By Representative Vitolo of Brookline, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 4036) of Tommy Vitolo (by vote of the town) that the town of Brookline be authorized to adopt green zoning by-laws and regulations in said town. Municipalities and Regional Government. [Local Approval Received.]
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Date
Branch
Action
4/6/2026
House
4/6/2026 HouseAccompanied a study order, see H5323↗
12/4/2025
House
12/4/2025 HouseReporting date extended to Wednesday, March 18, 2026
10/17/2025
Joint
10/17/2025 JointHearing scheduled for 10/29/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-1
7/10/2025
Senate
7/10/2025 SenateSenate concurred
7/7/2025
House
7/7/2025 HouseDischarged to the committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy
4/22/2025
Senate
4/22/2025 SenateSenate concurred
4/17/2025
House
4/17/2025 HouseReferred to the committee on Municipalities and Regional Government
Notwithstanding section 3 of chapter 40A, section 95 of chapter 143 or chapter 164 of the General Laws, any statute or regulation relating to the state building code and its incorporated specialty codes or any other general or special law to the contrary, the town of Brookline may adopt zoning by-laws and regulations for the purpose of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing energy efficiency and otherwise addressing specific harms stemming from or contributing to the climate crisis.
▸SECTION 2
A zoning by-law or regulation, the adoption of which is authorized by this act, shall not be deemed invalid or unenforceable or have its approval withheld by the attorney general on the basis that it regulates:
(i) the use of materials or methods of construction of buildings, whether or not otherwise regulated by the state building code; or
(ii) the use, inclusion or prohibition of certain design elements, components, equipment or infrastructure for the construction of buildings including, but not limited to, heating and cooling systems, solar energy systems and electric vehicle charging systems.
▸SECTION 3
A zoning by-law or regulation, the adoption of which is authorized by this act, shall not be deemed invalid or unenforceable or have its approval withheld by the attorney general on the basis that it regulates:
(i) air emissions regulated by the department of environmental protection;
(ii) seasonal, annual or lifetime greenhouse gas emissions of structures; or
(iii) greenhouse gas emissions attributable to construction, including those attributable to the production and transportation of building materials.
▸SECTION 4
A zoning by-law or regulation, the adoption of which is authorized by this act, shall not be deemed invalid or unenforceable or have its approval withheld by the attorney general on the basis that it regulates:
(i) the installation or prohibition of appliances or equipment, whether for residential or commercial purposes, that consume a utility product regulated under chapter 164 of the General Laws or otherwise by the department of public utilities;
(ii) new connections to a transmission or distribution system for consumer utility products that may impact directly or indirectly the sale or distribution of such utility products, including, but not limited to, natural gas, fuel oil, electricity, renewable natural gas, hydrogen, steam or hot or chilled water; or
(iii) greenhouse gas emissions attributable to the production, transmission, distribution or consumption of such utility products.
▸SECTION 5
If any provision of this act or the application thereof to any person or circumstance shall be found to be invalid for any reason in a court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity shall be construed as narrowly as possible and the balance of the act shall be deemed to be affected to the minimum extent necessary, so as to secure the purposes of the act.
▸SECTION 6
This act shall take effect upon its passage
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SECTION 1. Notwithstanding section 3 of chapter 40A, section 95 of chapter 143 or chapter 164 of the General Laws, any statute or regulation relating to the state building code and its incorporated specialty codes or any other general or special law to the contrary, the town of Brookline may adopt zoning by-laws and regulations for the purpose of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing energy efficiency and otherwise addressing specific harms stemming from or contributing to the climate crisis.
SECTION 2. A zoning by-law or regulation, the adoption of which is authorized by this act, shall not be deemed invalid or unenforceable or have its approval withheld by the attorney general on the basis that it regulates:
(i) the use of materials or methods of construction of buildings, whether or not otherwise regulated by the state building code; or
(ii) the use, inclusion or prohibition of certain design elements, components, equipment or infrastructure for the construction of buildings including, but not limited to, heating and cooling systems, solar energy systems and electric vehicle charging systems.
SECTION 3. A zoning by-law or regulation, the adoption of which is authorized by this act, shall not be deemed invalid or unenforceable or have its approval withheld by the attorney general on the basis that it regulates:
(i) air emissions regulated by the department of environmental protection;
(ii) seasonal, annual or lifetime greenhouse gas emissions of structures; or
(iii) greenhouse gas emissions attributable to construction, including those attributable to the production and transportation of building materials.
SECTION 4. A zoning by-law or regulation, the adoption of which is authorized by this act, shall not be deemed invalid or unenforceable or have its approval withheld by the attorney general on the basis that it regulates:
(i) the installation or prohibition of appliances or equipment, whether for residential or commercial purposes, that consume a utility product regulated under chapter 164 of the General Laws or otherwise by the department of public utilities;
(ii) new connections to a transmission or distribution system for consumer utility products that may impact directly or indirectly the sale or distribution of such utility products, including, but not limited to, natural gas, fuel oil, electricity, renewable natural gas, hydrogen, steam or hot or chilled water; or
(iii) greenhouse gas emissions attributable to the production, transmission, distribution or consumption of such utility products.
SECTION 5. If any provision of this act or the application thereof to any person or circumstance shall be found to be invalid for any reason in a court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity shall be construed as narrowly as possible and the balance of the act shall be deemed to be affected to the minimum extent necessary, so as to secure the purposes of the act.
SECTION 6. This act shall take effect upon its passage