Environment (Air Quality)

in committee · Massachusetts · House Mar 19, 2026

H 5267: An Act protecting drinking water and public health from sand mining pollution

This bill creates a nine-member Advisory Commission to study sand mining activities in Massachusetts and their effects on drinking water, air quality, public health, and environmental justice. The commission includes representatives from state agencies, environmental organizations, universities, Indigenous tribes, and legislative leadership, and will meet monthly to investigate current and potential impacts over a two-year period. The group will produce recommendations for possible changes to existing mining laws and regulations to better protect public health and the environment.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill establishes commission to study sand mining impacts on drinking water, air quality, public health, and environmental justice, aiming to protect environment through regulatory review.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Air Quality Drinking Water Environmental Justice

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passed · Massachusetts · House Nov 13, 2025

H 2369: An Act to ensure cleaner air for communities overburdened by outdoor air pollution

By Representatives Barber of Somerville and Connolly of Cambridge, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2369) of Christine P. Barber, Mindy Domb and others relative to communities with high cumulative exposure burdens to toxic outdoor air contaminants and criteria pollutants. Public Health.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill explicitly targets reducing toxic outdoor air pollutants in overburdened communities, aiming to improve air quality and public health through environmental protection measures.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Air Quality

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 1548: An Act to ensure cleaner air for communities overburdened by outdoor air pollution

By Ms. Jehlen, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1548) of Patricia D. Jehlen, Joanne M. Comerford, Jacob R. Oliveira, Sal N. DiDomenico and other members of the Senate for legislation to improve outdoor and indoor air quality for communities burdened by transportation pollution. Public Health.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill explicitly targets reducing transportation pollution to improve air quality in overburdened communities, directly advancing environmental protection through pollution control measures.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Air Quality

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Sep 4, 2025

S 1546: An Act to improve indoor air quality for highly-impacted communities

By Mr. Gomez, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1546) of Adam Gomez, Sal N. DiDomenico, John F. Keenan and Jason M. Lewis for legislation to create a task force to identify, monitor, and remediate indoor air pollution and indoor mold contamination in schools, long term care facilities, correctional facilities, early childhood education facilities, public housing and privately-owned residential buildings. Public Health.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill directly targets remediation of indoor air pollution and mold in public facilities, reducing environmental pollution per topic description.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Air Quality

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passed · Massachusetts · House Oct 9, 2025

H 2427: An Act to improve indoor air quality for highly-impacted communities

By Representatives Garcia of Chelsea and Montaño of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2427) of Judith A. Garcia for an investigation by a task force relative to improving indoor air quality for certain highly-impacted communities. Public Health.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill explicitly targets improving indoor air quality in highly-impacted communities, reducing pollution exposure and aligning with environmental protection goals.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Air Quality

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Sep 2, 2025

S 1516: An Act to improve indoor air quality

By Mr. Driscoll, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1516) of William J. Driscoll, Jr. for legislation to promote regulations to improve indoor air quality. Public Health.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill mandates regulations to improve indoor air quality, directly reducing indoor pollutants and aligning with pollution control under environmental protection.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Air Quality

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 4554: An Act authorizing the city of Somerville to establish a net zero emissions standard for new constructed buildings and major renovation projects

HD 4554 authorizes the City of Somerville to require new construction and major renovations to be fossil fuel-free, directly affecting builders and developers within the city. The bill allows Somerville to enforce this through zoning ordinances and by withholding or conditioning building permits for projects that don’t meet the standard. It overrides conflicting local laws or regulations to implement this net zero emissions requirement for buildings. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill mandates fossil fuel-free new construction and major renovations, directly reducing fossil fuel dependence and advancing net zero emissions standards for buildings.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates fossil fuel-free new construction and major renovations to achieve net zero emissions, directly reducing carbon output and strengthening local environmental standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Air Quality Climate Change

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introduced · Massachusetts · Senate

SD 2303: An Act relative to healthy and sustainable schools

SD 2303 requires all public elementary, secondary, and higher education schools in Massachusetts to conduct energy audits every five years, prioritizing schools in environmental justice communities. The bill mandates audits include ventilation verification assessments by qualified personnel to ensure proper indoor air quality and energy efficiency improvements. It establishes a new Healthy and Sustainable Schools Office within the Department of Energy Resources to oversee implementation, coordinate with school authorities, and develop audit reports. The office will prioritize schools serving communities with lower median incomes or higher minority populations to address environmental equity.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates energy audits and ventilation assessments in schools to ensure healthy indoor air quality, improving physical learning environments for K-12 and higher education institutions.85% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyMandates energy audits for efficiency improvements in schools, establishes dedicated office under Energy Resources department to advance sustainability.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires energy audits for efficiency and indoor air quality, prioritizing environmental justice communities, advancing environmental protection through energy conservation.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Energy Efficiency Air Quality Environmental Justice

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 2076: An Act to remove woody biomass from the greenhouse gas emissions standard for municipal lighting plants

This bill removes woody biomass from the greenhouse gas emissions standards that apply to municipal lighting plants. It does this by deleting sections 34 and 112 from Chapter 8 of the General Laws. The change takes effect immediately upon passage, altering how emissions reporting is handled for these specific facilities.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyBill removes woody biomass from greenhouse gas emissions standards, weakening clean energy reporting requirements for municipal plants.90% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentRemoves woody biomass from emissions standards, weakening regulatory requirements for municipal lighting plants' greenhouse gas reporting.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Air Quality Climate Change

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3796: An Act to provide green and healthy public colleges and universities and address their deferred maintenance needs

This bill creates a Green and Healthy Public College and University Building Planning Commission to assess and improve building conditions at Massachusetts public colleges and universities. The commission, including representatives from higher education, labor, health, and environmental groups, will evaluate facilities for energy efficiency, indoor air quality, safety, and accessibility, then develop standards and public dashboards. It also establishes two new funds: one to relieve debt service on campus construction (freeing up money for faculty hiring and student support programs) and another to fund renovations and new construction meeting the commission's green and healthy standards. The bill directly affects all public higher education institutions in Massachusetts, including UMass, community colleges, and state universities, and aims to improve student learning environments while addressing deferred maintenance.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates commission to improve energy efficiency, safety, and accessibility in public college buildings, directly addressing infrastructure needs for higher education institutions.95% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill mandates commission to assess and improve building energy efficiency standards, directly aligning with support indicators for energy efficiency.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill creates commission to assess buildings for energy efficiency and indoor air quality, directly advancing environmental protection in public institutions.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Energy Efficiency Air Quality

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