The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Massachusetts House Bill 3583 establishes a moratorium on new and expanded gas system infrastructure
Last action · April 6, 2026: Accompanied a study order, see H5323Sponsor: Bud Williams
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What This Bill Would Do
Massachusetts Bill H.3583 prohibits the approval of new or expanded —including natural gas, oil, renewable natural gas, and hydrogen infrastructure—until 2026 at the earliest, unless required for public safety. The measure also bars new gas companies or operators from opening streets in towns without active gas service to build combustible fuel facilities.
Utility companies, energy developers, and municipalities face strict legal limits on constructing or expanding gas transmission, storage, and distribution infrastructure through at least 2026.
- The bill was introduced by Representative Bud L. Williams in the Massachusetts General Court for the 194th legislative session. 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.
Utility companies
Utility companies are prohibited from obtaining approvals or certificates for new or expanded combustible fuel facilities until 2026 at the earliest.
Municipalities
Towns without active gas operations are barred from allowing companies to dig up streets and highways for combustible fuel facility construction.
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 types of energy infrastructure are covered by the moratorium?
Are there any exceptions to the ban on new facilities?
How does the bill affect towns that do not currently have an active gas company?
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
6 actions- Apr 6, 2026HouseAccompanied a study order, see H5323
- Dec 4, 2025HouseReporting date extended to Wednesday, March 18, 2026
- Nov 4, 2025JointHearing rescheduled to 11/13/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in B-2 and Virtual<br> <span style="color: blue; font-style: italic;">Hearing location changed</span>
- Nov 3, 2025JointHearing scheduled for 11/13/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-1
- Feb 27, 2025SenateSenate concurred
- Feb 27, 2025HouseCommitteeReferred to the committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy
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.
Statewide Infrastructure Freeze
The measure uses broad amendments to chapter 164 to implement a hard pause on all forms of combustible fuel infrastructure expansion through 2026.
Connected Entities
Sources
malegislature.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy80Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz60Current news / social attention level
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