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H 3981

Honorable Nani Juwara Minister of Petroleum and Energy, The Gambia

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Terry Alexander and 121 co-sponsors

Creates a five-year pilot and fund to assess, mitigate, and compensate high-impact fisheries for economic losses from regulations, with mandatory economic impact statements and pub

Introduced and adopted
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Bill Summary · H 3981

Summary — H 3981 (An Act relative to establishing a pilot program to support high-impact fisheries)

Status: Introduced and adopted (Filed 01/16/2025). Referred to Agriculture (04/03/2025); Senate concurred (04/07/2025). Referred to Committee on Agriculture and Fisheries (06/27/2025); hearing scheduled 07/09/2025. Related bill: HD 2439 (replaces).

Purpose

Establish a time-limited pilot program and a dedicated fund in Massachusetts to assess and mitigate the economic impacts that regulatory actions have on "high‑impact" fisheries (explicitly including lobster and groundfish). The bill requires stronger economic review and public transparency for proposed fishing regulations and creates a funding mechanism to support mitigation activities and compensation.

Key provisions

  • Adds Section 32 to Chapter 21A:

    • Creates a pilot program within the Executive Office (the “office”), in collaboration with the Division of Marine Fisheries, to assess and mitigate economic impacts of regulatory actions on high‑impact fisheries.
    • Pilot tasks include: (i) identify fisheries disproportionately affected by regulatory changes in the past 5 years; (ii) conduct economic impact analyses quantifying losses and recommending mitigation; (iii) partner with private environmental organizations, federal agencies, and academic institutions to co-fund and conduct research; (iv) develop a compensation framework for qualifying fishers impacted by regulations.
    • Requires any proposed regulation affecting the Massachusetts fishing industry to include a comprehensive economic impact statement prepared by the Division of Marine Fisheries: (i) detailed projected economic losses; and (ii) mitigation plan to minimize adverse impacts.
    • Economic impact statements must be published on the Division’s website and be open to a 60‑day public comment period before finalizing regulations.
    • The office must prepare an annual report (findings, mitigation actions, recommendations, partnerships, and non‑state funding leveraged) and submit it by December 31 to the chairs of the Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources and clerks of the House and Senate.

  • Adds Section 2KKKKKK to Chapter 29 (High‑Impact Fisheries Mitigation Fund):

    • Establishes a separate fund custodied by the Secretary of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.
    • Fund sources: appropriations or other money specifically credited, interest, federal grants, gifts and donations.
    • Amounts credited shall not revert to the General Fund at fiscal year end; if the fund is repealed, remaining amounts revert.
    • Money in the fund to be expended to carry out pilot program goals.
    • Annual fund activity report due by December 31 to specified legislative committees and clerks.

Duration and repeal

  • The new Chapter 21A, Section 32 and the new fund section in Chapter 29 are repealed under Section 3.
  • Section 3 (the repeal) takes effect five years after the act’s effective date. The act generally takes effect January 1, 2025. Thus, the pilot and fund are designed to operate for a five‑year pilot period.

Who is affected

  • Commercial fishers and fishing communities in high‑impact fisheries (lobster, groundfish, etc.).
  • Division of Marine Fisheries and the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (administration, analysis, reporting).
  • Potential participants/partners: private environmental organizations, federal agencies, academic institutions.
  • The Commonwealth’s budget insofar as appropriations, grants, or donations are credited to the new fund.

Procedural/timeline notes

  • Economic impact statements must accompany proposed regulations and allow a 60‑day public comment period prior to finalization.
  • Annual program and fund reports due each year by December 31.
  • Pilot program and fund are temporary (approximately five years from implementation) to evaluate effectiveness before permanent adoption.

Potential impacts (overview)

  • Increased regulatory transparency and formal economic analysis of fisheries regulations.
  • Creation of a mechanism to identify disproportionate regulatory harm and to propose mitigation, including a compensation framework (details to be developed).
  • Administrative and fiscal implications for state agencies; potential need for appropriations or grant-seeking to capitalize the fund.
  • Intended to help fishing businesses adapt and reduce negative economic impacts from regulatory changes.

Note: The bill packet also contains unrelated text (a South Carolina House resolution recognizing the Honorable Nani Juwara). That material appears separate from the Massachusetts statutory changes described above.

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

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