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S 660MASSACHUSETTSSession 194thState Billin committee
High Impact

Massachusetts establishes Coastal Erosion Innovation Center and pilot permitting program to protect shorelines

Original title: An Act to protect coastal resources

Last action · November 24, 2025: Accompanied a new draft, see S2731Sponsors: Bruce Tarr and 1 other

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law

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What This Bill Would Do

Massachusetts establishes the Massachusetts Coastal Erosion Innovation Center to develop and research methods for protecting and strengthening coastal shorelines, while authorizing up to 20 innovative pilot project permits annually through December 31, 2035.

Why it matters

Coastal property owners, municipalities, and environmental organizations gain access to a new state center and a dedicated pilot permitting pathway for testing erosion-control and shoreline-resilience projects.

Who It Would Affect

Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Coastal property owners

Owners of coastal property are represented on the advisory group and are eligible to apply for pilot project permits to protect their shorelines.

Directly affected

Municipalities

Municipalities are represented on the advisory group through the Massachusetts Municipal Association and can apply for innovative pilot project permits.

Directly affected

Environmental advocacy organizations

Environmental advocacy organizations participate through appointed representatives on the advisory group advising the innovation center.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the purpose of the Massachusetts Coastal Erosion Innovation Center?
Its purpose is to develop, identify, research, advance, and deploy innovative technologies and approaches for protecting and strengthening the resilience of the state's coastal shoreline and public and private infrastructure.
Who is eligible to apply for the innovative pilot project permits?
Applicants include municipalities, regional groups of municipalities, non-profit organizations, research institutions, private property owners, collaborations thereof, and individuals.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.

Procedural history

4 actions
  1. Nov 24, 2025Senate
    Accompanied a new draft, see S2731
  2. May 21, 2025Joint
    Hearing scheduled for 06/03/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-1
  3. Feb 27, 2025House
    House concurred
  4. Feb 27, 2025SenateCommittee
    Referred to the committee on Environment and Natural Resources

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Sponsors

Bruce TarrSenate · District First Essex and MiddlesexRepublicanPrimary sponsor
Steve XiarhosHouse · District 5th BarnstableRepublicanCosponsor

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift95% confidence

Establishment of Specialized Coastal Erosion Center

The bill creates a centralized state body combining multi-agency oversight with targeted advisory representation and a pilot permitting exception for innovative coastal protection.

Executive Office of Energy and Environmental AffairsMassachusetts Coastal Erosion Innovation Center

Connected Entities

Steve Xiarhos, Executive Office of Administration and Finance, New England District of the United States Army Corps of Engineers and 7 more
PersonSteve Xiarhos“Cosponsor of Senate Bill 660”Map →
OrganizationExecutive Office of Administration and Finance“Consists of representatives on the innovation center”Map →
OrganizationNew England District of the United States Army Corps of Engineers“Consulted and coordinated with by the center”Map →
OrganizationDepartment of Conservation and Recreation“Consists of representatives on the innovation center”Map →
OrganizationExecutive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs“Administers the Massachusetts Coastal Erosion Innovation Center and chairs its a”Map →
OrganizationOffice of Coastal Zone Management“Consists of representatives on the innovation center”Map →
PersonBruce Tarr“Lead sponsor of Senate Bill 660”Map →
OrganizationMassachusetts Municipal Association“Submits a list of municipal officials for appointment to the advisory group”Map →
OrganizationDepartment of Environmental Protection“Consists of representatives on the innovation center and promulgates regulations”Map →
OrganizationExecutive Office of Housing and Economic Development“Consists of representatives on the innovation center”Map →

Sources

Open source document

malegislature.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance75
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy20
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz35
    Current news / social attention level

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