Rep. Kane Joins House In Approving $3B Environmental Bond Bill

The House of Representatives approved a comprehensive bond bill containing nearly $3 billion in capital authorizations to support a variety of local and statewide environmental initiatives, Rep. Hannah Kane announced.

House Bill 4599, "An Act promoting climate change adaptation, environmental and natural resource protection, and investment in recreational assets and opportunity," provides a five-year blueprint for environmental spending by the state. State Rep. Kane, R-Shrewsbury, supported the bill, which passed the House on a vote of 143-3 on June 13.

“This bill provides substantial long-term investments in our Commonwealth’s precious natural resources and environment, to the benefit of our residents across the Commonwealth,” said Kane in a statement. “I am proud to join my colleagues in supporting this legislation, which affords municipalities’ valuable opportunities towards local conservation and emphasizes a sustained approach towards natural resource protection and environmental stewardship.”

The bill provides funding to help protect and maintain environmental resources across the state, including rivers and wetlands, as well as critical infrastructure such as dams, seawalls, jetties and retaining walls. It also reauthorizes a number of prior spending authorizations that were included in a 2014 environmental bond bill but never moved forward.

The bill includes $420 million in funding for the preservation of state-owned forests, parks, campgrounds and reservations around the Commonwealth, said the announcement from Kane. It also provides $55 million for the Department of Transportation’s Complete Streets Program, which offers technical assistance and construction funding to help municipalities reduce traffic congestion and make local roadways safer for pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists.

The bill also creates a new Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) program within EEA, along with a revolving fund to finance municipal loans.

The environmental bond bill, which must be worked under the state’s bond cap and ultimately approved by Governor Baker, now moves to the Senate for further action.

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