Bill
H 3526
Massachusetts/H.3526: Prohibits large-scale solar installations on Commonwealth agricultural or recreational land unless equivalent land is dedicated to such uses.
Note on document: The materials provided combine content from two distinct measures: (1) a Massachusetts House bill filed as H.3526 / House Docket No. 3529 concerning large‑scale solar on Commonwealth agricultural or recreational land; and (2) a South Carolina joint resolution titled “Judicial Election Reform” proposing constitutional amendments to change selection of judges. Below are concise, separate summaries of each measure, followed by key procedural dates.
Purpose
- Amend Article V (Judiciary) of the South Carolina Constitution to change how Supreme Court justices, Court of Appeals judges, and circuit court judges are selected and how vacancies are filled; and to repeal the constitutional requirement for a Judicial Merit Selection Commission.
Key provisions
- Sections affected: Article V, Sections 3 (Supreme Court), 8 (Court of Appeals), 13 (Circuit Court), 18 (vacancies), and repeal Section 27 (Judicial Merit Selection Commission).
- Replace election by joint public vote of the General Assembly with appointment by the Governor “upon the advice and consent of the General Assembly.”
- Maintain term lengths (Supreme Court: 10 years; Court of Appeals: 6 years; Circuit Court: 6 years) and staggered/continuity provisions.
- Vacancies in these courts to be filled by gubernatorial appointment with advice and consent of the General Assembly (deletes the existing limitation that the Governor may appoint only when an unexpired term does not exceed one year).
- Repeal Section 27, removing the constitutional mandate that the General Assembly establish a Judicial Merit Selection Commission and that elections be from nominees of such a commission.
- Each amendment must be submitted to qualified electors at the next general election with specified ballot language (Yes/No).
Who is affected
- South Carolina’s judiciary, Governor, General Assembly, judicial candidates, and voters (who will decide the amendments in a referendum).
Procedural/timeline aspects
- Text dated 12/05/2024. As a constitutional amendment, it requires voter approval at the next general election with the provided ballot questions.
Purpose
- Restrict placement of large‑scale solar installations on Commonwealth‑owned agricultural or recreational land unless equivalent land is dedicated to those uses.
Key provisions
- Adds Section 18 to Chapter 25A (definitions and restriction).
- Definitions: “Agricultural land” and “Recreational land” — limited to land owned by the Commonwealth, state agencies, instrumentalities, or political subdivisions and used for active or passive agricultural/horticultural or recreational purposes (examples: community gardens, trails, parks, playgrounds, athletic fields).
- “Large‑scale solar energy installation” defined as a ground‑mounted solar or photovoltaic system occupying more than 5 acres.
- Prohibition: No large‑scale solar installation may be installed on such agricultural or recreational land unless the (state) commissioner certifies that land of like kind and quantity will be dedicated to agricultural or recreational use.
- Certification must be recorded in the registry of deeds at least 30 days prior to installation and must identify both the parcel to be used for the solar installation and the parcel to be dedicated.
Who is affected
- Commonwealth and local government landowners, state agencies, municipal governments, solar developers, and users of agricultural/recreational lands.
Procedural/timeline aspects & sponsors
- Filed/prefiled: Dec 5, 2024 (prefiled); introduced/read Jan 14, 2025.
- Sponsor: Rep. Paul McMurtry (11th Norfolk); additional sponsor names added (Harris, Edgerton, Frank, Pace, Kilmartin, White, Cromer, Gilreath, Huff, Ballentine).
- Referred to Committee on Judiciary and to Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy (Feb 27, 2025); Senate concurred (date listed Feb 27, 2025).
- Hearing scheduled: Oct 9, 2025, 1:00–5:00 PM (room A‑2).
Related bill
- HD 3529 is listed as a related/replacing filing.
If you’d like, I can:
- Produce a side‑by‑side comparison of current vs. proposed selection processes for South Carolina judges, or
- Draft a one‑page brief on likely impacts of the Massachusetts solar restriction for developers and state land managers.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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