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S 568

Vicki Snelgrove Retirement

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Brian Adams and 45 co-sponsors

Adds recreation as an official purpose of Chapter 91 and defines it to allow relaxation, watersports, and other enjoyable uses on private tidelands, guiding permits.

Introduced and adopted
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Bill Summary · S 568

Summary — S.568 (Senate Docket No. 695) — "An Act relative to recreation on private tidelands"

Overview / Purpose

S.568, filed in the Massachusetts Senate by Senator Julian Cyr (Cape and Islands), proposes to amend section 1 of chapter 91 of the Massachusetts General Laws to explicitly recognize "recreation" as an enumerated purpose under that chapter and to add a statutory definition of “Recreation.” Chapter 91 governs the protection and use of tidelands, waterways and related resources; this bill inserts recreation into the statute’s stated purposes and defines the term.

Key provisions

  • Amends Section 1 of chapter 91 (as it appears in the 2022 Official Edition):
    • Inserts the words “recreation and” immediately after the existing phrase “for the purposes of,” thereby adding recreation to the list of statutory purposes governing tidelands.
    • Adds a new statutory definition (placed after the definition of “Private tidelands”):
    • “Recreation” is defined as “the use of land for relaxation, exercise, watersports or other enjoyable pastimes.”

Who would be affected

  • Property owners of private tidelands and adjacent uplands: the statutory recognition of “recreation” could influence how Chapter 91 permits, leases, or easements are interpreted or issued with respect to private tidelands.
  • Recreational users (swimmers, boaters, beachgoers, walkers, etc.): the change may strengthen or clarify the basis for public or authorized recreational access or management under Chapter 91.
  • State and local permitting authorities and agencies that administer Chapter 91: definitions and purpose language guide regulatory review, permitting standards and enforcement.
  • Municipalities, conservation organizations, and coastal stakeholders that engage in shoreline planning and use decisions.

Potential impacts and implications

  • Legal/administrative: Explicitly listing “recreation” may affect permitting criteria, public trust interpretations, and adjudications involving allowable uses of tidelands. The statutory definition narrows/clarifies what the Legislature considers recreational use.
  • Policy/practical: Could influence future rulemaking, guidance, or disputes about access, allowable improvements, or activities on private tidelands. Magnitude of change depends on how courts and agencies apply the amended language to existing Chapter 91 provisions and permits.

Legislative status and timeline (selected)

  • Filed: 01/14/2025 (Senate Docket No. 695)
  • Introduced in Senate / Read twice and referred: 02/13/2025
  • Referred to Environment & Natural Resources: 02/27/2025
  • Advanced to third reading / Passed Senate: 02/12/2025 and 03/19/2025 (documents show passage on 03/19/2025 and delivery to the House)
  • Subsequent referral in House records lists Election Law (several entries show referral to Election Law; see “Notes” below)

Notes / discrepancies to be aware of

  • The bill text and cover sheet clearly identify Julian Cyr as the filer and describe an amendment to Chapter 91 (tidelands/recreation). However, the metadata provided to the request contains conflicting items (a title about portable polling locations, a set of federal senator sponsors, and committee referrals to Election Law) that do not match the bill text. Those items appear inconsistent with the actual bill language and author identified in the Senate docket.
  • This summary is based on the actual bill text included (amendments to chapter 91). Any unrelated metadata (sponsor lists or alternate titles) should be treated as erroneous unless confirmed by official legislative records.

If you want, I can: (1) track the bill’s progress in the House and committee assignments, (2) summarize likely regulatory or court interpretations based on Chapter 91 case law, or (3) produce a short explainer on how Chapter 91 currently treats public trust and recreational uses.

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

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