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Read. Follow. Verify.Massachusetts authorizes transportation department to acquire Article XCVII land in Andover
Last action · August 5, 2026: Signed by the Governor, Chapter 164 of the Acts of 2026Sponsor: Barry Finegold
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What This Bill Does
Massachusetts authorizes the Department of Transportation to acquire interests in specific portions of land owned by the town of Andover that were originally acquired for Article XCVII conservation and environmental purposes.
Enables state transportation infrastructure development by permitting the transfer or acquisition of protected municipal conservation land under specific statutory authorization.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Massachusetts Department of Transportation
Gains the legal authority to acquire interests in specified land owned by the town of Andover.
town of Andover
Subject to having interests in its municipally owned Article XCVII land acquired by the state transportation department.
Key Facts
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Signed into law.
Procedural history
25 actions- Aug 5, 2026Office of the GovernorEnrolledSigned by the Governor, Chapter 164 of the Acts of 2026
- Jul 31, 2026SenateLaid before the Governor
- Jul 31, 2026SenateFloorEnacted -see Roll Call #237 (Yeas 39 to Nays 0)
- Jul 31, 2026HouseFloorEnacted - 152 YEAS to 0 NAYS (See YEA and NAY No. 269 )
- Jul 31, 2026SenateEmergency preamble adopted
- Jul 31, 2026HouseEmergency preamble adopted
Show 19 earlier actions
- Jul 31, 2026SenateSenate concurred in the House amendment
- Jul 31, 2026SenateRules suspended
- Jul 31, 2026HouseFloorRead third and passed to be engrossed
- Jul 31, 2026HouseRules suspended
- Jul 31, 2026HouseOrdered to a third reading
- Jul 31, 2026HouseCommitteeRead second, amended (as recommended by the committee on House Ways and Means)
- Jul 31, 2026HouseRules suspended
- Jul 31, 2026HouseCommittee reported that the matter be placed in the Orders of the Day for the next sitting with the amendment pending
- Jul 31, 2026HouseCommitteeCommittee recommended ought to pass with an amendment, striking out all after the enacting clause and inserting the text of H5635, and referred to the committee on House Steering, Policy and Scheduling
- Jul 30, 2026HouseCommitteeRead; and referred to the committee on House Ways and Means
- Jul 30, 2026SenateFloorRead, rules suspended, read second, ordered to a third reading, read third and passed to be engrossed
- Jul 30, 2026SenateCommitteeBill reported favorably by committee
- Jul 30, 2026Massachusetts General CourtHearing rescheduled to 07/30/2026 from 04:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-1 Hearing updated to New End Time
- Jul 30, 2026Massachusetts General CourtHearing rescheduled to 07/30/2026 from 04:00 PM-04:10 AM in A-1 Hearing updated to New End Time
- Jul 29, 2026Massachusetts General CourtHearing scheduled for 07/30/2026 from 04:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-1
- Jul 29, 2026HouseHouse concurred
- Jul 22, 2026SenateCommitteeReferred to the committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight
- Jul 22, 2026SenateRules suspended
- Jul 1, 2026SenateCommitteeReferred to the committee on Rules of the two branches, acting concurrently
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.
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Sources
malegislature.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance60How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy25Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz20Current news / social attention level
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