Massachusetts legislation · 194th General Court
Massachusetts H3539: An Act relative to a tactical transition to affordable, clean thermal energy
Status: Failed, April 6, 2026
What the bill says
From the introduced text, February 27, 2025:
SECTION 1. Section 9 of chapter 25 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “gas” the following words:- “, utility-scale non-emitting thermal energy” SECTION 2. Section 1 of chapter 164 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the definition of “Mitigation” the following definition:- “Non-gas pipe alternative,” a retirement of a gas pipeline, an advanced leak repair of gas infrastructure, or an installation of non-emitting thermal infrastructure, including, but not limited to, electrification of space heating, that: (i) delays, reduces or avoids the need to construct, expand or replace gas infrastructure; and (ii) reduces greenhouse gas emissions as required by chapter 21N. SECTION 3. Section 94 of said chapter 164 is hereby amended by inserting at the end of the first paragraph the following:- “The department shall not permit a gas company to recover through rates, prices or charges the costs of construction, expansion or replacement of gas distribution infrastructure unless the gas company demonstrates to the department through its own analysis and through the analysis of requests for proposals solicited through a competitive process from independent entities that all applicable non-gas pipe alternatives were considered and found to be non-viable or cost prohibitive.” SECTION 4. Said section 94 of said chapter 164 is hereby further …
Sponsors
- Steven Owens (D, 29th Middlesex) · primary sponsor
- John Lawn (D)
- Margaret Scarsdale (D)
- James Eldridge (D, Middlesex and Worcester)
- David Rogers (D, 24th Middlesex)
- Kevin Honan (D, 17th Suffolk)
- Priscila Sousa (D)
- Sean Garballey (D, 23rd Middlesex)
- Michelle Ciccolo (D, 15th Middlesex)
- Amy Sangiolo (D)
- Erika Uyterhoeven (D, 27th Middlesex)
- Danillo Sena (D)
Latest actions
- : Accompanied a study order, see H5323
- : Reporting date extended to Wednesday, March 18, 2026
- : Hearing scheduled for 10/29/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-1
- : Senate concurred
- : Referred to the committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy
Common questions
- What is H3539?
- H3539 is a bill in the Massachusetts Legislature (194th General Court): An Act relative to a tactical transition to affordable, clean thermal energy.
- What is the status of H3539?
- Failed as of April 6, 2026. Latest action: Accompanied a study order, see H5323 (April 6, 2026).
- Who sponsored H3539?
- Steven Owens (D, 29th Middlesex), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for H3539?
- On the Massachusetts Legislature website: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H3539
Source: official Massachusetts record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.