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S 2298

Enacts the "Omnibus Prevailing Wage Enforcement Act"

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jamaal Bailey

Massachusetts requires public EV charging stations to display standardized cost disclosures set by EOEEA to improve upfront price transparency for drivers.

REFERRED TO LABOR
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Bill Summary · S 2298

Summary — S 2298 (filed Jan 17, 2025)

Note: the materials provided include conflicting metadata (several different titles and a long list of U.S. Senators as cosponsors). The operative bill text and docket indicate a Massachusetts state bill filed by Senator Paul W. Mark (Senate Docket No. 1996 / Senate No. 2298) titled broadly “An Act enabling clean energy transition.” This summary focuses on the actual bill language submitted for the Massachusetts General Court.

Main purpose

Require standardized, clear cost-disclosure for public electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in Massachusetts to increase price transparency for EV drivers and support the state’s clean energy transition.

Key provisions

  • Amends Section 16 of Chapter 25A of the Massachusetts General Laws by adding subsection (g).
  • Directs the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EOEEA) to promulgate standards and regulations for cost disclosure at all public vehicle charging stations.
  • Requires the owner, operator, or a designee of any public electric vehicle charging station where a fee is charged to place, at each public charging station, a standardized cost disclosure notice based on the EOEEA-established standards.

(The bill text is limited to these regulatory/notice requirements; it does not set specific pricing formats, enforcement mechanisms, fines, or implementation timelines — those are to be established in EOEEA regulations.)

Who is affected

  • Owners and operators of public EV charging stations in Massachusetts — required to display standardized cost-disclosure notices when charging is not free.
  • Consumers/EV drivers in Massachusetts — will receive more consistent, comparable upfront information about charging costs.
  • EOEEA — directed to develop the implementing standards and regulations.
  • Potentially municipalities or public entities that host charging stations (if they operate stations subject to the statute).

Procedural / timeline details (from docket)

  • Filed in Massachusetts Senate: January 17, 2025 (Senate Docket No. 1996 / Senate No. 2298).
  • Hearing scheduled (per provided actions): May 14, 2025.
  • Read twice and referred to committee (reported July 16, 2025); currently listed as REFERRED TO LABOR in the provided status.
  • Sponsor listed in docket: Paul W. Mark (MA). (Other sponsor metadata in materials appears inconsistent with the state bill text.)

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Consumer benefits: greater pricing transparency, easier price comparison across stations, reduced surprise fees.
  • Compliance costs: owners/operators may incur signage, software, or point-of-sale updates to meet standardized disclosures.
  • Regulatory detail matters: effectiveness depends on EOEEA rules (e.g., what information must be disclosed — price per kWh, per minute, session fees, demand charges, taxes, roaming/connection fees; whether dynamic pricing must be disclosed; format and language requirements).
  • Enforcement and penalties are not specified in the bill text; stakeholders should watch proposed EOEEA regulations for enforcement mechanisms and compliance deadlines.

Recommended next steps for stakeholders

  • Charging-station operators: monitor EOEEA rulemaking; evaluate current pricing-display systems and signage.
  • Consumer/EV advocacy groups: participate in EOEEA rulemaking to push for clear, comparable disclosure formats (e.g., price per kWh, estimated cost to charge typical battery sizes).
  • Municipalities/property owners: review leasing/operators agreements to ensure contractual compliance with forthcoming disclosure requirements.

For authoritative status and final text, consult the Massachusetts Legislature’s official bill tracking site and subsequent EOEEA rulemaking records.

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

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