Environment (Drinking Water)

passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SD 847: An Act protecting drinking water quality in private wells.

By Mr. Eldridge, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 585) of James B. Eldridge, Joanne M. Comerford, John J. Cronin, James Arciero and others for legislation to promote drinking water quality for all. Environment and Natural Resources.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill explicitly protects drinking water quality, a core environmental protection measure under Environment committee, aligning with pollution control and natural resource conservation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drinking Water Water Quality

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 1503: An Act promoting drinking water quality for all

HD 1503 establishes minimum drinking water standards for private wells used by households in Massachusetts. It requires the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to create regulations ensuring private wells meet public drinking water standards, directly affecting homeowners relying on private wells for drinking water. Key provisions include authorizing certified well drillers to work on these wells, exempting certain family property transfers from inspections, and creating a program to provide loan guarantees and interest subsidies for homeowners installing treatment systems to fix wells that fail to meet DEP standards. Local health boards and the DEP share enforcement authority for these new standards.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill establishes mandatory drinking water standards for private wells, requiring DEP regulations to protect water quality - directly advancing environmental protection of natural resources (water) and pollution control.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates DEP to establish drinking water standards for private wells, directly advancing public health by ensuring safe water access - a core public health program component.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drinking Water Water Quality

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in committee · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SD 2176: An Act protecting our soil and farms from PFAS contamination

By Ms. Comerford, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 56) of Joanne M. Comerford, Sal N. DiDomenico, Jason M. Lewis, Michael O. Moore and others for legislation to protect our soil and farms from PFAS contamination. Agriculture.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill directly protects soil/farms from PFAS pollution, a core environmental conservation measure addressing contamination and natural resource protection.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drinking Water

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passed · Massachusetts · House Feb 27, 2025

HD 4202: An Act for the establishment of a voucher program for home water filtration equipment

By Representative Connolly of Cambridge, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 920) of Mike Connolly, John R. Gaskey and Bud L. Williams for legislation to establish a voucher program for home water filtration equipment. Environment and Natural Resources.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill establishes voucher program for home water filtration equipment under Environment committee, addressing water quality pollution control and public health protection related to environmental resources.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Drinking Water

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 1920: An Act relative to funding water infrastructure and addressing economic target areas

This bill creates the Commonwealth Water Infrastructure Trust Fund, financed by new fees charged by cities and towns for water/sewer connections ($250 for residential, $1,000 for commercial/industrial). The fund distributes 50% of collected fees back to the cities/towns that collected them for local water infrastructure projects, 40% to the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust, and 5% each to the Department of Environmental Protection (for economic target areas) and the Department of Revenue (for administration). Municipalities receiving funds must report annually on project use, and the Department of Environmental Protection must create a specific initiative to assist municipalities in economic target areas with water infrastructure planning. The bill directly affects local governments, the Clean Water Trust, and the DEP, with funding flowing without needing annual legislative approval.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates new fees ($250/$1,000) to fund water infrastructure via trust fund, distributing 50% to local projects and 40% to clean water trust, advancing public service funding through targeted revenue.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill allocates 40% of fees to Massachusetts Clean Water Trust and 5% to DEP for environmental projects, directly funding water infrastructure and protection efforts.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Drinking Water Water Quality

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 2634: An Act relative to meeting the Commonwealth's water infrastructure future

HD 2634 allocates $2.2 billion to modernize Massachusetts' water infrastructure, primarily through $2 billion for expanding the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority's service area to support housing development and address PFAS-contaminated water supplies. The bill prioritizes funding for debt relief to improve affordability in struggling communities, grants for sewer and water upgrades tied to housing projects, and research on PFAS and biosolids. It also establishes a commission to review water transfer laws for housing development and requires annual reports on expansion projects and barriers. The funding directly affects municipalities, water utilities, and communities with water quality issues, with specific targets for housing-related infrastructure.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentFunds PFAS cleanup and water infrastructure to address contamination, directly protecting water quality and reducing pollution per bill summary.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingAllocates $2B to expand water authority service area to support housing development, includes debt relief for affordability and grants tied to housing projects.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drinking Water Water Quality Property Development

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passed · Massachusetts · House Feb 27, 2025

HD 3195: An Act relative to the protection of our drinking water from nitrosodimethylamine

By Representative Robertson of Tewksbury, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1028) of David Allen Robertson relative to maximum containment levels for certain harmful compounds in drinking water. Environment and Natural Resources.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill establishes maximum containment levels for nitrosodimethylamine in drinking water, directly protecting water quality and public health from harmful pollutants per Environment and Natural Resources subject.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drinking Water

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 2708: An Act promoting drinking water quality for all

This bill establishes minimum standards for private wells serving homes and small properties. It requires the Department of Environmental Protection to set testing rules for contaminants, including mandatory pre-sale inspections for properties with private wells (with specific exceptions like mortgages or family transfers). Homeowners must test new wells before use and before selling property, with local health boards able to enforce stricter rules. The bill also creates a program to help homeowners install treatment systems if their well water doesn’t meet public drinking water standards.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates contaminant testing for private wells, strengthening water quality regulations to prevent pollution and protect public health, directly advancing environmental protection standards.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAddresses public health via water quality standards to prevent contamination-related illnesses, aligning with public health program protections.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Drinking Water Water Quality

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 2441: An Act to ensure safe drinking water for state funding eligibility in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

This bill requires Massachusetts municipalities to meet state and federal drinking water standards to qualify for state funding or grants. To comply, towns and cities must annually test water for contaminants like lead and PFAS, obtain MassDEP certification, and submit remediation plans if noncompliant (with funding suspended until fixed). The state will provide technical support and prioritize funding for infrastructure upgrades addressing water quality issues. MassDEP must publish annual reports tracking municipal compliance, with the law taking effect January 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates testing for environmental contaminants (lead/PFAS), requires remediation, and prioritizes funding for water infrastructure - strengthens environmental protections for public health.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Drinking Water Water Quality

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SD 1195: An Act relative to meeting the Commonwealth's water infrastructure future

By Mr. Cronin, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 563) of John J. Cronin for legislation relative to meet the Commonwealth's water infrastructure future. Environment and Natural Resources.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill focuses on water infrastructure under Environment/Natural Resources subject, directly addressing environmental protection through infrastructure planning for water resources.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drinking Water Water Quality

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