Massachusetts H 5317: An Act authorizing the city of Boston to establish fossil fuel-free standards for new construction and major renovation projects

Bill Text

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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 5379 FILED ON: 9/16/2022
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 5317

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Jay D. Livingstone
_________________
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act authorizing the city of Boston to establish fossil fuel-free standards for new construction
and major renovation projects.
_______________
PETITION OF:

NAME: DISTRICT/ADDRESS: DATE ADDED:
Jay D. Livingstone 8th Suffolk 9/16/2022

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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 5379 FILED ON: 9/16/2022
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 5317
By Mr. Livingstone of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 5317) of Jay D.
Livingstone (with the approval of the mayor and city council) that the city of Boston be
authorized to establish fossil fuel-free standards for new construction and major renovation
projects. Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy. [Local Approval Received.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)
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An Act authorizing the city of Boston to establish fossil fuel-free standards for new construction
and major renovation projects.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:

1 SECTION 1: Notwithstanding any general or special law or rule or regulation to the
2 contrary, the City of Boston is authorized to adopt and further amend a municipal ordinance or
3 zoning regulation that restricts or prohibits new building construction or major renovation
4 projects that do not qualify as fossil fuel-free, including through the withholding or conditioning
5 of building permits.
6 SECTION 2: Said restrictions or prohibitions shall not apply to research laboratories for
7 scientific or medical research, or to hospitals or medical offices regulated by the department of
8 public health as a healthcare facility.
9 SECTION 3: The ordinance or zoning regulation will establish definitions and criteria for
10 applicability, and timelines for the transition to fossil fuel-free new construction and major

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11 renovation projects, that prioritize the joint goals of emissions reduction resilience, equity and a
12 just transition for workers.
13 SECTION 4: An Advisory Committee shall be established that reflects a diversity of
14 perspectives and backgrounds from outside stakeholders including representatives from the fields
15 of environmental justice, economic justice, racial equity, affordable housing, labor and workers'
16 rights, small business, workforce development, healthcare and public health, building and
17 engineering and energy, real estate development, and management, architecture, distributed
18 energy systems, or any combination thereof. The Chair and Members of the Advisory Committee
19 will be appointed by the Mayor in partnership with the City Council. The Advisory Committee
20 will meet not less than three times prior to introduction of said ordinance. The Advisory
21 Committee will collaborate with and advise the City on the ordinance's definitions, criteria for
22 applicability, and transition timelines to fossil fuel-free new construction and major renovation
23 projects.
24 SECTION 5: This act shall take effect immediately upon signing by the Governor.