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S 623

Georgetown County Building Requirements

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Stephen Goldfinch

Creates a dedicated Middlesex Fells Reservation Fund to finance recreation, education, conservation, and capital work via non-budgeted revenue and permits, with carryforward and no

Vetoed by Governor
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 623

Summary — S. 623: An Act to update the Middlesex Fells Reservation Fund

Purpose

S. 623 creates and clarifies a dedicated, non‑budgeted special revenue account — the Middlesex Fells Reservation Fund — to support recreational, educational, and conservation activities and capital work within the Middlesex Fells Reservation. The intent is to centralize and preserve revenue sources for the reservation and enable spending for improvements and maintenance without annual re‑appropriation.

Key provisions

  • Amends Section 34F of Chapter 92 of the Massachusetts General Laws.
  • Establishes the "Middlesex Fells Reservation Fund" as a separate, non‑budgeted special revenue fund on the commonwealth’s books, administered by the Commissioner of the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR).
  • Requires the commissioner to consult relevant stakeholders, explicitly naming Friends of the Middlesex Fells Reservation, Inc., and abutting municipalities.
  • Sources credited to the fund:
    • Appropriations or transfers specifically designated for the fund by the Legislature;
    • Public and private funds (gifts, grants, donations);
    • Fees generated by permits, licenses, and other agreements for use of the Middlesex Fells Reservation that are not directed to the General Fund;
    • Interest earned on fund balances.
  • Permits expenditures from the fund, without further appropriation, for recreational, educational and conservation purposes, including construction and maintenance of facilities and infrastructure within the reservation.
  • Unexpended fund balances carry forward between fiscal years and do not revert to the General Fund.
  • Prohibits any expenditure that would cause the fund to be in deficit.

Who is affected

  • Department of Conservation and Recreation (administration and disbursement authority).
  • Friends of the Middlesex Fells Reservation, Inc., and abutting municipalities (consultation and stakeholder roles).
  • Park users and local communities (benefit from capital, maintenance, and program investments).
  • Potential donors, grantors, and permit/license payors (their contributions/fees may be credited to the fund).

Fiscal and administrative impact

  • Creates a dedicated revenue stream that can be used without annual appropriation, improving predictability for maintenance and capital projects.
  • No specific appropriations or dollar amounts are contained in the bill; actual fiscal impact depends on future appropriations, fees collected, gifts/grants secured, and DCR spending decisions.
  • Fund safeguards: carryforward and no‑deficit requirement.

Procedural history & current status (as provided)

  • Filed: 01/16/2025 (Senate Docket No. 1244), presented by Jason M. Lewis.
  • Introduced/Read twice and referred: 02/18/2025 — Committee on Environment and Public Works.
  • Referred to Committee on Environment and Natural Resources: 02/27/2025.
  • Hearing scheduled: 04/08/2025 (1:00 PM–5:00 PM, A‑1).
  • Reported favorably by committee and referred to Senate Ways & Means: 07/03/2025.
  • Status note: initial status line lists "REFERRED TO CODES" — there are duplicate/overlapping procedural entries in the record provided. Verify final status on the official Massachusetts legislative website.

Sponsors and related legislation

  • Petitioned/presented by: Jason M. Lewis (Fifth Middlesex).
  • Sponsor list provided separately includes John Kennedy (primary), Roger F. Wicker (cosponsor), and Patrick M. Gallivan (primary) — this appears inconsistent with the bill text and should be checked against the official docket.
  • Related/companion bills: HR 1415; prior-session and related Senate bills listed (e.g., S. 394, S. 716, S. 1701, S. 716, S. 2512, S. 7178, S. 251).

Notes: This summary is based on the bill text and the procedural details supplied. For the latest status, vote history, or any amendments, consult the Massachusetts Legislature’s official docket.

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

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