波士頓3所考試學校招生辦法9月底將再修訂

波士頓市長吳弭（左一）9月10日晚專程出席波士頓學校委員會
本年度首次會議。（周菊子攝）

             （Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓綜合報導）波士頓學校委員會9月10日召開新學年首次會議。公校總監Mary Skipper報告3所考試學校招生辦法的修訂建議，已登記入學人數較去年為低。波士頓市長吳弭（Michelle Wu）專程出席，感謝相關人士，陳述眾多改進，呼籲社區支持。

波士頓公校總監Mary Skipper(右）和學校委員會委員Quoc Tran （左）主持會議。
（周菊子攝）

            波士頓3所考試學校，波士頓拉丁學校（Boston Latin School），波士頓拉丁學院（Boston Latin Academy）和約翰奧布萊恩數學及科學學校（John D. O’Bryant School of Math and Science）的招生辦法，在新冠病毒疫情期間的2021年2月和7月初次修改成依照學生的平均家庭收入，貧困率，教育程度，擁有住率，種族構成，單親家庭比例等因素的家庭社會經濟背景來分成8層（tier），每層各招收12.5%的學生，以期波士頓學童有更公平機會升讀考試學校。

波士頓公校學校委員會本學年首次會議。（周菊子攝）

            但這辦法實施以來，家長們意見極多，波士頓公校也發現不同社會經濟層的申請和錄取數量不平衡，社會經濟背景較差的第1和第2層學生，申請數量遠高分配的席位，學生之間競爭異常激烈。第7和第8層學生，申請數量較少，卻依然享有12.5%席位。這使得第1及第2層中學業表現優異的一些學生，依舊無法入讀考試學校，而第7、第8層的學生，即使學業表現沒那麼好，還是可以入讀考試學校。

            該報告還發現，某些特定地理區域學生，入讀考試學校的比率顯著偏高。意味著社會經濟分層，並不能解決所有形式的不公平。學生居住區域對入學機會產生了不應該有的影響。

            在競爭激烈的社會經濟背景分類中，學校表現非常優秀的學生，入讀考試學校的機會，反而不如申請人數較少的社會經濟類別中的學生。

            此外，多數波士頓公立學校都符合“高貧困區”標準，這一加分機制對多元化沒有太大影響。現行政策還意外的懲罰了居住在較富裕社區，但家庭收入實際較低的學生。

            波士頓公校因此提出取消貧困學校學生加分，重新設計社會經濟分層，席位分配，調整加分機制，允許全市學生申請，不受居住地限制等的建議。

            社區對考試學校招生制度的期許是維護多元性、公平性、透明度，在加分機制上則有不同看法。

            波士頓公校總監Mary Skipper還報告了目前已知新學年登記入學的波士頓公校學生人數為 48,128，其中包括6月至9月的2,400名新生。確切的就讀人數，要等10月1日才能落實。

            根據波士頓公校數據，入讀學生人數在2019-2020學年，有52,384名學生，之後或因大量湧入的新移民人數遞減，波士頓公校的入讀學生人數也逐年減少，2023年10月，學生人數曾下降至48,111人。波士頓公校認為，川普政府所推政策，讓許多移民家庭憂慮，也可能導致學生人數下降。

            波士頓市長吳弭（Ｍichelle Wu）9日晚特地出席波士頓學校委員會，發言約10分鐘，感謝學校委員會委員，學校老師與校務人員。吳弭市長細數波士頓公校過去這幾年來的成就，包括100%的學校，都已採用經學區批准的高品質教材，翻修或新建公校樓宇的數量，高達過去40年來的總和，學生們的MCAS測驗成績，大有進步，今年開學以來，學校巴士的準時率大幅提升，波士頓推出的「波士頓閱讀」計畫，學生免費參觀博物館，看表演等「家庭日」活動，已有不下65,000人次受益，意味學生們的學習環境和品質都有大幅度改善。她強調波士頓市有全美最古老的公校系統，也要有最好的公校，希望社區企業加入支持行列，為波士頓公校學生提供實習機會。

            波士頓公校委員會有7名持投票權委員，全由波士頓市長指派，其中1人為越南裔，住在多徹斯特的Quoc Tran。下次開會日期訂在9月25日，將就考試學校招生制度提交較具體建議，再交由委員們投票表決。

波士頓市議員初選結果也出爐 4名在位不分區市議員連任希望大

波士頓市議會議長Ruthzee Louijeune(左）初選得最高票。（檔案照片，周菊子攝）

（Boston Orange 綜合報導）波士頓市級選舉的市議員初選，不分區市議員部分，4名在位者，得票率高居前4名，將在11月4日和另外4名參選人做席位保衛戰。不分區市議員部分，3、6、8、9分區，參選人數少於2人，未辦初選。

            波士頓市議會組織是，有4名不分區議員，9名分區議員席位，任期2年。

波士頓市不分區市議員，左起Erin Murphy，Julie Mejia，晉級大選，
應可順利連任。（檔案照片，周菊子攝）

Henry Santana有吳弭市長支持，連任也應不難。（檔案照片，周菊子攝）

            根據波士頓市政府選務局資料，不分區市議員選舉有8人晉級，照個人得票數與得票率，依序為4名在位者，Ruthzee Louijeune：45,500 票 (18.71%)，Julia Mejia：42,245 票 (17.37%)，Erin J Murphy：38,981 票(16.03%)，Henry A Santana：30,670 票 (12.6%)，以及曾任波士頓市分區議員，這次捲土回鍋，參選不分區的Frank K Baker：26,240 票 (10.79%)，和Alexandra E Valdez：18,930 票 (7.79%)，Marvin Dee Mathelier：13,826票 (5.69%)，Will Onuoha：11,216 票 (4.61%)。

波士頓世第2區市議員Ed Flynn（左）順利晉級大選。

            分區市議員部分，第1選區晉級的參選人為在位的Gabriela Coletta Zapata：7,021 票 (76.8%)，以及競爭者Andretti McDuffie-Stanziani：1,352 票 (14.8%)。第2選區為在位的愛德華費連（Edward M Flynn）：8,250 票(86.41%)，和Charles Jeffrey Delaney：629 票 (6.59%)。第4選區為在位的Brian J Worrell：5,773 票 (81.42%)和Helen Y Cameron：817 票 (11.52%)。第5選區為在位的Enrique Pepen：8,008 票 (63.5%)和Winston Pierre：2,954 票 (23.4%)。

第7選區由於原本在位的Tania Fernandes Anderson最近承認犯了腐敗貪污罪，被判入聯邦監獄一個月，已卸職，席位出缺，於是共有不下11人參選，最後晉級大選的2人為曾是田徑明星，現為教練的Said Coach Ahmed：1,155 票 (15.7%)，以及愉悅丘傳道者浸信會教堂（Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church）資深牧師Miniard Culpepper：1,102 票 (15.0%)。

            波士頓市今年的選舉，由於有市長和市議員選舉同時舉行，人們焦點都放在了市長選舉上，但市議員選舉選出了哪些人，卻很可能左右未來4年的波士頓市政治景觀。

            不分區市議員部分，包括4名在位者，共有10人參選，結果一如人們預料，4名在位者的得票數高居前4名。

            4名在位不分區市議員中，Ruthzee Louijeune和Henry Santana都被人們看作吳弭市長的盟友。Julia Mejia儘管曾經批評，但近來大都表現得像似吳弭市長的支持者，Erin Murphy則是吳弭市長最顯著的批評者。

            曾經代表多徹斯特區長達10年，這次回鍋參選市議員的Frank Baker，儘管二年前在波士頓市議會的聲量不小，卻仍和一度傳聞還是吳弭市長出馬，才湊齊符合參選資格簽名人數，得以名列選票的Henry Santana，有著4430票的差距。想要在11月4日大選中擠進得票數最高的前4名，恐怕並不容易。

            其餘的3名角逐者，都未曾在波士頓市當選過任何席位，得票率也都低於8%，翻盤的可能性也不大。

麻州地鐵慶祝Lynn市渡輪重新命名為Frederick Douglass號

Frederick Douglass號渡輪。（MBTA提供）

             (Boston Orange 周菊子麻州綜合報導)麻州地鐵（MBTA）今（10）日在Lynn市繁花街碼頭（Blossom Street Pier），正式把一艘渡輪重新命名為Frederick Douglass。

MBTA總經理伍偉華和Lynn是小學生們在船上合影。（周菊子攝）

            這艘渡輪以前的名字是Schoodie Explorer。今年夏天，MBTA在Lynn, Quincy, Winthrop，以及 Boston等城市舉辦比賽，邀學生們為3艘渡輪重新命名。Lynn市6年級學生Elsa Marie McKendall所提交的名字，Frederick Douglass，是Lynn市著名廢奴主義者，和Lynn市關係匪淺，因而獲選。

            9月10日早上，麻州副州長Kim Driscoll，麻州交通廳廳長 Monica Tibbits-Nutt，MBTA總經理伍步華（Philip Eng）都出席了重新命名盛典，並在船隻四週撒香檳酒，在船頭敲碎一瓶香檳，為重新命名的渡輪送上祝福。他們強調擴大公共水上交通很重要性，也表揚Frederick Douglass對自由與平等的貢獻。

麻州副州長Kim Driscoll和MBTA總經理伍偉華出席渡輪重新命名儀式。
（周菊子攝）

            麻州眾議員黃子安（Donald Wong），Lynn市市長Jared C. Nicholson都應邀參加盛典。

MBTA總經理伍偉華為渡輪撒香檳。（周菊子攝）

            麻州地鐵是在2023年開通了Lynn市渡輪服務，推出以來十分受歡迎。麻州地鐵總經理伍偉華表示，為民眾提供更多交通選擇是該機構宗旨之一。他感謝Ford小學和Thurgood Marshall中學參加命名比賽。

            根據麻州地鐵資料，麻州地鐵共有3條全年運行，4條季節性營運的渡輪服務。Lynn市的渡輪服務，正式名稱為F5路線，從Lynn市繁花街碼頭直航到波士頓城中區的長碼頭（Long Wharf），屬季節性路線，只在春天到秋天之間航行。單程票價是7元。

第130屆波士頓馬拉松賽9/12截止報名

 Qualifier Registration for 130th Boston Marathon

presented by Bank of America Begins September 8

Athletes can submit a registration application between September 8-12

BOSTON – With qualifier registration opening for the 130th Boston Marathon presented by

Bank of America in September, the Boston Athletic Association reminds athletes of what to

expect during registration week, September 8-12. The 130th Boston Marathon will feature a

field size of 30,000 athletes and will be run on Monday, April 20, 2026.

REGISTRATION TIMETABLE

Qualifier registration will open on Monday, September 8 at 10:00 a.m. ET and will close on

Friday, September 12, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. ET. The B.A.A. will use the same registration process

for qualified runners as it used for the 2021 through 2025 races, allowing any athlete who has

achieved a currently valid Boston Marathon qualifying time to submit a registration application

during Registration Week, September 8-12.

Registration will be held within the B.A.A.’s online platform Athletes' Village. Registration is

not on a first-come, first-served basis – all applications will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. ET on

Friday, September 12 and treated in the same manner regardless of when they are submitted

during the application period.

QUALIFYING WINDOW & STANDARDS

The 2026 Boston Marathon qualifying window began on September 1, 2024, and will close at

5:00 p.m. ET on Friday, September 12, 2025.

Qualifying standards for the 130th Boston Marathon can be found here. Achieving a Boston

Marathon qualifying standard does not guarantee acceptance into the event. Those who are

fastest among the pool of applicants in their age and gender group will be accepted.

ENTRY FEEThe entry fee for accepted qualifiers will be $260 USD. Participants will have the opportunity to

purchase registration insurance at the point of registration. Entry fees will only be processed

once an athlete is accepted into the Boston Marathon.

131st BOSTON MARATHON (2027)

The qualifying window for the 131st Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America will open

on Saturday, September 13 – one day following the completion of 2026 Boston Marathon

Registration Week. Qualifying standards will remain the same as the 2026 standards. As a

reminder, in June the B.A.A. announced new procedures for qualifying races that have a

significant net-downhill of more than 1,500 feet (457.2 meters).

ABOUT THE BOSTON ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION (B.A.A.)

Established in 1887, the Boston Athletic Association is a non-profit organization with a mission

of promoting a healthy lifestyle through sports, especially running. The B.A.A. manages the

Boston Marathon, and supports comprehensive charity, youth, and year-round programming. The

economic impact of the 2024 Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America produced $509

million in state and local economic activity. The 130th Boston Marathon presented by Bank of

America will be held on Monday, April 20, 2026.

The Boston Marathon is part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, along with international

marathons in Tokyo, London, Sydney, Berlin, Chicago, and New York City. For more

information on the B.A.A., please visit www.baa.org.

Governor Healey Nominates Lyonel Jean-Pierre, Jr. and Timothy Horan to Probate and Family Court

 Governor Healey Nominates Lyonel Jean-Pierre, Jr. and Timothy Horan to Probate and Family Court 

BOSTON – Today, Governor Maura Healey nominated Lyonel Jean-Pierre, Jr. and Timothy Horan to serve as Associate Justices of the Probate and Family Court. The nominees will now be considered by the Governor’s Council for confirmation.

“Both Attorney Jean-Pierre Jr and Attorney Horan will bring a wealth of knowledge to the Probate and Family Court, and the bench will benefit from their unique perspectives and deep understanding of the law,” said Governor Maura Healey. “We’re grateful to the Governor’s Council for their consideration of these nominations.”

“The Probate and Family Court plays a critical role in our judicial system, and I am excited to work closely with the Governor’s Council to confirm these nominees and hope to see them serve on the Probate and Family Court,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll.  

The Probate and Family Court Department handles court matters that involve families and children, including divorce, child support, and wills. The Probate and Family Court Department's mission is to deliver timely justice to the public by providing equal access to a fair, equitable, and efficient forum to solve family and probate legal matters and to help and protect all individuals, families, and children impartially and respectfully. 

Governor Healey has appointed 14 judges to serve as Associate Justices of the Probate and Family Court: Laurel Barraco, Bethany Brown, Jennifer Bingham, Colleen Carroll, Caryn Mitchell-Munevar, Manisha Bhatt, Bernadette Stark, Michelle Yee, Jessica Dubin, Alexandra Flanders,  Evelyn Patsos, Brian Salisbury, Mikalen Howe, and Carla Salvucci. Governor Healey also appointed Stephanie L. Everett, Esq. to serve as the Suffolk Register of Probate, and Mark Ames to serve as Hampshire Register of Probate. 

For more information about the Probate and Family Court, visit its homepage. 

About the Nominees: 

Timothy Horan has spent the last twenty-one years in private practice, first at a small law firm and, since 2016, as a solo practitioner, where his practice has focused on all aspects of probate and family law, including divorce and custody disputes, estate planning, and probate matters.  He has also handled a wide range of criminal and civil matters in the District and Superior Courts. Prior to that, he served as an Investigator and Prosecuting Counsel for the Division of Professional Licensure where he oversaw investigations and prosecutions related to healthcare fraud. He has also served as an Analyst and Victim Witness Advocate at the Bristol County District Attorney's Office.  He holds a Bachelor of Science from Fitchburg State University and a Juris Doctor from New England School of Law. 

Lyonel Jean-Pierre, Jr. is the Managing Attorney at Community Legal Aid in Worcester where he manages a team of attorneys dedicated to providing legal assistant to indigent clients on family law matters being litigated in the Probate and Family Court and the District Court. Prior to this, Attorney Jean-Pierre worked as a Clinical Instructor in the Family Practice area in the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau where supervised and provided instruction to law students representing indigent clients in family and domestic relations law cases in the Probate and Family Court. He also spent two years in private practice where his practice focused on domestic relations matters in both the Probate and Family and Juvenile Courts.  Early in his career he spent two years as an attorney at Prisoners’ Legal Services advocating on behalf of incarcerated individuals. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Brandeis University and the Juris Doctor from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law.  

波士頓市長初選結果一面倒 吳弭71.6% Josh Kraft 23.3%

波士頓市長吳弭高興宣出，“波士頓不賣”。（周菊子攝）

                   (Boston Orange 綜合報導) 波士頓初選落幕，市長部分毫不令人意外，將是現任市長吳弭（Michelle Wu）和Josh Kraft在11月4日大選再度對決局面，只是投票結果竟是71.6% 比23.3%，整整相差48%，讓人有點驚詫，這要怎麼繼續。

波士頓市長吳弭全家人現身會場。（周菊子攝）

                  晚上九點半左右，吳弭市長在羅森岱爾 （Roslindale）的亞當公園（Adams Park），舉辦露天的選後派對，意氣高昂的說：「我們全市的選民都不懷疑，在波士頓勝利是買不來的」。這是“劍”指她的競爭對手Josh Kraft，一位億萬富翁之子，為參選，已經花了將近500萬元。

                  吳弭說，接下來的8個星期，將不只是選票上的2個名字而已，而是關於我們是誰的考驗，關於我們是否相信我們的城市是個有可能，有希望的地方。波士頓是否會繼續是每一個人的家。

波士頓市長候選人Josh Kraft (前左）有父親Robert Kraft站台。（圖片來自推特）

                  麻州眾議員Rob Consalvo為這選後派對開場時強調，波士頓是需要一個有經驗的市長，而吳弭的能力，眾人有目共睹。

                  麻州眾議會財政委員會主席麥家威（Aaron Michlewitz），麻州參議員Lydia Edwards，波士頓市議會議長Ruthzee Louijeune，華人前進會主任陳玉珍，中華公所主席雷國輝等人和逾百名支持者，在這選後派對中和吳弭一起慶祝。

             Josh Kraft是在包括他父親，愛國者球隊東主Robert Kraft等家人陪同下，出現在鐵工本地第7工會大廳，和支持他的選民再一起。他發誓要在接下來的日子，好好打這場選仗。

Josh Kraft。（圖片來自推特）

            Josh Kraft說，“讓我明確表示，我們還在打這場選仗之中”。“我們將更努力，更大聲，比以前更壯大，我們知道前路不易，但對太多家庭來說，在波士頓市內生活也一樣不容易”。

            Josh Kraft強調，“真正重要的投票是11月“。

            現年40歲的吳弭是波士頓市第一位經由選舉產生的女性，有色人種市長，在市政府服務的時間很長，也有很龐大的支持群眾。她還因為對抗川普總統，面對聯邦政府的威脅與訴訟之際，迎來本地支持與全美關注。

           現年58歲的Josh Kraft，在不得不應付他父親和川普總統的長年友誼之際，仍得和川普總統切斷關係。他說自己從未支持川普，而且相信川普不適任。

 麻州眾議會財政委員會主席麥家威（Aaron Michlewitz），中華公所主席雷國輝
和來自台灣學生楊定凱參加波士頓市長吳弭的初選派對。（周菊子攝）

          在週二的投票前夕，Josh Kraft曾說，他希望自己和吳弭的得票差距，能落在15%之內，那將有助於他最選舉最後階段重振士氣，鼓動捐款人支持他。

                  波士頓環球報形容這場選戰，打到現在，既昂貴，又醜陋。Josh Kraft自己掏出幾百萬元來競選，其中有許多是花在買電視廣告上，讓人們到處都看得到他。有個超級政治行動委員會（super PAC）也在攻擊吳弭市長的廣告上，花了幾百萬元，批評吳弭的房屋政策紀錄，以及翻修白體育館（White Stadium）的經費惹人爭議。波士頓市政府想要把這體育館翻修成為一個職業女子足球隊，以及波士頓公校運動員的練習主場。

麻州眾議員Rob Consalvo 強調波士頓市需要像吳弭這樣有經驗的人當市長。（周菊子攝）

                  Josh Kraft批評吳弭“不食人間煙火（out of touch）“，未能處理波士頓市最嚴重的挑戰，例如房租高漲 ，學校表現不佳。

                  吳弭也不客氣，把Josh Jraft形容為一名“投機政客（a carpetbagger）”，成為波士頓市居民不到2年，試圖把自己“買”進市長辦公室。她還說Josh kraf缺乏帶領一個正受白宮威脅城市所需要的政府經驗。

波士頓市議會議長Ruthzee Louijeune。（周菊子攝）

因為去年秋天辦理選務狀況被認為不可接受，已被州政府接管的波士頓市選務局，週二晚只公布了一部分的選舉結果。

一面倒的選舉結果，在波士頓倒不是新鮮事。2017年，當前任波士頓市長馬丁華殊（Martin J. Walsh）爭取連任時，就在9月的初選中，贏得63%的選票，把他的競爭對手遠拋在落後34%的位置。

根據波士頓市數據，在只有18%的登記選民出席投票中，截至9日晚上6點時，有76,525人投了票。2021年9月競爭激烈的市長初選，約25％的選民出席投了票。

亞當公園有樂隊現場演奏。（周菊子攝）

波士頓前市長萬寧路的重要助手Dot Joyce，也來到吳弭市長初選派對。（周菊子攝）

塔芙茨大學明年秋季開始 家庭年收入15萬元以下學生免學費

           （Boston Orange 綜合編譯）越來越多大學院校開始免學雜費了。塔芙茨大學（Tufts）今（9）日宣佈，2026年秋季起，凡是年收入低於15萬元的家庭，子女就讀該校大學本科，都可免繳學雜費。

            大部分的這些學生將獲得學費補助，但住宿，食物，書籍等其他加起來也要數以萬元計的費用，可能是由校方提供貸款的方式來辦理。家庭年收入低於6萬美元的學生，將可獲得不包括學生貸款的財務援助。這些補助僅限本地學生有資格領取。

            塔大校長Sunil Kumar在一份聲明中表示，高等教育的費用一直是全美各地家庭的主要顧慮。藉著為家庭年收入低於15萬元的學生免學費，該校不僅減輕了學生們的負擔，還發出一個明確訊息，塔大致力因應所有學生的全部需求。

            今年秋季，塔大的學費一學年在83,000元到93,000元之間，視乎學生住校或者住在校外。塔大稱為“塔大學費協議（Tufts Tuition Pact）”的這辦法，保證許多學生不需要付出該校官網上所列舉，和全美其他大學一樣都已經那麼昂貴了的價格。

            年收入在135,000元以下的家庭，在像塔大這樣，擁有大量捐贈款的私立大學就讀，通常得每年至少繳交36,000 元。根據布魯金斯研究院（Brookings Institute）的分析，這大約是這些學校公開費用的一半。有些學校在發現他們的學生幾乎沒人支付全額學費後，甚至已降低了學費標價。

            這也是哈佛大學，麻省理工學院等學校開始讓就讀大學本科，家庭年收入低於20萬元學生免繳學費的部分原因。例如安赫斯特學院和Bowdoin學院，以及麻州大學系統等都為家庭年收入在75,000元以下學生支付所有費用的原因。

            塔大是常春藤聯盟以外，也採取這種措施的頂尖私立大學之一。

Governor Healey Unveils Nation-Leading Plan to Cut Environmental Regulations to Fast-Track Housing Development

Governor Healey Unveils Nation-Leading Plan to Cut Environmental Regulations to Fast-Track Housing Development 

Reforms will cut environmental review times from 1+ years to 30 days for housing projects to expedite housing and bring down costs 

MEDFORD – Governor Maura Healey today announced a nation-leading plan to cut environmental regulations to make it faster and easier to build homes in Massachusetts and bring down housing costs for all residents. These new draft regulations will speed up environmental review times from 1 year or more down to 30 days for housing projects across the state. It will be a game changer for permitting times and costs to build housing in Massachusetts. 

Earlier this year, the Unlocking Housing Production Commission (UHPC) presented a report indicating that lengthy environmental reviews for new housing developments can delay projects for months and years and can result in significant, unexpected added costs which have the potential to render projects financially infeasible.  

Amid a longstanding statewide housing shortage that has forced homebuyers and renters to pay higher prices for fewer options, the Healey-Driscoll Administration is proposing to cut the environmental review period for qualifying housing projects down to 30 days, potentially lowering the cost of housing development by hundreds of thousands of dollars and leading to faster, more affordable housing development. 

“We are bringing urgency to addressing this housing crisis, and this is a game changer for the development of more housing in Massachusetts and bringing down housing costs for everyone,” said Governor Maura Healey. “It’s our job to make sure government moves at the speed of business, and cutting these regulations will reduce review times from more than a year to 30 days and supercharge the building of homes across Massachusetts.” 

“Getting housing built can take too much time and too many resources. These proposed reforms will make the review process more straightforward and reduce the kind of delays that drive up costs,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “By creating more certainty and cutting down on unnecessary steps, we can get homes under construction faster.” 

“After months of analysis and cross-agency collaboration, we are teaming up across state government to speed up housing production,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “These changes will move critical housing projects from plans to reality much faster and will actually help us ensure that we’re incentivizing the kinds of housing we need the most – dense, energy efficient, and resilient buildings – while upholding our high environmental standards.” 

“Massachusetts has a housing shortage that’s driving up costs. That's why this administration is working across government to make it easier and more affordable to build,” said Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus. “Today’s proposals would reaffirm vital environmental protections while building more homes faster. This means more options for renters and homebuyers and greater affordability for residents across the state." 

“We don’t have to choose between building the housing we desperately need and protecting the forests, farmlands, wetlands, and biodiversity that makes Massachusetts one of the best places to live in the country,” said Climate Chief Melissa Hoffer. “This plan will deliver more units, faster, and smarter, with long term energy cost savings for homeowners and renters.” 

Governor Healey has made increasing housing production and lowering costs a top priority of her administration. Since taking office, nearly 100,000 new homes have been built or are in development. She passed the state’s most ambitious housing legislation in history, eliminated forced renter-paid broker’s fees, put hundreds of acres of vacant state-owned land out to bid for housing, launched an office to housing conversion program and tax incentive, and increased housing development tax credits to create thousands of homes in Gateway Cities. 

Streamlining Review 

Projects that meet the qualifying housing criteria will be able to move quickly through review by the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) Office. Rather than requiring developments of a detailed Environmental Impact Report (EIR), the proposed rules will allow qualifying housing projects to complete MEPA review with only the simpler Environmental Notification Form (ENF). This change will allow qualifying projects to cut the review process down from 1 year or more to just 30 days. Requirements for advance notice and community outreach will be maintained to ensure transparency and engagement, as supported by the UHPC. 

Additionally, an appeal of a local wetlands order would no longer trigger MEPA review for single-family homes. Review of urban renewal plans that do not propose individual projects will also be reduced to a 30-day ENF filing. 

Overall, these draft regulations go beyond recent changes to environmental review processes in other states by allowing developers to qualify for quicker approvals while still addressing critical climate and environmental concerns. These MEPA reforms emphasize a simpler and less restrictive self-verification process, which will enable faster approvals.  

Qualifying Housing Criteria 

To incentivize critical housing development while protecting the environment, housing projects must meet seven criteria to qualify for the streamlined process:  

• Housing-Centered: At least 67 percent of a project must be for a residential purpose, with the remainder being used for related commercial uses; 
• Dense: Must meet certain unit per acre thresholds for different types of housing; 
• Land-Efficient: Projects may alter up to 5 acres of undeveloped land, or up to 10 acres with a tree preservation and replanting plan; and Priority Habitat, Prime Farmland, and carbon rich forest must be avoided; 
• Flood and Erosion: All new developments must be constructed outside the current floodplain and other highest hazard areas and redevelopment projects must build outside highest hazard areas and follow resilient design principles; 
• Energy Efficiency: Projects must comply with energy efficiency standards set out in the stretch code; 
• Utility Access: There must be enough water supply, wastewater capacity and energy infrastructure to support the project; and, 
• Transit-Oriented: Developments must limit the extent of new traffic, with higher thresholds if located near transit. 

These regulations complement other streamlining measures outlined in the Mass Ready Act, Governor Healey’s legislation aimed at strengthening state infrastructure and streamlining permitting. 

Ecological Restoration 

The new regulations also aim to simplify the process for certain ecological restoration projects that have important environmental benefits but do not qualify for existing streamlining, such as cranberry bog restoration and partial dam removals. An estimated 23 percent of these projects filed with MEPA since 2022 would now only require an ENF, with more projects anticipated to take advantage of streamlining in the future.  

The draft regulations were filed with the Secretary of State’s Office and are available for public comment. 

The agency is inviting public feedback on the draft regulations until 5 p.m. on October 31, 2025. There will be virtual information sessions and public hearings on October 14 and 15, 2025. More details are available at https://www.mass.gov/regulations/301-CMR-1100-mepa-regulations.