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H 1053MASSACHUSETTSSession 194thState Billin committee

Massachusetts creates Merrimack River Collaborative to oversee water quality restoration and monitoring

Original title: An Act to create a Merrimack River Collaborative

Last action · October 9, 2025: Accompanied a new draft, see H4591Sponsors: Dawne Shand and 4 others

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
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What This Bill Would Do

Massachusetts establishes the Merrimack River Collaborative to coordinate water quality monitoring, public education, and restoration efforts along the Merrimack River, managed by regional planning organizations with a first meeting required by May 1st, 2025.

Why it matters

Local municipalities, state agencies, and regional organizations along the Merrimack River must coordinate through a newly formed collaborative to produce annual reports, conduct public hearings, and apply for grant funding.

Background
  • The Merrimack River spans New Hampshire and Massachusetts, serving as a critical drinking water source and recreational asset for the region. context

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

Merrimack Valley Planning Commission

Must manage and oversee the Merrimack River Collaborative alongside partner councils.

Directly affected

Municipalities along the Merrimack River

Mayors, town managers, boards of health, and conservation commissions are eligible for membership representation on the Collaborative.

Directly affected

Collaborative Members

Serve without compensation to coordinate water quality monitoring, public hearings, and annual reporting.

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

Who is responsible for managing the Merrimack River Collaborative?
The Merrimack Valley Planning Commission manages and oversees the Collaborative in collaboration with the Merrimack River Watershed Council and the Northern Middlesex Council of Governments.
Do members of the Collaborative receive pay for their service?
No, members do not receive compensation for their services associated with the Merrimack River Collaborative.
When is the Collaborative required to hold its first meeting and submit its first annual report?
The first meeting must be held no later than May 1st, 2025, and the first annual report is due by December 15th, 2025.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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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. Oct 9, 2025House
    Accompanied a new draft, see H4591
  2. Jun 23, 2025Joint
    Hearing scheduled for 07/01/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-1
  3. Feb 27, 2025Senate
    Senate concurred
  4. Feb 27, 2025HouseCommittee
    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

Dawne ShandHouse · District 1st EssexDemocraticPrimary sponsor
Bruce TarrSenate · District First Essex and MiddlesexRepublicanPrimary sponsor
Francisco PaulinoHouse · District 16th EssexDemocraticCosponsor
Patrick KearneyHouse · District 4th PlymouthDemocraticCosponsor
Adrianne RamosHouse · District 14th EssexDemocraticCosponsor

Connected Entities

Massbays National Estuary Partnership, Alliance of Climate and Environmental Stewards, Merrimack River Watershed Council and 8 more
OrganizationMassbays National Estuary Partnership“Potential member representation on the Collaborative”Map →
OrganizationAlliance of Climate and Environmental Stewards“Non-governmental organization potential member”Map →
OrganizationMerrimack River Watershed Council“Collaborates on managing and overseeing the Collaborative”Map →
OrganizationMerrimack Valley Planning Commission“Charged with managing and overseeing the Collaborative”Map →
OrganizationLowell Parks and Conservation Trust“Non-governmental organization potential member”Map →
OrganizationDepartment of Public Health“Potential member representation on the Collaborative”Map →
OrganizationNorthern Essex Community College“Local university potential member”Map →
OrganizationNorthern Middlesex Council of Governments“Collaborates on managing and overseeing the Collaborative”Map →
OrganizationGroundwork Lawrence“Non-governmental organization potential member”Map →
OrganizationDepartment of Environmental Protection“Potential member representation on the Collaborative”Map →
OrganizationUniversity of Massachusetts Lowell“Local university potential member”Map →

Sources

Open source document

malegislature.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance60
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy10
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz25
    Current news / social attention level

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