HOW I VOTED ON S.3064

SUBJECT: ENVIRONMENTAL BOND BILL (AKA MASS READY ACT)

On Wednesday, June 17, 2026 the House passed its amended version of S.3064, An

Act to build resilience for Massachusetts communities (aka Mass Ready Act filed by

Governor Healey), a $3.5 billion bond bill that will modernize environmental laws,

strengthen climate resilience, support agricultural and food systems, streamline

permitting processes, and improve the management of the Commonwealth’s natural

resources. The bill advances a broad set of reforms designed to help communities

prepare for the impacts of climate change, accelerate critical infrastructure projects,

improve environmental protections, and support Massachusetts’ cities and towns.

MY VOTE

I voted YES on S.3064, which passed the House by a unanimous, bipartisan vote of

151 Yes, 0 No. I also voted YES on Consolidated Amendments A and Consolidated

Amendments B, both of which passed by unanimous, bipartisan votes.

The House and Senate versions of this bill will now be subject of a conference

committee that will iron out the differences between the two chambers before coming

back for final passage and the Governor’s signature.

BOND AUTHORIZATIONS SECURED FOR THE DISTRICT

As part of the amendment process, I was able to secure (by filing amendments) the

following bond authorizations for the 10 th Bristol District. It is important to note that

bond authorizations are not guaranteed funding – the Executive Branch is

responsible for pursuing bonding (borrowing) as authorized by this bill once it is

enacted in both chambers and signed by the Governor. Thereafter, if authorized

under the applicable categories, these projects are eligible for funding but

ultimately the Executive Branch will make those decisions. It will be important for

legislators to advocate for the bond authorizations for their districts.

1.  $750,000 shall be expended to the town of Fairhaven for wastewater treatment plant and pump station rebuilds and refurbishment.

2. $750,000 to the town of Marion for wastewater pollution control facility capital improvements.

3. $75,000 shall be expended to the town of Mattapoisett for environmenta assessment, engineering analysis, remediation planning, and related activities associated with the former municipal burn dump site located on Industrial drive

4. $250,000 shall be expended to the town of Rochester (which will also benefit Acushnet) for regional costs associated with the prevention, remediation, treatment, management, and control of milfoil and other invasive aquatic vegetation and species.

I also co-sponsored various amendments filed by Reps Cabral and Hendricks for the City of New Bedford, and ultimately on all regional amendments that were included in the final bill. Examples of amendments for New Bedford that were in the final bill include:

1. $1,000,000 shall be expended to the city of New Bedford for the acquisition of an 820 metric-ton travel lift to improve and expand shipyard operations to meet the growing demand for shipbuilding, ship repair, and salvaging services.

2. $1,000,000 shall be expended to the city of New Bedford for the purposes of creating a 1.5-mile walking path along the western bank of the Acushnet river from Sawyer street to the former Aerovox site, opening public access to portion of the riverfront that has long been cut off by legacy industrial sites.

3. $50,000,000 shall be expended to the Foss New Bedford Marine Terminal for infrastructure, equipment and site work to support offshore wind, clean tech, and other climate-positive maritime industry growth in the south coast region

4. $750,000 shall be expended to Southcoast Health for stormwater mitigation planning and implementation at St. Luke’s Hospital to comply with New Bedford stormwater mitigation processes.

5. $3,000,000 shall be expended to the city of New Bedford for critical repairs to the Buttonwood Dam for ecological restoration

6. $2,000,000 shall be expended to the New Bedford Redevelopment Authority to acquire underutilized properties and connect nearby neighborhoods to the river

POLICY AMENDMENTS FOR OUR DISTRICT

Included in the House bill was language regarding a port commission that includes the

New Bedford-Fairhaven Port – Consolidated Amendment A, which I voted YES on.

1. Special Commission on Port Development - There shall be a special commission on commonwealth port development to recommend an integrated statewide strategic vision for ports in the commonwealth, including the designated port areas of: Gloucester Inner Harbor, Salem Harbor, the city of Lynn, Mystic river, Chelsea creek, the East Boston section of the city of Boston, the South Boston section of the City of Boston, Weymouth Fore river, New Bedford-Fairhaven, Fall River and Mount Hope Bay. The commission shall identify industry-specific opportunities and needs, assess existing infrastructure with capacity and resources, evaluate environmental justice impacts and needs of host communities and develop recommendations to achieve stated priorities and goals.

OVERALL BILL SUMMARY

Among its major provisions, the bill establishes a new Resilience Revolving Fund to help municipalities, tribal governments, and public water and wastewater districts finance climate-resilient infrastructure projects and technical assistance. The legislation also creates new commissions and advisory bodies focused on flood mitigation, air quality, coastal resilience, and long-term climate preparedness.

To help address urgent housing and environmental challenges, the bill streamlines permitting and environmental review processes for priority housing developments, nature-based solutions projects, culvert replacements, wetland restoration efforts, and other projects that advance climate resilience while maintaining environmental protections.

The legislation further strengthens land conservation efforts by creating clearer pathways for the designation and management of forest reserves, enhancing protections for forested, agricultural, and recreational lands, and recognizing carbon sequestration and storage as a valuable forest product under state law.

The bill also includes significant measures to support Massachusetts agriculture and food systems. It returns remaining funds from the Milk Producers Security Fund to dairy farmers through grant programs, expands representation on the Massachusetts Food Policy Council, modernizes commercial feed regulations, and strengthens enforcement tools for agricultural programs.

Additional provisions improve transparency for prospective homebuyers and tenants by requiring flood risk disclosures, modernize waterways and wetlands permitting processes, strengthen environmental enforcement authority, support septic system upgrades in nitrogen-sensitive watersheds, and establish new tools to improve the maintenance and resilience of critical water infrastructure.

The legislation also improves management of public lands and waterways, and creates more efficient regulatory processes while preserving public access to outdoor recreation and natural resources.

The bill updates Massachusetts’ hunting laws by permitting Sunday hunting, expanding legal crossbow use, modernizing archery regulations, and reducing certain hunting setback requirements near occupied dwellings.

The bill advances energy efficiency and light-pollution reduction efforts by establishing standards for state and municipal roadway and other outdoor lighting, and helps realize savings from newly installed low-wattage light fixtures by requiring the Department of Public Utilities to establish a new rate for such fixtures.

The bill includes $3.5 billion in bond authorizations. New authorizations include:

• $120 million to address PFAS contamination of public water supplies and private wells

  
  

• $75 million for the Flood Risk Protection Program to proactively reduce risk, protect lives and property, and restore natural floodplains and wetlands as climate buffers

  
  

• $50 million for the Healthy Homes Program to provide grants and zero-interest to homeowners and landlords to eliminate habitability hazards like lead paint, asbestos, mold, and pests, while promoting energy efficiency and decarbonization

  
  

• $50 million for the Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency's revolving fund to accelerate mixed-income and multifamily housing development through low cost financial assistance

  
  

• $20 million for the modernization and decarbonization of the McLaughlin Hatchery in Belchertown, which generates revenue, supports recreational opportunities, and provides a safe food source to the people across the Commonwealth

  
  

• $20 million to implement the 2023 Biodiversity Executive Order via grants for planning and implementation of community biodiversity plans and project implementation

  
  

• $5 million to implement new marine resources conservation and restoration efforts to support the commercial fishing sector, ensure public safety, increase food security, and provide public recreational opportunities.

Major reauthorizations include:

• $385 million for the Water Pollution Abatement Trust to support wastewater, stormwater, and drinking water projects

  
  

• $315 million for the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Grant Program for cities and towns to assess climate risks

  
  

• $308 million to repair, construction, and removal of state-owned dams and coastal infrastructure including seawalls, docks, culverts, and salt marshes

  
  

• $294 million to repair, construction, and improvement of Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) properties

  
  

• $250 million for the construction and/or repair of coastal infrastructure including seawalls, living shorelines, and other nature-based solutions

  
  

• $177 million for repairs and improvements of DCR-managed roadway and bridge infrastructure

  
  

• $150 million for the Food Security Infrastructure Grant program to support initiatives that improve food security and ensure equitable access to locally grown, raised, harvested, and caught foods by strengthening Massachusetts’ food supply chain

  
  

• $120 million for conservation and open space grant programs including land protection, watershed remediation, coastal habitat preservation, parks development in underserved areas, brownfield remediation, and carbon sequestration initiatives

NEXT STEPS

The bill passed the House of Representatives 151-0 and now goes back to the Senate

for further consideration.

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HELPFUL LINKS

1. Roll Call: https://malegislature.gov/Journal/House

2. Bill Tracker: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S3064/BillHistory