Massachusetts S3230: An Act authorizing the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to acquire interests in certain portions of land owned by the town of Andover which were acquired by the town for Article XCVII purposes

What the bill says

From the introduced text, July 1, 2026:

SECTION 1. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation may acquire from the town of Andover, acting by and through its conservation commission, for highway purposes interests in certain portions of land owned by the conservation commission of the town of Andover and identified as permanent easement parcel numbers 20-E-1 and 20-PUE-1-T on a plan of land entitled “Massachusetts Department of Transportation Highway Division Plan And Profile Of Tewksbury Street Over CSX Railroad (Bridge No. A-09-015) In The Town of Andover, Essex County, Preliminary Right of Way Plans”. The impact to the protected land to be acquired by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation is limited to permanent easements of approximately 704 square feet for guy wire placement, guardrail removal and bridge special slope paving. SECTION 2. The secretary of energy and environmental affairs may waive the requirement that suitable replacement land be provided by any entity acquiring an interest in land protected by Article XCVII of the Amendments to the Constitution of the Commonwealth pursuant to clause (B) of the last sentence of subsection (a) of section 5A of chapter 3 of the General Laws. As reasons for such waiver, the land transferred pursuant to this act is of insignificant natural resource and recreation value, is less than 2,500 square feet in area …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Barry Finegold (D) · primary sponsor

Latest actions

1. August 5, 2026: Signed by the Governor, Chapter 164 of the Acts of 2026
2. July 31, 2026: Laid before the Governor
3. July 31, 2026: Enacted -see Roll Call #237 (Yeas 39 to Nays 0)
4. July 31, 2026: Enacted - 152 YEAS to 0 NAYS (See YEA and NAY No. 269)
5. July 31, 2026: Emergency preamble adopted
6. July 31, 2026: Senate concurred in the House amendment
7. July 31, 2026: Read third and passed to be engrossed
8. July 31, 2026: Ordered to a third reading
9. July 31, 2026: Read second, amended (as recommended by the committee on House Ways and Means)
10. July 31, 2026: Rules suspended

Votes

• Enacted (July 31, 2026): 152 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Enacted (July 31, 2026): 39 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Committee Vote - House Committee on Ways and Means (July 31, 2026): 23 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Committee Vote - Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight (July 30, 2026): 6 yea, 0 nay, passed

Common questions

What is S3230?

S3230 is a bill in the Massachusetts Legislature (194th General Court): An Act authorizing the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to acquire interests in certain portions of land owned by the town of Andover which were acquired by the town for Article XCVII purposes.

What is the status of S3230?

Signed into law as of August 5, 2026. Latest action: Signed by the Governor, Chapter 164 of the Acts of 2026 (August 5, 2026).

Who sponsored S3230?

Barry Finegold (D).

Where is the official record for S3230?

On the Massachusetts Legislature website: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S3230