The 2023-2024 legislative session came to an end on August 1 and we were disappointed that the Climate Bill (H.4884/S.2838) did not make it through the session. Many of you reached out to legislators to share your support of the drought management and wetlands restorations sections of this bill, and that outreach did not fall on deaf ears.
The Drought Bill was included in the Senate’s version of the Climate Bill this session, which is the furthest it has made it through the process. That is meaningful and we will continue to support this initiative along with our partners in the upcoming session. Stay tuned for next steps as we work together to figure out the most effective path forward.
The Drought Bill provides a framework for a proactive, consistent approach to drought management and water conservation across the state. This is especially important as Massachusetts continues to experience the effects of climate change and grow its housing stock. We are hopeful that our coalition approach will move this important initiative even further during the next session.
The Wetlands/Salt Marsh Restoration amendment to the Climate Bill proposes regulatory changes to streamline restoration work in these areas. The Wetlands Restrictions Acts that provide protection for wetlands by prohibiting certain activities were passed well before anyone was thinking about, let alone planning for, salt marsh restoration. This amendment would allow restoration to proceed on parcels with a wetlands restriction order, provided the necessary Wetlands Protection Act and all other relevant permits are obtained. Thousands of acres of salt marsh restoration projects need this amendment in order to move forward, and we will continue working with our partners to make that happen.