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S 66

interscholastic athletic association

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Greg Hembree

The bill extends municipal right-of-first-refusal timelines for 61A/61B land from 120 to 180 days and 90 to 120 days, adds a 30-day seller response, and says towns aren’t required

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Bill Summary · S 66

Summary — S 66 (2025): Municipal right of first refusal for agricultural and recreational land

Note: The bill text filed as Senate No. 66 (presented by Senator Michael O. Moore) concerns municipal rights of first refusal under Massachusetts General Laws chapters 61A and 61B (agricultural and recreational/open‑space land). The title shown elsewhere (about military personnel carrying firearms) appears inconsistent with the filed text; the summary below follows the filed bill text.

Purpose

To lengthen certain timeframes and clarify response obligations in the statutory municipal “right of first refusal” process for land enrolled under chapter 61A (agricultural) and chapter 61B (recreational/open‑space), and to make explicit that municipalities are not required to purchase land that is not classified under those chapters. The act is declared an emergency law and would take effect immediately upon passage.

Key provisions

  • Amendments to chapter 61A, section 14, and chapter 61B, section 9:
    • Replace each occurrence of “120” with “180” (i.e., extend 120‑day deadlines to 180 days).
    • Replace the first and second occurrences of “90” with “120” (i.e., extend 90‑day deadlines to 120 days).
  • Add a requirement that a landowner “shall respond no later than 30 days after having received the purchase and sale contract.” (applies in both chapter 61A §14 and chapter 61B §9 contexts as added text)
  • Add an explicit statement that “The city or town shall not be required to exercise the option to purchase any property not classified under this chapter.” (added to both chapter 61A and chapter 61B provisions)
  • Emergency clause: the act takes effect upon passage.

(Exact statutory paragraphs amended are the 16th and 23rd/24th paragraphs of the cited sections as specified in the bill.)

Who would be affected

  • Municipalities (city/town boards, conservation commissions, or other municipal entities that may exercise the right of first refusal) — gain additional time to consider, secure funding, or pursue acquisition.
  • Landowners enrolled in chapter 61A or 61B — face extended statutory waiting periods and a new 30‑day response requirement after receipt of a purchase-and-sale contract.
  • Prospective buyers of classified agricultural or recreational land — may experience longer waiting periods before a sale can close due to extended municipal option windows.
  • Local taxpayers and land conservation interests — may see increased municipal opportunities to preserve farmland/open space, but also potential delays or uncertainty in real estate transactions.

Procedural status and timeline (as provided)

  • Filed: 1/7/2025 (Senate Docket No. 67); introduced/read and referred in Senate: 1/9/2025.
  • Referred to relevant committees (Agriculture; hearings scheduled 07/09/2025).
  • Reported favorably by committee and referred to Senate Rules: 10/02/2025.
  • Bill contains an emergency clause to be effective upon enactment.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Extending municipal response/option windows from 120 → 180 days and 90 → 120 days gives municipalities more time to evaluate purchases and arrange financing or public acquisition strategies, potentially increasing the likelihood of municipal preservation acquisitions.
  • Longer windows increase uncertainty and delay for sellers and buyers; the 30‑day mandatory landowner response after a purchase‑and‑sale contract may reduce seller-induced delays.
  • The explicit statement that municipalities are not required to buy non‑classified property clarifies municipal obligations and could limit unintended purchase expectations.

This summary reflects the text of the filed bill (Senate No. 66, 2025) as provided.

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

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