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H 3583

Public school support staff compensation

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Robert Williams

Imposes a pause on new combustible fuel facilities and expansions until 2026, expanding definitions and restricting street digging in towns without gas operations.

Referred to Committee on Ways and Means
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Bill Summary · H 3583

Summary: House Bill H.3583 – An Act to establishing a moratorium on new gas system expansion

Overview

H.3583, introduced February 27, 2025 by Rep. Bud L. Williams, proposes a temporary moratorium on the approval and expansion of combustible fuel facilities in the Commonwealth. The bill broadens the state’s definition of combustible fuel facilities and places a time-bound pause on new facilities and expansions unless required for public safety, with a phasing-in date of 2026 at the earliest. It also includes a targeted restriction on street digging for such facilities in towns without existing gas operations.

Key Provisions

  • Definition expansion (Section 1): Adds a new definition to the General Laws: “Combustible fuel facilities,” covering infrastructure involved in the processing, storage, transmission, or distribution of combustible fuel sources. The clause explicitly mentions, but is not limited to, oil, natural gas, renewable natural gas, and hydrogen.

  • Moratorium on new facilities and expansions (Sections 2–3):

    • No new combustible fuel facility shall be approved, and no expansion of an existing combustible fuel facility shall be approved, unless the action is required for public safety, until 2026 at the earliest.
    • The same restriction applies to petitions for a certificate for new facilities and for expansions (i.e., no approvals for new or expanded facilities unless safety-related, until at least 2026).

  • Code language adjustment (Section 4): Amends Section 30 of Chapter 164 by replacing the phrase “a gas or” with the indefinite article “an,” reflecting broader terminology for combustible fuels.

  • Local mobility restriction (Section 5): Inserts new Section 86A to prohibit, in towns with no active gas company, any digging up of streets, lanes, or highways to construct a combustible fuel facility.

Affected Parties and Impact

  • Gas and other combustible fuel developers/operators: The moratorium delays approvals and expansions, potentially slowing or restructuring new projects.
  • Utilities and energy project applicants: Expanded permitting considerations will require safety justifications for any new or expanding facilities through 2026 at the earliest.
  • Municipalities (especially towns with no gas company): The new 86A provision explicitly restricts street digs for combustible fuel facilities in such towns, limiting local infrastructure activity related to these fuels.
  • Public safety/regulatory environment: The bill ties actions to safety requirements, effectively elevating safety considerations in permitting decisions.

Procedural and Timeline Details

  • Introduced: February 27, 2025.
  • Committee: Referred to the Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy committee on the same date.
  • Hearing: Originally scheduled; hearing rescheduled to November 13, 2025 (1:00 PM–5:00 PM). Location updates indicate changes to B-2 and virtual options, with subsequent notices referencing A-1 and B-2 as hearing sites.
  • Status Notes: Senate concurred on February 27, 2025. Related bill HD.142 is identified as a related/companion measure.

Related Legislative Activity

  • Related bill: HD 142 (companion/replacement matter in previous sessions).
  • The bill reflects ongoing discussions about pausing new gas system expansion and evaluating regulatory timelines.

This summary captures the bill’s intent, core changes, who would be affected, and key procedural milestones.

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

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