Bill
S 2617
Worcester gains authority to require Institutional Master Plans for major institutions (hospitals, colleges, nonprofits), enabling public review and 10-year permit renewals.
Status & procedural history
- Introduced: July 31, 2025 (Senate); presented by Sen. Michael O. Moore.
- Committee referrals and actions: Referred to various committees; reported favorably and placed in Orders of the Day (reported 11/13/2025). Hearing (written testimony only) scheduled for 10/14/2025.
- Effective date: “This act shall take effect upon passage.”
Note on metadata: The bill text filed as S.2617 concerns local land-use authority for the city of Worcester. Some external metadata in the materials (title “interactive fantasy sports,” federal sponsor names) appears inconsistent with the bill text; this summary is based on the bill language provided.
Purpose and intent
- To grant the City of Worcester explicit local authority to adopt ordinances (general or zoning) requiring institutions to prepare and submit Institutional Master Plans (IMPs). The aim is to facilitate and manage large-scale institutional development by ensuring public review of institutional growth and development impacts.
Key provisions
- Local enabling authority: Notwithstanding any general or special law (the bill cites “G. L. c. VA, § 3”), Worcester may adopt general or zoning ordinances to promote and regulate large-scale institutional facilities and may require Institutional Master Plan review.
- Definition/role of an IMP: An Institutional Master Plan is defined as a land‑use and development plan for land owned, leased, or occupied by an institution that identifies current and future growth and development; the IMP is a tool for addressing development impacts through public review and adoption.
- Applicability: Institutions covered include hospitals, health care institutions, colleges, universities, and nonprofit educational corporations.
- Special permits: If the city authorizes institutional uses by special permit, it may:
- Require that such special permits expire and be renewed after 10 years.
- Require institutions already in existence at the time of ordinance adoption to apply for the special permit within 120 days of adoption of the local zoning ordinance.
Who is affected
- City of Worcester: gains expanded zoning and planning authority over institutional land uses.
- Institutional entities within Worcester (hospitals, colleges, universities, nonprofit educational corporations): may be required to prepare IMPs, apply for special permits, and comply with periodic renewals.
- Residents, neighborhood groups, developers, and municipal boards: will have expanded public-review opportunities and greater municipal leverage to shape institutional development and mitigation measures.
Potential impacts
- Increased municipal control and planning oversight over institutional expansion and land use.
- For institutions: additional procedural requirements, potential administrative/consulting costs to prepare IMPs and comply with renewals; potential for conditioned approvals or mitigation obligations.
- For communities: earlier and more structured public engagement on institutional development, and tools to address infrastructure, traffic, parking, environmental, and neighborhood impacts.
Timing and compliance specifics
- Existing institutions would have 120 days after local ordinance adoption to apply for required special permits (if city chooses that route).
- Special permits (if used) may be set to expire and require renewal every 10 years.
- The act is written to take effect upon passage, enabling immediate local implementation once adopted.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
Sign in to ask a question.
