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S 641

Enacts the "home utility weatherization jobs act"

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Robert Jackson and 2 co-sponsors

Removes the private organization membership requirement for District 3 pilots, letting any qualified pilot perform compulsory pilotage at Port of New Bedford, boosting activity.

REFERRED TO ENERGY
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Bill Summary · S 641

Bill Summary — S.641 (2025): "An Act to strengthen maritime activity and economic development in the Port of New Bedford"

Note: the official bill text attached to S.641 concerns state pilotage regulations for District 3 (Port of New Bedford). Other metadata (an alternate title, sponsor list that includes U.S. Senators, and some committee referrals) appear inconsistent with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts bill text and may reflect data errors. The summary below is based on the enacted bill text included in the file.

Purpose / Intent

To broaden access to compulsory state pilotage work in Massachusetts District 3 (which includes the Port of New Bedford) by removing a regulation that effectively required membership in a specific private pilots’ organization and to ensure state pilotage assignments can be performed by any duly qualified pilot regardless of private business affiliation. The aim is described as strengthening maritime activity and economic development in the Port of New Bedford.

Key provisions

  • Directs the Commissioner for District Three (Massachusetts) to update 995 CMR 4.19 (marine pilot regulations), pursuant to section 3 of chapter 103 of the General Laws.
  • Specifically requires the commissioner to:
    • Strike subsection (1) of 995 CMR 4.19, which required membership in Northeast Marine Pilots (a private organization).
    • Amend subsection (10) of 995 CMR 4.19 so that duly qualified pilots may operate independently from Northeast Marine Pilots.
    • Ensure that compulsory state pilotage work is apportioned among pilots who are duly qualified to operate within District 3 without regard to their membership in or affiliation with any private organization or business entity.
  • Regulatory update deadline: the commissioner must adopt these changes no later than 180 days after the enactment of this act.

Who is affected

  • Duly qualified state pilots licensed to operate in Massachusetts District 3 (including individual pilots who are not members of Northeast Marine Pilots).
  • Northeast Marine Pilots or any private pilots’ association previously referenced in 995 CMR 4.19.
  • Vessel operators, shipping companies, terminal operators, and other Port of New Bedford stakeholders who contract pilotage services or are affected by pilot dispatch/availability.
  • The Massachusetts Office/Commissioner responsible for regulating pilotage (administrative/regulatory workload to revise CMR provisions).

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Competition and access: Removing an organizational membership requirement could permit more individual pilots or alternative pilot companies to be assigned compulsory state pilotage work, potentially increasing competition and pilot availability.
  • Operational/administrative changes: The Department must revise regulations, and port operators and pilot organizations will need to adapt to new assignment procedures.
  • Safety and oversight: The bill targets business-affiliation restrictions rather than qualifications; safety and competency protections remain dependent on licensing and qualification standards (unchanged in the text provided).
  • Economic development: Sponsors frame the change as enabling expanded maritime activity and economic growth at the Port of New Bedford by widening the pool of pilots available for compulsory pilotage.
  • Possible disputes: Private organizations currently benefiting from the rule (e.g., established pilot associations) could raise legal, contractual, or labor-related concerns about changes in assignment practices.

Procedural / timeline notes (as recorded)

  • Bill filing / introduction: Docket filed 1/17/2025; introduced in Senate (recorded 2/19/2025).
  • Required regulatory update: within 180 days after enactment.
  • Recorded legislative actions (selected, may include duplicate/erroneous entries): advanced to third reading (early 2025), amended on third reading (641A), passed the Senate (6/4/2025), delivered to the Assembly and referred to Energy (6/4/2025). A hearing was scheduled for 7/1/2025 (per log). These entries are drawn from the supplied action list and may reflect in-process steps.

If you want, I can:
- Extract the exact pre‑ and post‑regulatory language that would be changed (if you supply the current 995 CMR 4.19 text).
- Produce a short FAQ explaining how the change would affect individual pilots, pilot associations, and port operators.

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

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