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H 4052

Jace Palmer-Mensa member

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

Creates a municipal opt-in specialized stretch energy code with net-zero standards and mandatory PV/PV-ready rules for buildings and public projects, guiding local energy builds.

Scrivener's error corrected
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Bill Summary · H 4052

Summary — H.4052: "An Act sparking the construction of 21st century buildings"

Status: Introduced 01/17/2025; introduced & adopted in House 02/19/2025; scrivener’s error corrected 02/20/2025; referred to Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy Committee 04/22/2025; Senate concurred 04/24/2025. Hearing scheduled 10/29/2025. Sponsor: Rep. Tommy Vitolo (with co-petitioners).

Purpose and intent

The bill directs the Commonwealth to create a municipally opt‑in “specialized stretch energy code” with net‑zero building performance standards and related requirements intended to accelerate low‑carbon, energy‑efficient construction and deployment of clean energy equipment (notably rooftop solar). It also requires that public‑sector building projects comply with that specialized code.

Key provisions (organized by bill sections)

  • Section 1 — Amendments to M.G.L. c.25A, §6

    • Replaces prior clauses (14)–(15) with four new clauses (14)–(17).
    • Clause (14): Directs the Department (via chapter 30A rulemaking, in consultation with the State Board of Building Regulations and Standards) to develop and promulgate a municipal opt‑in specialized stretch energy code. The code must include net‑zero building performance standards and a definition of “net‑zero building,” and be designed to achieve compliance with the Commonwealth’s statewide greenhouse gas limits under chapter 21N.
    • Clause (15): Directs the Department to develop regulations, criteria, guidelines, and standard conditions establishing parameters for siting, zoning, review and permitting of small clean energy infrastructure facilities by local governments (pursuant to section 21).
    • Clause (16): Requires the Department to incorporate into the specialized stretch energy code mandatory solar photovoltaic (PV) installation requirements for all buildings the Department deems suitable, and requirements that buildings be made “photovoltaic‑ready” where future installation is suitable.
    • Clause (17): States the specialized stretch energy base code shall include all stretch code provisions related to the latest International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) along with any more stringent energy‑efficiency provisions promulgated more than 36 months prior.

  • Section 2 — Amendment to M.G.L. c.164, §139

    • Strikes the phrase “that are not net metering facilities of a municipality or other governmental entity” in three places. (Removing that exclusion likely expands the applicability of the affected statutory provisions to include municipal or governmental net‑metering facilities; the bill text does not add further clarifying language.)

  • Section 3 — Applicability to public agencies

    • Requires that any undertaking by federal, state, county, municipal or quasi‑governmental public agencies for planning, acquisition, design, construction, demolition, installation, repair or maintenance of a structure comply with the specialized stretch energy code (once developed).

Who is affected

  • State Department(s) responsible for energy/building codes (rulemaking and administration).
  • Municipalities (may opt in to the specialized stretch energy code) and local permitting authorities (new siting/zoning guidance for small clean energy infrastructure).
  • Building owners, developers, architects, contractors — new compliance requirements for net‑zero performance, mandatory PV installation or PV‑ready design for suitable buildings.
  • Public agencies — required to follow the specialized code for their building projects.
  • Utilities and net‑metering program participants — Section 2’s change may alter how municipal/governmental net‑metering facilities are treated under G.L. c.164, §139.

Procedural/timeline notes

  • The code must be developed and promulgated through administrative rulemaking (chapter 30A), in consultation with the State Board of Building Regulations and Standards; no specific promulgation deadline is specified in the text.
  • Public agency compliance takes effect once the specialized stretch energy code is promulgated.
  • A committee hearing is scheduled for 10/29/2025.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Anticipated environmental benefit: aligns building construction with Massachusetts greenhouse gas limits and encourages on‑site solar.
  • Economic/implementation impacts: could increase upfront construction costs (solar installation, PV‑ready design, higher-efficiency measures) while reducing operating energy costs and emissions over time. Municipalities retain choice via opt‑in, but public agencies are mandated to comply.
  • Administrative actions: requires substantial rulemaking, coordination with building code authority, and development of criteria for “suitability” for PV.

Note on clerical content

The bill file contained repeated, unrelated text (a South Carolina House resolution honoring an individual named Jace Palmer). The record shows a scrivener’s error was corrected on 02/20/2025; the substantive legislative text summarized above reflects the Massachusetts energy/code provisions.

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

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