By Bob Katzen
Senate 36-3, approved and sent to the House an environmental bond bill, dubbed by supporters as the Mass Ready Act, which takes action to support the removal of “forever chemicals” from drinking water, help municipalities withstand floods and droughts and make outdoor recreation possible for more residents through improved trails and parks.
A key provision would prohibit single-use plastic bags at retail stores and instead allow shoppers to check out with a recyclable paper bag or a reusable plastic bag. Customers would be required to pay a minimum of 10 cents per recycled paper bag with 5 cents of the fee going to the Plastics Environmental Protection Fund and the other 5 cents going to the retailer. Retailers would have the option to make the fee more than 10 cents per bag. The bill exempts from the bag fee any business with not more than one store location, with an area of not more than 4,000 square feet of retail selling space and not more than ten employees, and which provided not more than 10,000 carryout bags in total during the previous calendar year.
The measure also prohibits retailers from providing a customer with food serviceware, including cups, napkins, condiments, food containers, straws, plates, bowls, trays, cartons, stirrers, cup sleeves, cocktail sticks and toothpicks, unless requested by the customer.
Another provision would create the Massachusetts Paint Stewardship Program, run by paint manufacturers, to coordinate the collection, recycling, reuse and environmentally sound disposal of used leftover house paint purchased by consumers. The program would be funded by adding a fee, estimated to be $1.45 per can, to paint sold in the Bay State. The bill mandates that under the plan, at least 90 percent of residents have a collection site within a 15-mile radius and that at least one collection site is established in each city and town with a population of 50,000 or more.
The bill would authorize state borrowing to invest in a resilient environment and an accessible natural world including $500 million for the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Program, supporting climate resiliency planning in cities and towns; $450 million for the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust to protect access to clean water; $120 million for PFAS remediation in public and private wells; $125.5 million to support resource conservation and preservation initiatives, including $5.5 million for the Healthy Soils Grant Program; $225 million for coastal infrastructure and resilience; $800.5 million for properties and roadways owned and managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation; and $521.6 million for state and municipally owned dams.
Other provisions include $30 million for tree-planting initiative; $50 million for MassTrails Grants, including $10 million for accessibility upgrades that protect access to trails for all Massachusetts residents; $20 million for the growth and economic competitiveness of the state’s agricultural, commercial fishing and cranberry-growing sectors; and $132.5 million for the Food Security Infrastructure Grant program including $7.5 million for the Massachusetts Food Trust Program to increase access to healthy, affordable food.
“As the crew of Artemis II recently reminded us, we only have one planet—an oasis of life in a dark and empty universe,” said Senate President Karen Spilka (D-Ashland). “The beautiful images of our planet from space reinforce the awe-inspiring responsibility we have to keep the earth healthy and thriving. Closer to home, the Mass Ready Act will help reduce our reliance on single-use plastics and ensure we have access to clean air and water, as well as numerous opportunities to enjoy the beautiful nature that surrounds us for decades to come.”
“Today, we advanced the most comprehensive environment-centered climate action bill in Massachusetts history,” said Sen. Becca Rausch (D-Needham), Senate Chair of the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources. “Trump’s relentless attacks on our environment do not change these simple truths: nature both centers us and sustains us, and we are responsible for its protection, preservation, sustainability and resilience. The Mass Ready Act is once-in-a-generation legislation, packed with policy and funding authorizations to prevent flooding damage, reduce single-use plastics, enhance biodiverse ecosystems, support parks and trails, bolster local efforts to address vulnerability, promote nature-based solutions, measure water access equity and much more.”
“Essentially, this bill increases fees and taxes directly upon consumers and businesses in ways I ultimately can’t stand for,” said Sen. Ryan Fattman (R-Sutton), one of only three senators who voted against the measure. “Massachusetts is one of the most expensive states in the nation, and the idea of raising the cost of doing business or even just living is untenable.”
Sens. Kelly Dooner (R-Taunton) and Peter Durant (R-Spencer) were the two other senators who voted against the bill. Neither one responded to repeated requests from Beacon Hill Roll Call asking them why they opposed the bill.
There was opposition to the bill from two outside groups. “Its Tax Day which means taxpayers are paying their taxes and Statehouse elected officials are raising them,” said Paul Craney, executive director of the Mass Fiscal Alliance, noting that the Senate is trying to impose new taxes on April 15th, the same day as the deadline for taxpayers to file their income tax returns. “This level of contempt for the taxpayers only happens in Massachusetts.”
“Once again, the political rhetoric on Beacon Hill is completely at odds with policy when it comes to state lawmakers taking affordability seriously,” said the National Federation of Independent Business’ Massachusetts state director Christopher Carlozzi who is against the bill. “The last thing commonwealth small businesses need is additional mandates, fees and taxes that make owners’ jobs more difficult and products and services more expensive for their customers. Customer satisfaction is vital to small businesses, and making serviceware like straws, condiments, napkins, containers, etc. ‘by request’ only could disrupt that business-consumer relationship.”
Carlozzi continued, “If a customer drives away forgetting to request a straw for their ice coffee or milkshake, they will blame the business for not including it, just as with other proscribed items that are expected by consumers. The bill’s new tax on paint in Massachusetts is estimated to cost $1.45 per can of paint, which will drive up costs for shoppers by adding additional expenses on top of the 6.25 percent state sales tax. This will just drive consumers to neighboring states to make their purchases.”
(A “Yes” vote is for the bill. A “No” vote is against it.)
Sen. Patricia Jehlen Yes