An Act relative to municipal light plants
Generates a plain-language summary of the bill text and history.
| Date | Branch | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 4/6/2026 | House | Accompanied a study order, see H5323↗ |
| 12/4/2025 | House | Reporting date extended to Wednesday, March 18, 2026 |
| 9/8/2025 | House | Reporting date extended to Wednesday, December 3, 2025 |
| 6/5/2025 | Joint | Hearing scheduled for 06/12/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2 |
| 2/27/2025 | Senate | Senate concurred |
| 2/27/2025 | House | Referred to the committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy |
| Committee | Recommendation | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| J37 | Accompanied | — |
Section 4A of Chapter 40 of the General Laws as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by deleting in line 8 after the word “selectmen” the word “and ”.
Said section of said chapter is hereby further amended by adding in line 9 after the word “committee” the following words: , in a municipal light plant by the board or commission;
Said section of said chapter is further amended by deleting in line 28 the word “or” the first time it appears.
Said section of said chapter is further amended by deleting in line 29 “.” and by adding the following words: , or a municipal light plant established under chapter 164 or by special law.
Section 47B of Chapter 164 of the General Laws as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition is hereby amended by adding the following: Any municipality acting by and through its municipal light board may provide services and assistance to any municipal or state utility, tribal utility as defined in 25 CFR § 169.2, or any other publicly-owned or operated utility, whether located inside or outside of the Commonwealth, and governmental units as defined in section 4A of chapter 40, to construct, install, alter, operate, maintain or repair utility poles and conduit, wires, cables, and equipment, and streetlights and traffic signals to the same extent such municipality acting by and through its municipal light board may provide such services within its service territory. Any such municipality acting by and through its municipal light board may sell, rent, or lease merchandise, equipment, fixtures, utensils and chattels of any description related to the provision of such services. Any employee providing such services entered into between the municipality acting by and through its municipal light board and such other public entity shall be subject to the provisions of chapter thirty-two, sections one to twenty-eight, inclusive, and shall have the same rights and privileges thereunder, as if performing the same duties within the scope of his employment including voluntary assignments.
SECTION 1. Section 4A of Chapter 40 of the General Laws as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by deleting in line 8 after the word “selectmen” the word “and ”. SECTION 2. Said section of said chapter is hereby further amended by adding in line 9 after the word “committee” the following words: , in a municipal light plant by the board or commission; SECTION 3. Said section of said chapter is further amended by deleting in line 28 the word “or” the first time it appears. SECTION 4. Said section of said chapter is further amended by deleting in line 29 “.” and by adding the following words: , or a municipal light plant established under chapter 164 or by special law. Section 4. Section 47B of Chapter 164 of the General Laws as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition is hereby amended by adding the following: Any municipality acting by and through its municipal light board may provide services and assistance to any municipal or state utility, tribal utility as defined in 25 CFR § 169.2, or any other publicly-owned or operated utility, whether located inside or outside of the Commonwealth, and governmental units as defined in section 4A of chapter 40, to construct, install, alter, operate, maintain or repair utility poles and conduit, wires, cables, and equipment, and streetlights and traffic signals to the same extent such municipality acting by and through its municipal light board may provide such services within its service territory. Any such municipality acting by and through its municipal light board may sell, rent, or lease merchandise, equipment, fixtures, utensils and chattels of any description related to the provision of such services. Any employee providing such services entered into between the municipality acting by and through its municipal light board and such other public entity shall be subject to the provisions of chapter thirty-two, sections one to twenty-eight, inclusive, and shall have the same rights and privileges thereunder, as if performing the same duties within the scope of his employment including voluntary assignments.