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SD 3535

Disaster Relief and Resiliency Fund December 2025 Report

194th Legislature (2025-2026)

Massachusetts bill creates dedicated Disaster Relief and Resiliency Fund to finance community recovery and infrastructure resilience improvements after natural disasters.

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Bill Summary · SD 3535

Legislative bill overview

SD 3535 establishes a Disaster Relief and Resiliency Fund in Massachusetts designed to provide financial resources for communities affected by natural disasters and to support infrastructure improvements that enhance resilience against future disasters. The bill creates a dedicated funding mechanism to help municipalities recover from disasters and implement preventative measures.

Why is this important

Massachusetts faces increasing risks from hurricanes, nor'easters, flooding, and other climate-related disasters that have caused significant damage to communities and infrastructure. A dedicated fund could accelerate recovery processes and reduce long-term economic losses by enabling proactive resilience investments rather than reactive emergency responses.

Potential points of contention

  • Funding source unclear: The bill description doesn't specify how the fund will be financed (taxes, bonds, appropriations), which affects its feasibility and fiscal impact
  • Distribution criteria: Questions about how money will be allocated among municipalities—whether based on damage assessments, population, prior losses, or other metrics could favor certain regions over others
  • State vs. local responsibility: Debate over whether disaster recovery should primarily be a state or federal responsibility, and how this fund interacts with FEMA assistance

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

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