use the later year in enforcement/compliance schedules and rulemaking.
  • Automobile manufacturers, dealers, and consumers — any regulatory requirements tied to the 2035 date (for example, sales or registration-related deadlines) would be extended to 2050.
  • Electricity utilities, charging station developers, and infrastructure planners — timelines for required deployment or standards tied to the 2035 deadlines would shift.
  • State policy and climate/transportation planning — shifting the date may affect Massachusetts’ near- and mid-term greenhouse gas reduction strategies tied to vehicle electrification.

Because the bill substitutes dates only, the precise effects depend on the substantive provisions in Chapter 179 that reference 2035; consult that Act for full context.

Legislative status and timeline

  • Prefiled: 12/05/2024
  • Introduced/read first time: 01/14/2025
  • Referred to Committee on Judiciary and to Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy (01/14/2025; 02/27/2025)
  • Senate concurred: 02/27/2025
  • Hearing scheduled: 05/14/2025 (1:00–5:00 PM, A‑2)
  • Reporting date extended to: 12/03/2025

Related: HD 2614 is listed as replacing this filing; a similar matter was filed in 2023–24 as House No. 3797.

Notes and context

  • H.3491 is a narrow technical amendment (changing two dates). To assess policy impact, review Chapter 179 (Acts of 2022) to see what obligations, prohibitions, or targets are tied to the 2035 date.
  • The inclusion of a lengthy South Carolina constitutional amendment text in the provided materials appears to be an error and is unrelated to this Massachusetts bill.

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

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