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S 605

June Brailsford-service to the GOP

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Jeff Zell

Creates grant and education programs to advance Massachusetts Blue Economy: fund circular-transition for small businesses, ocean R&D, and Blue‑STEAM high school pathways.

Introduced and adopted
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Bill Summary · S 605

Summary — S.605 (Print 605A): "An Act relative to a future blue economy"

Note on title discrepancy: the metadata provided includes a different short title ("Prohibits the recording of conveyances suspected of being fraudulent") that does not match the bill text. The actual bill text filed in the Massachusetts Senate (Docket No. 1839 / S.605) is titled "An Act relative to a future blue economy" and contains three new grant and education programs. This summary follows the bill text.

Purpose and intent

The bill establishes state-level programs to foster a “blue economy” in Massachusetts by:
- Funding small-business transitions to a circular economy,
- Supporting ocean science, technology research and development,
- Expanding high-school education and workforce pathways in ocean-related STEAM (“Blue‑STEAM”) fields.

The stated goals are to improve ocean and coastal health, grow the Massachusetts ocean economy, promote equity (including environmental justice populations), and support workforce development.

Key provisions (by section)

  • Section 1 — Amend Chapter 21 (add Section 68)

    • Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) must create a competitive grant program to help Massachusetts small businesses transition to a circular economy (defined as keeping materials/products/services in use as long as possible).
    • Eligibility: businesses incorporated in, licensed to do business in, or with a location in Massachusetts.
    • Grants must provide a measurable economic benefit to Massachusetts.
    • Priority given to applicants that are (i) certified minority‑ and women‑owned business enterprises, (ii) located within an environmental justice (EJ) population, or (iii) provide substantial benefit to EJ populations. MassDEP may use discretion among similar applications.
    • MassDEP to promulgate implementing regulations.

  • Section 2 — Amend Chapter 21A (add Section 29)

    • Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) to establish a grant program funding nonprofits, academic institutions, and businesses for scientific research and R&D aimed at improving ocean health and responsible ocean use.
    • Eligible uses: scientific studies, R&D of new technology, investment/expansion of beneficial technology, and assessment of economic/industry impacts.
    • Eligibility: entities incorporated in, licensed to do business in, or with a location in Massachusetts.
    • Grants must provide a measurable economic benefit to the Massachusetts ocean economy.
    • Priority given to projects with measurable environmental/coastal community benefits, use of best-available prototypes, equity/inclusivity outcomes, or promotion of time‑series data. Secretary may exercise discretion.
    • EEA to promulgate implementing rules and regulations.

  • Section 3 — Amend Chapter 69 (add Section 1U)

    • Creates a Blue Economy Education Fund within the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to fund Massachusetts high schools to expand education, workforce training, and job placement programs in Blue‑STEAM (ocean-sector science, technology, engineering, art, mathematics) industries.
    • DESE to establish an application process; funding prioritized to high schools located in or serving substantial numbers of students from environmental justice communities (per existing statutory definitions).

Who would be affected

  • Massachusetts small businesses seeking to adopt circular‑economy practices.
  • Nonprofits, colleges/universities, and private businesses doing ocean science and ocean‑technology R&D in Massachusetts.
  • Massachusetts public high schools and students (especially those in EJ communities) seeking Blue‑STEAM education and workforce pathways.
  • State agencies: MassDEP, EEA, and DESE (responsible for rulemaking, program administration, and grant awards).

Implementation, funding, and limits

  • The bill requires each agency to promulgate regulations/rules and to create application processes but does not specify appropriation amounts or funding sources. Program launch and scale therefore depend on subsequent budget appropriations and administrative rulemaking.
  • Grants must demonstrate measurable economic benefits, and agencies are given discretion to prioritize among qualifying applications.
  • No enforcement or penalty provisions; these are grant and program‑creation statutes.

Procedural status (from supplied record)

  • Introduced in Massachusetts Senate: 2025‑02‑18 (Sen. Dylan A. Fernandes, Plymouth & Barnstable).
  • Read twice and referred to committee; multiple committee referrals and scheduling noted. Print Number 605A issued 2025‑06‑09.
  • Hearing activity and committee referrals listed (some records appear duplicated/conflicted); bill accompanied a new draft S.2730 (11/24/2025).

Observations / caveats

  • The bill text is narrowly focused on creating grant programs and an education fund; it does not appropriate money or mandate specific regulatory standards beyond requiring rulemaking.
  • The initial metadata (alternate title and extensive list of federal senators as “sponsors”) appears inconsistent with the Massachusetts state bill filing; the primary state sponsor in the text is Sen. Dylan A. Fernandes. The sponsor list and some procedural entries may mix records from other jurisdictions—treat those entries cautiously.

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

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