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Read. Follow. Verify.Massachusetts Bill S.583 Overhauls State Building Standards for Climate Resilience and Expands Floodplain Mapping
Last action · November 13, 2025: Accompanied a study order, see S2718Sponsors: Lydia Edwards and 3 others
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What This Bill Would Do
This bill updates state building codes, restructures the board of building regulations and standards to 17 members, and creates a specialized opt-in alongside a climate resilience retrofit program for existing buildings. Municipalities may request the use of forward-looking s, and building appeals boards must follow stricter criteria for flood-prone constructions.
Cities and towns gain the authority to adopt forward-looking flood maps that mandate stricter construction standards, while property owners seeking floodway s face rigorous hardship criteria and warnings of potential flood insurance premium increases up to $25 per $100 of coverage.
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.
Property owners in flood hazard areas
Subject to stricter flood-resistant construction standards, rigorous variance criteria, and potential notifications regarding higher flood insurance premiums if constructing below base flood elevation.
Municipalities
Granted the option to request the use of expanded floodplain maps and adopt the specialized stretch resilience code by ordinance or bylaw.
Real estate development industry
Represented on the stretch resilience code advisory committee and subject to new statewide construction and retrofitting standards.
Environmental justice populations
Targeted for prioritized technical and financial assistance under the climate resilience retrofit program.
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 an expanded floodplain map under this bill?
How are members of the state board of building regulations and standards appointed?
What areas will be prioritized for the climate resilience retrofit program?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
4 actions- Nov 13, 2025SenateAccompanied a study order, see S2718
- Aug 21, 2025JointHearing scheduled for 09/02/2025 from 1:00 PM-5:00 PM in A-1
- Feb 27, 2025HouseHouse concurred
- Feb 27, 2025SenateCommitteeReferred 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
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Shift to Forward-Looking Climate Projections
The legislation formally transitions building standards from relying solely on historical FEMA data to incorporating forward-looking scientific projections for flood risks and extreme weather.
Connected Entities
Sources
malegislature.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance85How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy50Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz45Current news / social attention level
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