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MassachusettsH 4439194th General Court (2025-2026)HouseWALLET

An Act providing a simplified procedure for the layout and acceptance of subdivision roads in the City of Marlborough

Sponsored By: Carmine Lawrence Gentile (Democratic), Danielle W. Gregoire (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

Municipalities and Regional GovernmentHouse Steering, Policy and Scheduling

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

City owns accepted roads; no compensation

The city must record the council’s order of acceptance within 90 days after it takes effect. When recorded, fee ownership of the road and all listed municipal easements pass to the City of Marlborough for access, repair, and improvements. The city also takes pipes, structures, and other improvements in the road and easements, unless the order excludes them. Owners of the road land, abutters, and easement areas cannot claim compensation from the city for the acceptance.

Marlborough speeds subdivision road acceptance

The law lets Marlborough use a simpler local process to make subdivision roads public when built per an approved plan. The planning board holds a public hearing on request of the mayor, the city council, or on its own. It mails notice to each abutting owner at least 7 days before and publishes or posts the hearing. Within 21 days after the hearing, the board sends the council a written certification that the road matches the definitive plan and lists all city easements. Within 45 days of getting the certification, the council or a committee meets only to decide the public interest. If a majority agrees, the council adopts an order of acceptance, attaches the certification, and sends it to the mayor for recording steps.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • Carmine Lawrence Gentile

    Democratic • House

  • Danielle W. Gregoire

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • James B. Eldridge

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 9 • No: 0

committee vote • 9/12/2025

Committee Favorable: ought to pass

Yes: 9 • No: 0 • Other: 2

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by the Governor, Chapter 85 of the Acts of 2025

    12/10/2025

  2. Enacted and laid before the Governor

    12/1/2025Senate

  3. Enacted

    12/1/2025House

  4. Read third and passed to be engrossed

    11/26/2025Senate

  5. Taken out of the Orders of the Day

    11/26/2025Senate

  6. Read second and ordered to a third reading

    11/13/2025Senate

  7. Read; and placed in the Orders of the Day for the next session

    10/27/2025Senate

  8. Read third (title changed) and passed to be engrossed

    10/23/2025House

  9. Read second and ordered to a third reading

    10/6/2025House

  10. Rules suspended

    10/6/2025House

  11. Committee reported that the matter be placed in the Orders of the Day for the next sitting

    10/6/2025House

  12. Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Steering, Policy and Scheduling

    9/22/2025House

  13. Hearing scheduled for 09/04/2025 from 03:10 PM-01:30 PM in Written Testimony Only

    9/4/2025legislature

  14. Senate concurred

    8/25/2025Senate

  15. Referred to the committee on Municipalities and Regional Government

    8/21/2025House

Bill Text

  • Chapter 85 of the Acts of 2025

    12/10/2025

    PDF

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