Promoting climate change adaptation, environmental and natural resource protection, and investment in recreational assets and opportunity

What it means

The final environmental bond bill from a House-Senate conference committee, listing total bond authority of $2,402,833,000. The largest part ($1,748,000,000) covers environment and recreation projects, such as state park and recreation facilities, parkways and trails, coastal and dam and flood control work, land protection for open space and wildlife, river and wetland restoration, water quality and drinking water, hazardous waste cleanup and farmland protection. Other parts include $211,000,000 for climate change adaptation (including $100,000,000 for the state hazard mitigation and climate adaptation plan and grants for local climate preparedness), $60,333,000 for the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust, $150,000,000 for coastal land, parks, trails and tree planting, $55,000,000 for the complete streets program, and $178,500,000 in bonds tied to $992,000,000 for federal-aid highway projects. Policy sections create a Global Warming Solutions Trust Fund, require a state climate adaptation and hazard mitigation plan, update marine fisheries rules and penalties, set rules for raw milk sales and animal inspectors, and create the Mohawk Trail Woodlands Partnership and a fund for it.

Source: official text and history of H.4835 on malegislature.gov. This describes the bill text posted there; amendments may have changed the version that was voted on.