Senate, November 24, 2025 -- The committee on Environment and Natural Resources, to whom was referred the petitions (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 600) of Dylan A. Fernandes for legislation to establish a blue communities program to incentivize local action to reduce nutrient pollution and ocean acidification; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 603) of Dylan A. Fernandes for legislation to establish a blue economy workforce pipeline; and (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 605) of Dylan A. Fernandes for legislation relative to a future blue economy, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2730).
Summary up to date
Generates a plain-language summary of the bill text and history.
No summary yet. Click the button to generate one.
Date
Branch
Action
11/24/2025
Senate
11/24/2025 SenateBill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Senate Ways and Means
Chapter 21 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding, after section 67, the following section:-
▸SECTION 68
(a) For purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
“Circular economy”, an economy that keeps material, products, and services in circulation for as long as possible.
“Department”, the department of environmental protection.
“Environmental justice population”, as defined in section 56 of chapter 8.
(b) The department shall create a circular economy education and outreach program to inform residents and businesses in the commonwealth about a circular economy generally and how to participate in a transition to a circular economy.
(c) Subject to appropriation, the department shall establish a competitive grant program to provide funding to small businesses in the commonwealth to support a transition to a circular economy. The department shall be authorized to accept applications from businesses that are incorporated in, are properly licensed to do business in, or have a location in Massachusetts. All grants made under this program should provide a measurable economic benefit to Massachusetts. The department shall determine a list of criteria in evaluating grant applications and prioritize applications otherwise meeting all other necessary criteria from: (i) certified minority-owned and women-owned business enterprises; (ii) businesses that are geographically located within an environmental justice population; and (iii) businesses that provide substantial benefit to environmental justice populations. The department is authorized to use its discretion to decide between applications of similar standing. The department shall promulgate regulations to support the creation of the program.
▸SECTION 2
Chapter 21A of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding, after section 28, the following section:-
▸SECTION 29
Subject to appropriation, the secretary of energy and environmental affairs shall establish a grant program to provide funding to Massachusetts nonprofits, academic institutions, and businesses to conduct scientific research and the research and development of new technology created for the purpose of improving ocean health and the responsible use of the ocean. This funding may be used for scientific studies and other research, research and development of new technology, investment into existing beneficial technology, expansion of existing beneficial technology, or research into how the technology affects the Commonwealth, the state economy, or particular industries. The secretary shall promulgate rules and regulations to support the creation of a grant program. The secretary shall accept applications from entities that are incorporated in, are properly licensed to do business in, or have a location in Massachusetts. All grants made under this program should provide a measurable economic benefit to the Massachusetts ocean economy.
In awarding grant funding, the secretary shall prioritize projects with the most measurable benefit to the ocean environment, marine species, or coastal communities; projects using existing technology that is identified as the best available prototype in the field; projects with outcomes that promote equity and inclusivity; and projects that promote the use of time-series data. Applications that satisfy one or more of these criteria shall be considered favorably in priority of awards for funding, so long as those applications meet all other necessary criteria. The secretary is authorized to use discretion to decide between applications of similar standing.
▸SECTION 3
Chapter 69 of the General Laws, is hereby amended by adding, after section 1T, the following section:-
▸SECTION 1U
Subject to appropriation, there shall be within the department of elementary and secondary education a blue economy education fund to be used to provide funding to the Commonwealth’s high schools to expand educational development, workforce training, and job placement programs in blue-STEAM industries. Blue-STEAM industries are defined as ocean sector jobs in science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics.
The department shall create an application process for interested high schools to apply to the blue economy education fund. All funding shall be prioritized to applications by high schools located within an environmental justice community or composed of a substantial number of students from environmental justice communities, as defined in section 62 of chapter 30.
Show raw text
SECTION 1. Chapter 21 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding, after section 67, the following section:-
Section 68. (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
“Circular economy”, an economy that keeps material, products, and services in circulation for as long as possible.
“Department”, the department of environmental protection.
“Environmental justice population”, as defined in section 56 of chapter 8.
(b) The department shall create a circular economy education and outreach program to inform residents and businesses in the commonwealth about a circular economy generally and how to participate in a transition to a circular economy.
(c) Subject to appropriation, the department shall establish a competitive grant program to provide funding to small businesses in the commonwealth to support a transition to a circular economy. The department shall be authorized to accept applications from businesses that are incorporated in, are properly licensed to do business in, or have a location in Massachusetts. All grants made under this program should provide a measurable economic benefit to Massachusetts. The department shall determine a list of criteria in evaluating grant applications and prioritize applications otherwise meeting all other necessary criteria from: (i) certified minority-owned and women-owned business enterprises; (ii) businesses that are geographically located within an environmental justice population; and (iii) businesses that provide substantial benefit to environmental justice populations. The department is authorized to use its discretion to decide between applications of similar standing. The department shall promulgate regulations to support the creation of the program.
SECTION 2. Chapter 21A of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding, after section 28, the following section:-
Section 29. Subject to appropriation, the secretary of energy and environmental affairs shall establish a grant program to provide funding to Massachusetts nonprofits, academic institutions, and businesses to conduct scientific research and the research and development of new technology created for the purpose of improving ocean health and the responsible use of the ocean. This funding may be used for scientific studies and other research, research and development of new technology, investment into existing beneficial technology, expansion of existing beneficial technology, or research into how the technology affects the Commonwealth, the state economy, or particular industries. The secretary shall promulgate rules and regulations to support the creation of a grant program. The secretary shall accept applications from entities that are incorporated in, are properly licensed to do business in, or have a location in Massachusetts. All grants made under this program should provide a measurable economic benefit to the Massachusetts ocean economy.
In awarding grant funding, the secretary shall prioritize projects with the most measurable benefit to the ocean environment, marine species, or coastal communities; projects using existing technology that is identified as the best available prototype in the field; projects with outcomes that promote equity and inclusivity; and projects that promote the use of time-series data. Applications that satisfy one or more of these criteria shall be considered favorably in priority of awards for funding, so long as those applications meet all other necessary criteria. The secretary is authorized to use discretion to decide between applications of similar standing.
SECTION 3. Chapter 69 of the General Laws, is hereby amended by adding, after section 1T, the following section:-
Section 1U. Subject to appropriation, there shall be within the department of elementary and secondary education a blue economy education fund to be used to provide funding to the Commonwealth’s high schools to expand educational development, workforce training, and job placement programs in blue-STEAM industries. Blue-STEAM industries are defined as ocean sector jobs in science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics.
The department shall create an application process for interested high schools to apply to the blue economy education fund. All funding shall be prioritized to applications by high schools located within an environmental justice community or composed of a substantial number of students from environmental justice communities, as defined in section 62 of chapter 30.