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MassachusettsH 4362194th General Court (2025-2026)HouseWALLET

An Act authorizing the town of Westford to release agricultural preservation restrictions over land owned by Westford Gateway, LLC

Sponsored By: House Committee on Ways and Means

Signed by Governor

House Ways and MeansSenate Ways and MeansBills in the Third Reading

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Westford gets 110% to replace protected land

MassDOT must pay the town money instead of giving replacement land. The payment is at least 110% of the greater of the land’s fair market value or its value in use, set by an independent appraisal. Westford must deposit the money into its Community Preservation Fund and use it within 3 years. The town must buy replacement land in a comparable location with equal or greater natural resource value (as found by the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs), and equal or greater acreage and monetary value.

Limited release of farm protections for roadwork

Westford can release farm-protection limits only on the small areas that MassDOT takes for the Boston Road project, as shown on filed plans. All other agricultural preservation limits on the property stay in force. All parcels used for the project must be restored to their condition before construction to protect conservation values. MassDOT pays for engineering, surveys, appraisals, deed work, and other costs to carry out the release.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • House Committee on Ways and Means

    Affiliation unavailable

Cosponsors

  • James Arciero

    Democratic • House

  • John J. Cronin

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 172 • No: 0

House vote • 11/19/2025

Enacted

Yes: 156 • No: 0

committee vote • 11/13/2025

Committee Favorable with Amendment: Ought to pass with an amendment - New Text

Yes: 16 • No: 0 • Other: 2

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by the Governor, Chapter 75 of the Acts of 2025

    11/26/2025

  2. Laid before the Governor

    11/19/2025Senate

  3. Enacted -see Roll Call #115 (Yeas 37 to Nays 0)

    11/19/2025Senate

  4. Enacted - 156 YEAS to 0 NAYS (See YEA and NAY No. 115)

    11/19/2025House

  5. House concurred in the Senate amendment

    11/19/2025House

  6. Referred to the committee on Bills in the Third Reading

    11/19/2025House

  7. Read third and passed to be engrossed

    11/19/2025Senate

  8. Taken out of the Orders of the Day

    11/19/2025Senate

  9. Ordered to a third reading

    11/17/2025Senate

  10. Amended by striking out all after the enacting clause and inserting in place thereof the text of S2723

    11/17/2025Senate

  11. Read second

    11/17/2025Senate

  12. Rules suspended

    11/17/2025Senate

  13. Committee recommended ought to pass with an amendment striking out all after the enacting clause and inserting in place thereof the text of S2723

    11/17/2025Senate

  14. Read; and referred to the committee on Senate Ways and Means

    8/4/2025Senate

  15. Read third and passed to be engrossed

    7/31/2025House

  16. Rules suspended

    7/31/2025House

  17. Ordered to a third reading

    7/30/2025House

  18. New draft of H3282

    7/30/2025House

  19. Pending new draft of H3282

    7/30/2025House

  20. Reported from the committee on House Ways and Means

    7/30/2025House

Bill Text

  • Chapter 75 of the Acts of 2025

    11/26/2025

    PDF

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