Bill
S 72
Waives monetary fees for Massachusetts commercial fishing permits issued to individuals age 70 or older, easing costs for older fishers while reducing permit revenue for the state.
Overview
- Purpose: To waive monetary fees for certain Massachusetts commercial fishing permits issued to individuals age 70 or older.
- Sponsor/Filed by: Presented by Senator Bruce E. Tarr; petitioners listed include Bruce E. Tarr and Peter J. Durant.
- Jurisdiction: Commonwealth of Massachusetts (amendment to state General Laws).
- Classification/Status: Senate bill (S 72). Status shown as REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE; hearing scheduled for 07/09/2025.
What the bill would do (key provisions)
- Amend Chapter 130, Section 83 of the Massachusetts General Laws by adding a provision that:
- Any permit issued to an individual age 70 or older for commercial fishing permits (as enumerated in the state regulation 322 CMR 7.01(2)) shall be issued without requiring any fees or monetary payments.
- Effective date: The act takes effect upon passage.
Who is affected
- Directly affected: Individuals age 70 or older who apply for or hold commercial fishing permits listed under 322 CMR 7.01(2). (322 CMR 7.01(2) is the state regulation that lists the types of commercial fishing permits; the bill references that regulatory list rather than enumerating permit types in the statutory text.)
- Indirectly affected: The Division/agency that administers commercial fishing permits (state marine/fisheries authorities) and the state treasury (loss of fee revenues to the extent permits are currently financed by fees).
Potential impacts and considerations
- Administrative: Agencies will need to implement an age-based fee waiver process when issuing or renewing covered permits (proof of age verification, updated application forms/processes).
- Fiscal: Fee revenue loss depends on the number of permit holders or applicants age 70+. The bill does not specify offsets or caps; fiscal impact would require an estimate from the administering agency.
- Scope: The waiver explicitly covers “fees or monetary payments” but does not change other permit conditions, eligibility, or regulatory requirements. It applies to permits “issued to an individual age 70 or older” (language suggests applicability to both new permits and renewals).
- Equity/Policy: Intended to reduce financial burden on older commercial fishers; may help older fishers remain compliant with permitting requirements.
Procedural timeline / recent legislative actions (selected, as recorded)
- 2025-01-09: Senate docket filed.
- 2025-01-13: Read twice and introduced in the Senate; referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2025-01-27: Reported and committed to Finance (recorded).
- 2025-02-27: Referred to Committee on Agriculture; House concurred (recorded).
- 2025-06-26: Hearing scheduled for 07/09/2025 (1:00–5:00 PM, location A-1).
- Final enactment: bill states it would take effect upon passage.
Notes
- The bill text references 322 CMR 7.01(2) for the list of covered commercial fishing permits; readers seeking exact permit types should consult that regulation or the implementing agency (Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries).
- Fiscal and programmatic impacts are not specified in the bill and would typically be evaluated during committee review and by the Office of the Comptroller or fiscal analyst.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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