Governor Healey Files Mass Ready Act to Strengthen Infrastructure and Prepare for Disasters

Governor Healey Files Mass Ready Act to Strengthen Infrastructure and Prepare for Disasters  

Streamlines housing and infrastructure permitting timelines to lower costs and advance critical projects 

BRAINTREE – Today, Governor Maura Healey introduced the Mass Ready Act, a historic bill that proposes nearly $3 billion in bond authorizations to strengthen infrastructure and protect Massachusetts communities against increasing extreme weather events.  

This legislation focuses on crucial infrastructure improvements, including upgrades to roads, dams, and bridges, and establishes a Resilient Revolving Fund for these types of projects. It also streamlines permitting for priority housing, culvert replacements and salt marsh restoration projects by cutting redundant reviews and improving coordination.  

The bill invests in farming and coastal economies and provides communities with resources to reduce flood and heat risk. Finally, the Mass Ready Act emphasizes the protection of water and nature by ensuring safe drinking water, restoring our waterways and preserving vital habitats for wildlife.   

Governor Healey made the announcement at Braintree Town Hall, near the site of a recently completed dam removal project that has improved neighborhood safety, restored the natural environment and allowed the river to flow freely for the first time in over 200 years.  

“The Mass Ready Act is an investment in our infrastructure and in our communities,” said Governor Healey.“It will save people money and jumpstart housing by streamlining the permitting process. This legislation will help our communities get ready for the challenges ahead and make sure our families and neighborhoods stay safe.” 

“As a former mayor, I have seen firsthand how strained municipal budgets can become, with local governments asked to do more with limited resources. This bill is crucial as it equips our communities with the necessary funding to invest in their water systems and local infrastructure,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “The Mass Ready Act is not just about being prepared – it represents a bold step toward creating a stronger future and making our state more competitive, affordable and appealing for businesses and families.” 

“This legislation is about action where it matters,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “Massachusetts wasn’t built for the intense storms, rising seas, and extreme heat we are seeing now. The Mass Ready Act is our down payment on a safe, healthier future – protecting clean air and water, strengthening local food systems, and preserving parks and green spaces for generations to come. These solutions are part of everyday life, and we are making sure no community is left behind.” 

“With this bill, Massachusetts once again leads on establishing one of the nation’s first resilience financing funds,” said Climate Chief Melissa Hoffer. “This fund will stretch the state’s dollars to help more municipalities build stronger and smarter. With nation-leading permit streamlining provisions, it will also ensure we build the housing, nature-based solutions, and other critical resilience infrastructure we need faster and more easily. In Massachusetts, we know how to protect our critical ecosystems and build the world we need for a better tomorrow.”  

"The Mass Ready Act paves the way for thoughtful, strategic investments in Massachusetts's greatest resources--our communities, our environment, and the infrastructure we rely on every day," said Administration and Finance Secretary Matthew J. Gorzkowicz. "The bond authorizations and policy measures in this bill will enable us to protect our assets and improve our neighborhoods, and we look forward to deploying Mass Ready Act funds to ensure resiliency across Massachusetts.” 

Strengthening Infrastructure 

The Mass Ready Act is about strengthening infrastructure to better protect our homes, businesses and communities. Due to increasing rainfall and rising sea levels, floods have become more likely. In Massachusetts, sea levels have risen, on average, over an inch per decade since the 1920s. This bill aims to address these challenges through authorizations that enhance our flood protection efforts, including addressing high-risk dams, inland flood control systems, and coastal and marine infrastructure. The bill also includes authorizations to implement ResilientCoasts recommendations, invest in parks, trails, beaches, and historic sites, improve transportation infrastructure, and manage solid waste and decrease pollution.  

To keep these projects moving quickly, the bill simplifies the environmental permitting process for priority housing and urgent infrastructure needs, including municipal culvert replacements and other natural restoration projects. The bill includes key actions to respond to recommendations from the Governor’s Unlocking Housing Production Commission. It also includes $50 million in reauthorization for the Momentum Fund to continue accelerating the development of mixed-income and multifamily housing.   

Permitting reforms include: 

• Allowing priority housing and restoration projects to receive a Chapter 91 license in just 60 days without triggering review under the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA); 

• Cutting duplicative administrative appeals for wetlands regulations, allowing local appeals for these project categories to go straight to the superior court; 

• Adding climate resilience as a goal of the Wetlands Protection Act, simplifying permitting for natural restoration projects; and, 

• Removing the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) requirement for priority housing and natural restoration projects, allowing for completion of MEPA review within 30 days rather than up to one year. 

The legislation also requires disclosures of flood risk and past damages during home sales and lease signings so renters and homebuyers can make informed decisions and avoid costly damages down the road. Finally, it equips the Board of Building Regulations and Standards to advance climate resilience and housing production through the state building code.   

Investing in Farms and Local Economies   

This authorization also supports investments in our communities where it matters most. It ensures that everyone has access to fresh, locally sourced food, helps towns prepare for climate challenges, supports tree planting, and creates more parks and recreational spaces.  

The Mass Ready Act also establishes the Resilience Revolving Fund, which will help cities, towns, tribal governments, and water and wastewater districts invest in resilience projects. This fund will offer low-interest loans to improve stormwater systems, reduce flood risk, and strengthen other critical infrastructure. This fund will complement other authorizations for local projects, including the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Program, the Food Security Infrastructure Grant (FSIG) program, preserving open spaces, restoring watersheds, supporting outdoor recreation, protecting farmland, promoting food security, and keeping agriculture financially stable. 

Protecting Water and Nature 

The bill allocates authorization to preserve our water and natural resources, which are vital for our well-being. It ensures that residents have access to safe drinking water, maintains the quality of our waterways, and provides wildlife with the habitats necessary for their survival. Authorization highlights include PFAS mitigation and other critical clean water initiatives, land protection and support for the state’s forthcoming Biodiversity Conservation Goals. 

The full legislation and key issue briefs are available here.  

Statements of Support: 

Braintree Mayor Erin Joyce: 

“The Mass Ready Act is a great opportunity for towns like Braintree to get the resources we need to tackle climate challenges head-on. It helps us modernize our local infrastructure and boost our economy. For cities and towns at the forefront of climate impacts, this bill means we won’t have to face these challenges alone. It gives us the tools we need to build stronger communities and protect ourselves for the long term.” 

Northampton Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra:  

“With storm, heat, and fire events increasing in frequency and severity, Northampton, like all cities, needs to provide resources and refuge for our residents and neighbors. We are working to reduce the impact of these events and make sure people have safe places to go to receive vital services. But all of this requires a massive investment that no city can afford on its own. We are very hopeful that the proposed resilience revolving fund will enable us to make these investments now; to protect our residents and make sure the entire state is more resilient in the face of climate change. Just as the state revolving fund for water and sewer has enabled cities to make critical upgrades to those treatment plants with favorable lending terms, such a mechanism will be essential for cities to address other important infrastructure needs to address immediate climate impacts. We have big plans to make our city more resilient. This revolving fund could be a key to making them a reality. The Governor has also proposed a commission to help us regionally understand the challenges we face and the ways we can work together to solve them. As mayor of a key city in the Connecticut River floodplain, I am eager to contribute and work with our regional neighbors to create and implement solutions together and manage flood protection and prevention holistically.”