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Bill

S 2279

Excludes certain food donations from sales tax

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Rachel May and 2 co-sponsors

Establishes an Offshore Wind Wildlife Advisory Council to guide monitoring and mitigation and safeguard coastal wildlife as Massachusetts expands offshore wind.

RETURNED TO SENATE
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Bill Summary · S 2279

Summary — S.2279 (Senate Docket No. 837)

Note: the bill text supplied is an Act titled “An Act supporting climate progress through sustainably developed offshore wind” (Massachusetts). Several pieces of surrounding metadata (alternate title about food donations, sponsors, and cross‑jurisdictional text) conflict with the bill text. This summary is based on the Massachusetts bill text provided.

Main purpose

To support deployment of offshore wind in Massachusetts while protecting coastal and marine wildlife, providing targeted support to communities that host large clean‑energy infrastructure, and strengthening the in‑state supply chain and workforce for offshore wind manufacturing and assembly.

Key provisions and changes

  1. Advisory Council on Offshore Wind Wildlife Habitat Management (new section 4A½ to chapter 21A)

    • Establishes an advisory council housed in the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EOEEA).
    • Membership: experts and stakeholders in wildlife monitoring/protection, representation from both federally recognized Massachusetts tribes, and relevant state and federal agencies.
    • Duties: advise the Office of Coastal Zone Management on best practices to avoid/minimize/mitigate impacts to wildlife (e.g., North Atlantic right whale, birds), coastal and marine habitats, ecosystems and traditional water‑dependent uses; establish baseline standards for monitoring and mitigation plans (referencing section 83C of chapter 169 of the acts of 2008); advise on and oversee expenditure of funds dedicated to wildlife monitoring/mitigation; ongoing review of implemented programs; pre‑construction engagement aligned with project development, solicitation, permitting and federal consistency determinations.

  2. Support program for offshore wind host communities (new section 13 to chapter 21N)

    • EOEEA, in consultation with economic development and housing offices, to establish a program giving priority consideration and additional support to communities hosting “large clean energy infrastructure” that supports offshore wind.
    • Priority access to Community One Stop for Growth programs, including MassWorks, Massachusetts Downtown Initiative, Rural Redevelopment Fund, Housing Choice grants, Community Planning, HousingWorks infrastructure, Underutilized Properties, Site Readiness, Brownfields, Collaborative Workspace, and Real Estate Services technical assistance.
    • Qualifying communities also eligible for benefits under section 10B of chapter 25A.
    • Secretary to adopt rules, criteria for qualifying infrastructure, and program guidance.

  3. Coordination and statutory updates (amendments to chapter 23J)

    • Adds language requiring the state office (chapter 23J) to coordinate with state agencies, regional and tribal entities, and experts on wildlife monitoring/mitigation associated with offshore wind (including the new advisory council).
    • Inserts protection of coastal and marine wildlife as an explicit objective within the office’s responsibilities.

  4. Special commission on offshore wind supply chain (new section)

    • Convene by January 1, 2026; report due to Legislature by June 30, 2026.
    • At least 13 members, co‑chaired by the Secretaries of Economic Development and EOEEA; includes legislative committee chairs (or designees), gubernatorial appointees (labor rep, developer rep, manufacturer rep, Gateway City municipal official, environmental justice organization rep), AFL‑CIO and ACEC representatives, plus others.
    • Charge: assess Massachusetts manufacturing capabilities, supply‑chain and workforce gaps, and recommend strategies to bolster in‑state assembly/manufacturing for offshore wind. (Text truncated in supplied version; further specific deliverables are not fully available.)

Who is affected

  • State agencies (EOEEA, Office of Coastal Zone Management, economic development, housing, chapter 23J office)
  • Host municipalities and Gateway Cities where offshore wind infrastructure is sited
  • Offshore wind developers and related manufacturing firms
  • Tribal governments (federally recognized tribes in Massachusetts)
  • Environmental and conservation groups, fisheries and other traditional water‑dependent users
  • Labor and workforce entities
  • Coastal and marine ecosystems and species (e.g., North Atlantic right whale)

Timeline & procedural notes

  • Special commission must convene by Jan 1, 2026 and report by June 30, 2026.
  • EOEEA to establish advisory council and adopt rules for community support program (no explicit statutory deadlines in supplied text).
  • The supplied bill text is truncated in places (commission mandate and other details), so final statutory language may include additional requirements.

Notes on document inconsistencies

  • Metadata provided to the analyst included an unrelated bill title (exempting certain food donations from sales tax), varied sponsor lists, and material from other jurisdictions (New Jersey). Those elements conflict with the Massachusetts offshore wind bill text and were not used to describe the bill’s substance. If you need a summary tied to a different version or clarification of sponsors and legislative status, please provide the intended document or confirm which metadata to rely on.

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

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