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S 592

Establishes the New York state youth in agriculture and entrepreneurship summer employment program

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jake Ashby and 9 co-sponsors

Raises the per-unit allocation from $1 to $5 to the Douglas State Forest Maintenance Trust Fund, boosting funding for forest maintenance.

REFERRED TO AGRICULTURE
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Bill Summary · S 592

Summary — S.592 (Senate No. 592)

An Act relative to the Douglas State Forest Maintenance Trust Fund

Purpose / Intent

This bill amends a single line in Massachusetts General Laws to increase the monetary amount specified for the Douglas State Forest Maintenance Trust Fund. The stated legislative intent is to provide a larger per‑unit amount to that trust fund to support maintenance of Douglas State Forest.

Important note: the header provided with your request referenced a New York youth employment program. The bill text you supplied and the docket information are for Massachusetts Senate No. 592 concerning the Douglas State Forest Maintenance Trust Fund. This summary is based exclusively on the Massachusetts bill text and docket information provided.

Key provision

  • Amends Section 35BBB of Chapter 10 of the General Laws by striking out the figure “$1” and inserting in its place the figure “$5”.
    • In other words, the statutory amount referenced in Section 35BBB is increased from $1 to $5.

The bill text contains no additional changes, definitions, or explanatory language; it is a targeted statutory numeric amendment.

Who would be affected

  • Douglas State Forest Maintenance Trust Fund — will receive larger amounts as specified in the statute.
  • The source(s) of the original $1 amount — whatever transaction, fee, surcharge, or allocation Section 35BBB ties to the trust fund — would now be increased to $5. (The bill text does not restate what transaction or revenue source triggers the $1 amount; readers should consult Section 35BBB in Chapter 10 for that context.)
  • State agencies responsible for administering the trust fund and for collecting whatever fee or allocation Section 35BBB prescribes.
  • Potentially, payers of the fee/charge or account(s) from which the allocation is drawn; fiscal impact depends on the underlying mechanism in Section 35BBB.

Legislative status & timeline (as provided)

  • Filed: January 14, 2025 (Senate docket)
  • Introduced / Read twice and referred: February 13, 2025
  • Referred to committees (variously listed): Small Business & Entrepreneurship; Environment and Natural Resources; Agriculture
  • Hearing scheduled: April 8, 2025 (A-1)
  • Advanced to Third Reading: May 1, 2025
  • Passed Senate: May 6, 2025
  • Delivered to House/Assembly and referred to Agriculture: May 6, 2025
  • Reported favorably by committee and referred to Senate Ways & Means: July 3, 2025

(Notes: the docket contains duplicate and slightly inconsistent action entries. Verify current status with the official legislative clerk or website.)

Potential impact / fiscal considerations

  • Direct effect: increases the per‑unit amount from $1 to $5 for whatever allocation Section 35BBB prescribes, implying up to a 4x increase in revenue flowing into the Douglas State Forest Maintenance Trust Fund per unit.
  • Actual fiscal impact depends on how many units/transactions are subject to the statutory amount; the bill text does not provide revenue estimates or effective date.
  • Expected outcome: more funding available for maintenance, upkeep, or projects at Douglas State Forest, subject to trust fund rules.

Next steps / recommendations

  • Consult the full text of Section 35BBB (Chapter 10) to identify the triggering source (e.g., per‑licence fee, per‑transaction allocation) and calculate likely revenue effects.
  • Verify current legislative status on the Massachusetts Legislature website for any subsequent amendments, fiscal notes, or enactment dates.
  • Review committee reports or hearing testimony (if available) for policy rationale and fiscal estimates.

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

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