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H 3923

High Speed Pursuit Alternative Study Committee

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Carl Anderson and 4 co-sponsors

Authorizes Somerville to require institutional master plans for hospitals, colleges, and non-profit educational entities, with municipal review to guide growth and local impacts.

Referred to Committee on Judiciary
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Bill Summary · H 3923

Summary: H.3923 – Act granting the city of Somerville the authority to require the adoption of institutional master plans subject to the review and approval by the municipality

Overview

H.3923 would authorize the City of Somerville to adopt local procedures that require institutional master plans for certain large institutions within the city. An institutional master plan is a long-range land-use and development plan for all land owned or used by an institution, identifying growth and development over multiple years or phases. The bill would allow Somerville to impose municipal reviews and approval of these plans, to coordinate development and address community impacts.

What the bill would do

  • Authorize Somerville to adopt local legislation imposing institutional master plan review to regulate land use and structures for land owned, leased, or occupied by:
    • Hospitals and health care institutions
    • Colleges and universities
    • Non-profit educational corporations
  • Establish that the master plan is a comprehensive, multi-year or multi-phase roadmap intended to predictably guide growth, address community impacts, and provide a coordinated approach to development.
  • Clarify that, notwithstanding existing state law (G. L. c. 40A, § 3, or other laws), Somerville may enact local measures to require these institutional master plans and to review/approve them at the municipal level.
  • Take effect upon passage of the act.

Key provisions and definitions

  • Institutional master plan: A land-use/development plan covering all land owned or used by an institution within the community, outlining growth strategies and development impacts over several years or phases.
  • Institutions covered: Hospitals, health care institutions, colleges, universities, and non-profit educational corporations.
  • Local control: The act empowers Somerville to implement its own review/approval process for these plans, subject to municipal legislation.

Affected parties

  • Institutions operating within Somerville that fall under the defined categories (e.g., hospitals, colleges, universities, non-profit educational entities) would be potential subjects of local master plans and municipal review.
  • The City of Somerville would administer and approve institutional master plans through its local processes.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introduced: March 20, 2025
  • Filed: March 7, 2025 (House Docket No. 4487; petition by Rep. Christine Barber with mayoral and city approval)
  • Status: Referred to the Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government; reporting date extended to December 17, 2025
  • Legislative actions indicate hearings were scheduled for July 29, 2025, with multiple reschedulings; Senate concurrence occurred on April 10, 2025 (per the record)
  • Related: Similar matter previously filed as House Bill 3745 (2023-2024); related HD 4487 replaces this measure

Potential impact and considerations

  • Predictable, coordinated growth: By requiring master plans, Somerville could better anticipate infrastructure needs, traffic, housing, and community facilities arising from institutional expansion.
  • Local control vs. state framework: The bill emphasizes municipal oversight, potentially enhancing community input and planning; it also contemplates limitations on existing state zoning provisions.
  • Autonomy of institutions: Institutions would need to engage with municipal processes to obtain approvals for land-use plans, possibly affecting project timelines and financing.

This summary presents the bill’s core purpose, scope, and likely effects based on the text and legislative actions to date.

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

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