Massachusetts H 953: An Act relative to forest protection

Bill Text

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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2204 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 953

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Carmine Lawrence Gentile
_________________
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 relative to forest protection.
_______________
PETITION OF:

NAME: DISTRICT/ADDRESS: DATE ADDED:
Carmine Lawrence Gentile 13th Middlesex 1/15/2025
James Arciero 2nd Middlesex 2/21/2025
James C. Arena-DeRosa 8th Middlesex 5/12/2025
Joanne M. Comerford Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester 3/12/2025
John J. Cronin Worcester and Middlesex 6/9/2025
Marjorie C. Decker 25th Middlesex 5/30/2025
Mindy Domb 3rd Hampshire 11/14/2025
Paul J. Donato 35th Middlesex 1/6/2026
Sean Garballey 23rd Middlesex 6/27/2025
John R. Gaskey 2nd Plymouth 9/7/2025
Natalie M. Higgins 4th Worcester 8/14/2025
Tara T. Hong 18th Middlesex 12/5/2025
Vanna Howard 17th Middlesex 6/25/2025
Patrick Joseph Kearney 4th Plymouth 5/20/2025
Michael P. Kushmerek 3rd Worcester 3/28/2025
David Paul Linsky 5th Middlesex 2/18/2025
Adrian C. Madaro 1st Suffolk 3/5/2026
Paul W. Mark Berkshire, Hampden, Franklin and 9/11/2025

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Hampshire
Michael O. Moore Second Worcester 6/30/2025
Steven Owens 29th Middlesex 1/21/2026
Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr. 12th Hampden 8/19/2025
Lindsay N. Sabadosa 1st Hampshire 1/22/2025
Amy Mah Sangiolo 11th Middlesex 11/20/2025
Margaret R. Scarsdale 1st Middlesex 3/24/2025
Greg Schwartz 12th Middlesex 7/1/2025
Danillo A. Sena 37th Middlesex 6/25/2025
Thomas M. Stanley 9th Middlesex 8/27/2025
Bruce E. Tarr First Essex and Middlesex 2/26/2025

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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2204 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 953
By Representative Gentile of Sudbury, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 953) of
Carmine Lawrence Gentile and others relative to forest protection. Environment and Natural
Resources.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act relative to forest protection.

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. Chapter 132 of the general laws is hereby amended by inserting the
2 following-
3 The secretary of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs shall create a
4 “Reserves Scientific Advisory Council,” hereinafter referred to as the Council, to oversee the
5 designation and management of the Reserves, and to suggest additional acquisitions to enhance
6 the ecological value of the Reserves program as a whole. The Council shall consist of eight
7 members, including: one member from the Harvard Forest or designee, who is an expert in
8 forestry and forest management; one member from the Highstead Foundation or designee, who is
9 an expert in forest ecology; one member from the Center for Biological Diversity or designee,
10 who is an expert in nongame wildlife and endangered species; one member from the Native Plant
11 Trust or designee, who is an expert in the field of plant ecology; one member from the Woodwell
12 Climate Research Center or designee, who is an expert in climate; one member from the

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13 University of Massachusetts who has technical training and experience in the field of soil or
14 watershed science; one member from Friends of the Middlesex Fells or designee; one member
15 from Friends of the Mohawk Trail State Forest or designee.
16 The members of the council shall be reimbursed for their necessary expenses incurred in
17 the performance of their duties. Each member shall be appointed for a term of three years, except
18 that for the initial term, three members shall be appointed for one year, three members shall be
19 appointed for two years and two members shall be appointed for three years. Any person
20 appointed to fill a vacancy shall serve for the unexpired term. Any member shall be eligible for
21 reappointment.
22 The council's duties shall include overseeing the policies and rules and regulations
23 concerning Reserves, with consultation of additional qualified scientific advisors requested by
24 the Council, to ensure that Reserves are maintained in their natural state with only minimal
25 human intervention, and then only when proven necessary to preserve ecological integrity or
26 protect public health, safety and welfare, consulting with the department regarding the
27 nomination of potential Reserves, and advising the department on budgetary matters related to
28 such Reserves. The council shall submit a biennial report to the governor on or before May first
29 of such year, describing the condition of each Reserve, outlining any actions taken by the council
30 since the last report, and making any recommendations related to th