Massachusetts H4483: An Act authorizing the release or exclusion of certain land from conservation restrictions in the town of Deerfield

What the bill says

From the introduced text, August 21, 2025:

SECTION 1. (a) Notwithstanding sections 32 to 37, inclusive, of chapter 7C of the General Laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, the commissioner of capital asset management and maintenance, in consultation with the commissioner of conservation and recreation, may execute a certificate of release or amendment of conservation restriction to release or exclude from a conservation restriction granted to the department of environmental management, predecessor to the department of conservation and recreation, by U.S. Gen New England, Inc., predecessor in title to Great River Hydro LLC, that portion of land as lies within the limits of lands to be acquired by the town of Deerfield for the purpose of the Massachusetts department of transportation’s rehabilitation of Upper road over the Deerfield river in Deerfield, Massachusetts, said portion being more particularly described in Section 1(b) of this act. The conservation restriction is described in book 3812, page 90, dated July 16, 2001, recorded in the franklin registry of deeds. The land for this conservation restriction is shown on maps on file with the federal energy regulatory commission, license No. 2323. (b) The portion of land to be released or excluded pursuant to Section 1(a) is an approximately 15,977 square foot portion of the lands located along the northwesterly side of Stillwater and Upper roads, shown as …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Natalie Blais (D, 1st Franklin) · primary sponsor
• Joanne Comerford (D, Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester)

Latest actions

1. July 29, 2026: New draft substituted, see H5614
2. July 29, 2026: Read second, amended (as recommended by the committee on House Ways and Means)
3. July 29, 2026: Rules suspended
4. July 29, 2026: Committee reported that the matter be placed in the Orders of the Day for the next sitting for a second reading with the amendment pending
5. July 29, 2026: Referred to the committee on House Steering, Policy and Scheduling with the amendment pending
6. July 29, 2026: Committee recommended ought to pass with an amendment, substituting therefor a bill with the same title, see H5614
7. December 11, 2025: Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Ways and Means
8. October 6, 2025: Hearing scheduled for 10/14/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in B-2
9. September 8, 2025: Senate concurred
10. September 4, 2025: Reported, referred to the committee on Joint Rules, reported, rules suspended and referred to the committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight

Votes

• Committee Vote - House Committee on Ways and Means (July 28, 2026): 32 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Committee Vote - Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight (November 26, 2025): 9 yea, 0 nay, passed

Common questions

What is H4483?

H4483 is a bill in the Massachusetts Legislature (194th General Court): An Act authorizing the release or exclusion of certain land from conservation restrictions in the town of Deerfield.

What is the status of H4483?

In committee as of July 29, 2026. Latest action: New draft substituted, see H5614 (July 29, 2026).

Who sponsored H4483?

Natalie Blais (D, 1st Franklin), with 1 co-sponsor.

Where is the official record for H4483?

On the Massachusetts Legislature website: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H4483