(Boston Orange 周菊子麻州綜合報導)麻州州長奚莉（Maura Healey）率多名政府官員今（24）日在碧樹市 （Braintree）宣佈，她已遞出授權發行10年30億美元債券的「麻州已準備好法案（Mass Ready Act）」，希望藉以加強麻州的基礎建設，簡化關鍵住房和基礎設施項目的審批流程。
麻州州長Maura Healey宣布遞出「麻州已準備好了」法案。（周菊子攝）
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| 麻州政府官員支持「麻州已準備好了」法案。（周菊子攝） |
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| 宣佈會在碧樹市政大廳舉行。（周菊子攝） |
Rebecca Tepper說，能源及環境事務廳把今年叫做“執行”年，要落實以往做的許多計劃。「麻州已準備好了」法案將授權撥發二億元讓沿海社區執行保護社區免於遭受暴風雨襲擊，以及因應海平面上升等狀況的項目：撥款2000萬元支持生物多元化，保護土地及水資源、野生動物目標。
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| Braintree市市政大廳。（周菊子攝） |
麻州政府將新設「復原力循環基金（Resilience Revolving Fund）」，給地方市鎮吉部落政府，水域提供低利貸款，讓地方領導有機會付款辦理重要項目。
麻州還要在“食物安全”上，加倍努力，藉由「糧食基礎設施安全獎助金（Food Security Infrastructure Grant）」，支持農場和生產商來每個月烹製4500萬份餐飲。
去年，能源和環境事務不還獲得5億零500萬元經費，用於為民眾提供清潔水，基礎設施，以及快速消毒等。
麻州政府這天還從麻州鹿野（Deerfield）邀請來Clarkdale水果農場東主Ben Clark做見證，陳述天候變化對農作物的影響有多大，過去這幾年，幸而有奚莉州長這一任州政府的關心，撥款支持，他們才得以度過難關。
「麻州已準備好了」法案」重點關注基礎設施，簡化許可，氣候適應力，水和自然保護，住房生產，以及消費者保護，例如
允許申請第91章許可的住房和修復等項目，在遞件後的60天內修仙批核，不需觸動MEPA審查；減少濕地法規的重複行政上訴；以及取消某些項目的環境影響報告 (EIR) 要求，另外是把MEPA審查時間縮短至30天。
在建造房屋上，為因應麻州面對的住房危機，麻州將修法簡化住房建造的審批和流程，重新授權5000萬美元用於「動力基金」（Momentum Fund），以加速混合收入和多戶型住房的開發，並響應州長「解鎖住房生產委員會」（Unlocking Housing Production Commission）的建議。
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.
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