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S 2433

Establishes certain rights upon the expiration of ground lease residential cooperative apartment buildings

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Cordell Cleare and 13 co-sponsors

Massachusetts RTAs must electrify buses by 2035, with phased targets (40% in 2028, 60% in 2030, 80% in 2032) and central planning to support rollout and worker retraining.

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Bill Summary · S 2433

Summary — S.2433 (Massachusetts): An Act Electrifying Regional Transit Authorities

Note: the bill text provided is Massachusetts Senate Bill No. 2433, titled “An Act electrifying Regional Transit Authorities,” filed in the 194th General Court.

Purpose

To require and support the transition of Massachusetts Regional Transit Authorities (RTAs) to zero-emission electric buses, prioritize electrified service for environmental justice communities, and create centralized planning, procurement, workforce and funding supports to achieve full electrification.

Key provisions

  • Definitions

    • Adds a definition of “electric vehicles” to chapter 161B: vehicles that rely solely on electric motors for propulsion (non‑combustion).

  • Fleet operation and procurement (amendment to chapter 161B, §6)

    • RTAs must operate electric vehicles and prioritize electric bus deployment on routes serving environmental justice populations (as defined in ch. 30, §62).
    • Required community outreach and engagement with environmental justice communities, municipal officials, and advocates.
    • Statewide full electrification mandate: all RTAs must implement electrification by no later than December 31, 2035.
    • Procurement targets for new vehicle purchases (set by the Secretary in consultation with A&F):
    • 40% of purchases in 2028 must be electric;
    • 60% in 2030;
    • 80% in 2032.
    • Annual reporting to the Regional Transit Authority Council (per ch. 161B §27) on electrification progress; reports must disclose any fossil-fuel vehicles or infrastructure purchased and explain reasons for such procurements.

  • Central planning and worker supports (adds ch. 161B, §28)

    • The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) must establish a central planning and procurement office by December 31, 2026.
    • That office will provide technical assistance, planning, grant writing, procurement help, and worker retraining support to implement each RTA’s electric bus rollout plan (deliverable by June 30, 2027, per references to Acts of 2022).
    • MassDOT must provide information and support (including free retraining options and hiring assistance) for employees who may lose employment due to the transition.
    • Employers engaged to design, build, and maintain EV infrastructure must pay prevailing wages, be subject to project labor agreements, and at minimum remain neutral on unionization.
    • MassDOT, in consultation with the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, shall identify funding sources and pursue federal funding opportunities consistent with chapter 21N.

Who is affected

  • Regional Transit Authorities across Massachusetts (fleet procurement, service planning, reporting).
  • Communities served by RTAs, with priority benefits for environmental justice populations.
  • RTA employees and contractors (retraining, job transitions, labor standards).
  • State agencies (MassDOT, Executive Office for Administration & Finance, EOEEA) for planning, procurement, and funding work.

Timeline & reporting highlights

  • Central planning/procurement office established by 12/31/2026.
  • RTA rollout plans supported by MassDOT by 6/30/2027.
  • Procurement milestones: 2028 (40%), 2030 (60%), 2032 (80%).
  • Full fleet electrification required by 12/31/2035.
  • Annual progress reports to the Regional Transit Authority Council required.

Implementation considerations

  • The bill directs state coordination and pursuit of funding but does not specify total appropriation levels — implementation will depend on federal/state grant success and RTA budgets.
  • Labor and procurement rules (prevailing wage, PLAs, neutrality) may affect project cost and contractor selection.
  • Annual disclosure requirements increase transparency about fossil-fuel procurements and exceptions.

If you’d like, I can produce a one‑page fact sheet suitable for municipal officials or a timeline visualization of the procurement targets and deadlines.

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

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