Environmental Priorities
Environment is a huge set of topics encompassing health, global warming, land protection, and a host of other issues. With the input of dozens of environmental organizations from across the Commonwealth, we have compiled this list of legislation that we will be watching during 2007-2008.
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For the last year, MLEV has been pulling together other organizations to create a focused legislative agenda. The resulting coalition, the Mass Green Agenda, includes nine other leading environmental organizations in Massachusetts, working together to strengthen the voice of the green community. The Mass Green Agenda allows us to better speak with one voice to the legislature and public. Although the coalition does not currently include all environmental organizations, we are hoping it will continue to grow in membership and clout.
2007-2008 Environmental Community Agenda
Global Warming & Energy
S. 1971/(O'Leary) Energy Costs Act
This bill would stabilize energy costs to reduce global warming.
Status: Joint TUE*, Hearing 5/1/07
S. 2422(541)/(Resor) RGGI Act
This bill would make Massachusetts enter and fully comply with the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.
Status: Passed in Senate. House Ways and Means.
S. 2423 (534)/(Pacheco) Global Warming Solutions Act of 2007
Similar to California's landmark AB 32, this bill would reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Status: Passed in the Senate. House Ways and Means
H. 1079/(Sciortino) Pay by the Mile Auto Insurance Act
This bill would create "pay as you drive" auto insurance.
Status: House Committee on Rules.
H. 3337/(Marzilli) Energy, Climate, and Economic Security Act
Status: Joint TUE, Hearing 5/1/07
S. 1977/(Resor) Renewable Energy Promotion Act
This bill would promote the use of renewable energy.
Status: Joint TUE, Hearing 5/30/07
H. 3313/(Golden) Energy Conservation Codes Act
This bill would adopt at least once every three years the International Energy Conservation Code, the model energy conservation code.
Status: Joint TUE, Hearing 5/1/07
S. 1946/(Morrissey) Electric Prices Act
This bill would give the Department of Telecommunications and Energy the authority to establish rules and regulations on an electric company to offer real-time prices based on basic service and time-of-use.
Status: Joint TUE, Hearing 5/1/07
S. 1983/(Tarr) Energy Costs Act
Status: Joint TUE, Hearing 5/1/07
Land Protection
S. 480/(Brewer) & H. 799/(Kulik) Land Conservation Incentives Act
These bills would allow a donation of land for conservation purposes to be partially tax-deductible.
Status: Passed Joint ENA. House Ways and Means.
H. 797/(Kulik) Old Growth Forest Reserves Act
This bill would protect old growth forest by setting a system of permanent old growth forest reserves.
Status: Passed Joint ENA. House Ways & Means.
S. 2388 (542)/(Resor) Public Lands Protection Act
This bill would ensure no net loss of lands used for natural resource purposes.
Status: Passed in Senate. House Ways and Means.
S. 467/(Augustus & Rush) Park Revenue Act
This bill would let the Department of Conservation and Recreation retain any new revenue.
Status: Joint ENA, 10/1/07
S. 1193/(Resor) Municipal Zoning Act
Status: Joint MRG*, Hearing 10/17.
S. 137/(Creem) Community Preservation Act
Status: Joint CDSB*, Hearing 6/11/07
Ocean Resources
S. 2281 (529)/(O'Leary) Ocean Act
This bill would create an ocean management plan that protects, maintains, and restores the coastal and marine ecosystems of the oceans.
Status: Passed in House as amended. Senate non-concurred on House Amendments. Senate/House appointed conference committee.
Water Resources
S. 2292 (543)/(Resor & Petersen) Water Infrastructure Finance Commission Act
This bill would create a Water Infrastructure Finance Commission to develop a water infrastructure finance plan.
Status: Passed in Senate. House Ways and Means.
S. 533/(Pacheco) Dam Act
This bill would repair, remove, or replace ineffective dams.
Status: Reported favorably by Joint ENA. Senate Ways and Means.
H. 833/(Petersen) Rivers and Streams Act
This bill would adopt stream flow protection principles and standards.
Status: Reported favorably by Joint ENA. Senate Ways and Means.
S. 1200/(Spilka) Water Banking Plus Bill
This bill would collect a fee to offset impacts of water withdrawals that deplete streamflow.
Status: Joint MRG. Hearing 6/27/07.
Toxics
S. 2406 (H.783/S.558)(Kaufman/Tolman) Healthy Massachusetts Act
This bill would substitute deadly toxics with feasible alternatives in consumer products.
Status: Passed in Senate. House Ways and Means.
S. 2201/(Wilkerson) & H. 2246/(Smizik) Harmful Cleaning Products Act
These bills would reduce asthma and other health threats from emission of toxic chemicals from cleaning products.
Status: Reported favorably by Joint Public Health. Joint Committee on Health Care Financing.
H. 2097/(Fox) Biolab Safety Act
Status: Joint Public Health. Hearing 6/13/07
H. 781/(Kaufman) Pesticides Act
Status: Reported favorably by Joint ENA.
H. 259/(J. Keenan) & S. 545/(Spilka) Protecting Children from Toxic Toys Act
These bills would prohibit the manufacture, sale, or distribution of any toxic toy.
Status: Joint CP / ENA*, Hearing CP 6/26/07. Hearing EN 5/7/07.
S. 537/(Resor) Pesticide Sales Tax Act
Reinstates sales tax on purchase of pesticides. Status: Passed ENA. Senate Ways & Means.
S. 1230/(Jehlen) Protecting Children from Lead Poisoning Act
Status: Joint Judiciary. Hearing 12/4/07.
Environmental Justice
S. 129/(Barrios) Healthy Communities Act
Status: Reported favorably by Joint ENA.
Diesel Pollution
S. 2338 (H.732/S. 502) (Coakley-Rivera & Hart) Diesel Emissions Act
Status: Passed Joint ENA. Senate Ways & Means
Recycling & Waste Management
H. 864/(Smizik & Resor) Electronics Recycling Act
This bill would prohibit the sale of certain hazardous electronic products and require environmentally sound recycling for electronic products.
Status: House Ways and Means.
H. 821/(Petersen) Bottle Bill
Status: Reported favorably by Joint ENA.
H. 782/(Kaufman) Solid Waste Act
This bill would promote further recycling.
Status: Reported favorably by Joint ENA. House Ways and Means.
Transportation
S. 1414/(Resor) Bicyclist Safety Act
Status: Joint PSF. Hearing 6/13/07.
H. 3496/(Grant) North South Rail Link Act
This bill would preserve intact the right of way for the proposed North South Rail Link.
Status: Reported favorably by Joint Transportation. House Committee on Rules.
S. 2029/(Barrios) & H. 3694/(Wolf) MBTA Financing Act
Status: Joint Transportation. Study ordered.
H. 3443/(Cabral) Massachusetts Transit Fund Act
This bill would provide better and commuter transportation.
Status: Joint Transportation. Study ordered.
Anti-environmental
S. 134/(Chandler) Brownfields Act
Status: Joint CDSB.
H. 847/(Rodrigues) Chapter 91 Streamlining Act
Status: Joint ENA. Study ordered.
Miscellaneous
- Line item and funding for Natural Heritage Endangered Species Program
- Approval of new land conservation capital bond
- $10 million for parks
Key
* Joint TUE = Joint Committee on Telecommunictions, Utilities and Energy.
* Joint ENA = Joint Committee on the Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture.
* Joint MRG = Joint Committee on Municiplities and Regional Government
* Joint CDSB = Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Business