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S 576

Establishes a manufactured housing tax credit

2025 Regular Session Introduced by George Borrello and 3 co-sponsors

Expands outdoor heritage by clarifying bow-hunting seasons, strengthens protection against harassment of hunters and wildlife takings, and allows enforcement with penalties.

REFERRED TO INVESTIGATIONS AND GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS
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Bill Summary · S 576

Bill Summary — S 576 (Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 2025)

Status: Introduced Feb 13, 2025; referred to committees (records list referrals to Environment & Natural Resources, Judiciary, and Investigations & Government Operations). Note: the bill text provided is titled “An Act relative to outdoor heritage” and deals with hunting and wildlife protections. (The bill title “Establishes a manufactured housing tax credit” and some sponsor listings in the materials appear to be inconsistent with the bill text provided — see “Notes on inconsistencies” below.)

Purpose / Intent

The bill’s stated aim is to protect and expand outdoor heritage activities by:
- Clarifying and expanding lawful hunting opportunities (notably bow-and-arrow hunting),
- Strengthening statutory protections for people lawfully harvesting fish and wildlife against harassment, obstruction, vandalism and intimidation, and
- Updating statutory language about carrying firearms and ammunition rules connected to hunting and recreation.

Key provisions and changes

  • Firearms in snow/recreation vehicles (amends ch. 90B §26(g)):

    • Prohibits carrying a firearm/rifle/shotgun on a snow vehicle, recreation vehicle, trailer or sled during open deer/bear/turkey seasons unless the firearm is unloaded.
    • Exemptions: law enforcement officers or others authorized under §32, paraplegics under ch.131 §65, and persons licensed under ch.140 §§131 or 131F carrying a loaded firearm.

  • Bow-and-arrow hunting (amends ch.131 §5 and §57):

    • Director may declare open seasons for deer hunting by bow and arrow on any date (including Sundays and legal holidays).
    • If such a season occurs in whole or part within the last three months of the calendar year, the director must set it for at least seven consecutive days.
    • §57 amended to make clear that hunting deer by bow-and-arrow (and carrying a bow) on a Sunday is lawful when the director, with board approval, declares Sunday open.

  • Right to harvest & anti-harassment protections (replaces ch.131 §5C):

    • Establishes a statutory “right to harvest fish and wildlife free from harassment” (subject to conservation rules).
    • Prohibits intentional conduct that obstructs, interferes with, or prevents lawful taking — including driving/disturbing wildlife to interrupt a taking; following, blocking, harassing hunters; erecting barriers; using stimuli to hinder take; entering private land without permission to violate the section; use of mechanical aerial devices to drive/harass/film/intimidate wildlife.
    • Criminal penalties:
    • General obstructing/harassing violation: up to 1 year in jail and/or fine up to $1,000.
    • Vandalism/destruction of hunting equipment (vehicles, blinds, cameras, boats, gear): up to 2 years and/or fine up to $5,000.
    • Causing bodily injury via such harassment/vandalism: up to 5 years and/or fine up to $10,000.
    • Superior Court may issue injunctions; victims may bring civil actions for punitive damages in addition to criminal penalties.
    • Environmental protection officers and other arrest-authorized officers may enforce the section.
    • Fines deposited into the Inland Fisheries and Game Fund; may be used for Hunter Education Program.

  • Posting land: unlawful to post land closed/restricted to lawful harvest without owner authorization; penalties up to 1 year and/or $1,000 fine.

  • Bow/crossbow and ammunition provisions:

    • Amendments remove the word “bows” from a section title and delete references to crossbows in one provision.
    • Section title changed to “Hunting Ammunition,” and authority given to the director (under board control) to regulate ammunition types for hunting.
    • The text for ch.131 §69 (standards for bow/crossbow while hunting) is truncated in the available version — the bill would replace §69 but full language was not provided.

Who is affected

  • Hunters (especially bowhunters) — expanded season flexibility including Sunday/holiday opportunities, clarified equipment rules.
  • Recreational vehicle users and motorized snow/recreation vehicle operators — must keep firearms unloaded when transporting during open game seasons.
  • Landowners and the public — posting rules clarified; penalties for illegal posting.
  • Wildlife photographers, activists, and others who interact with hunters — conduct that interferes with lawful hunting can be criminalized.
  • Law enforcement and conservation officers — authorized/enhanced enforcement role; courts may issue injunctions; potential increase in prosecutions.
  • Hunter education programs — potential additional funding from fines.

Procedural / Timeline notes

  • Introduced Feb 13, 2025; read twice and referred to Judiciary (and other committee records show referral to Environment & Natural Resources and an “Investigations and Government Operations” referral). A hearing was scheduled Oct 21, 2025 (per legislative actions). The version text in the file contains multiple section amendments and a truncated §69 replacement; final content may change in committee.

Notes on inconsistencies and missing text

  • The provided packet contains conflicting metadata: a title referring to a manufactured housing tax credit and U.S. Senate sponsor names that do not match the Massachusetts bill text (which is authored by Sen. Peter J. Durant and others). This summary strictly reflects the provided Massachusetts “outdoor heritage” bill text.
  • Section 9 and replacement language for ch.131 §69 are truncated in the supplied excerpt; therefore, exact new equipment/technical standards for bows/crossbows and complete ammunition rule changes could not be summarized and should be reviewed in the complete bill draft.

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

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