SUMMARY FROM BILL TRACK: This bill, “An Act relative to healthy and sustainable schools” introduced to Massachusetts General Court, is a comprehensive legislation that primarily aims to reduce the carbon footprint of public educational institutions. The bill proposes an energy-use audit for all public higher education institutions, municipally-owned higher education institutions, and K-12 schools in the state. The audit results will be used to implement energy efficiency improvements and install renewable energy systems in these institutions. The audit and subsequent improvements will be at no charge to the schools and will prioritize schools in areas classed as environmental justice communities, which have a median household income of 65% or less of the statewide median and/or consist of at least 25% minority or foreign born residents, or residents lacking English language proficiency. The bill also entails the establishment of a Healthy and Sustainable Schools Office to coordinate these activities. This office will facilitate the implementation of efficient energy systems and renewable energy projects, prioritizing those institutions located in environmental justice communities. All the public contracts associated with improvements and renewable energy systems must comply with the State’s public bidding laws and ensure employees receive prevailing wages and benefits. The contractors will also be required to prioritize hiring from historically marginalized communities and must abide by state and local hiring goals for women, minorities, and veterans. The bill recommends that the state appropriate funds to a revolving fund dedicated to financing the activities authorized under this act. The bill also recommends leveraging potential federal funding sources, including those under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Inflation Reduction Act, and the American Rescue Plan Act, amongst others. The aim is to make all public educational institutions in Massachusetts carbon-free by 2033.

SUMMARY FROM BILL TRACK: This bill proposes several measures to reduce single-use plastics in the environment by regulating the sale and distribution of various plastic items across multiple industries. Specifically, the bill seeks to ban or limit the use of plastic grocery bags, polystyrene (commonly used in food service ware), plastic straws, helium balloons, small alcoholic beverage bottles (nips), wipes containing plastic, hotel toiletry bottles, single-serve plastic water bottles, and black plastic. Violations of the regulations applied to each of these items would result in fines, with certain exemptions applying in some cases. The bill also provides definitions for key terms and details the associated penalties for non-compliance.

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SUMMARY FROM BILL TRACK: This bill refers to an Act aimed at ensuring plastic bottle recycling. The Act sets out a timeline to increase the percentage of recycled plastic used in beverage containers in Massachusetts, step-by-step over two, five and eight years. The bill mandates that plastic beverage manufacturers and plastic material reclaimers must annually submit detailed reports to the Department of Environmental Protection indicating the amount and type of virgin and recycled plastic used in the covered beverage containers. Also, postconsumer recycled plastic manufacturers must annually report the quantity of food-grade material forms they sold, and their capacity to produce such material. The information, provided under penalty of perjury, will be published by the Department within 45 days of receipt. The act does not apply to refillable plastic beverage containers, medical devices, sterile medical products, and prescription medicine packaging.