Mass. bill would create fund for economic assistance in designated port areas

A bill filed Jan. 17, 2025, in the Massachusetts House would create a state fund to support properties located in designated port areas and revise the state's definition of "gateway municipality." Representative Ann-Margaret Ferrante of Gloucester filed House Bill No. 482, titled "An Act relative to designated port areas."

The bill would amend section 3A of chapter 23A of the General Laws to replace the existing definition of "gateway municipality" with one that includes municipalities with a population greater than 35,000 and less than 250,000 that also have a median household income below the commonwealth's average and educational attainment (bachelor's degree or above) below the commonwealth's average. The proposed definition would also cover any municipality that "contains or includes a designated port area," as defined in section 2 of chapter 21F.

The measure would also add section 2RRRR to chapter 29 of the General Laws to establish a Designated Port Area Community Fund on the books of the commonwealth. The bill specifies that the fund would be administered by the Massachusetts Development Finance Agency and that monies credited to the fund would include appropriations, grants, gifts and other monies specifically designated to the fund, plus income from investment of amounts credited to the fund.

Under the bill, amounts credited to the fund "shall be used without further appropriation for the purpose of developing and providing economic assistance to properties located within a designated port area." The text bars expenditures that would cause the fund to be in deficiency at the close of a fiscal year, states that unexpended monies shall not revert to the General Fund and shall remain available for expenditure in the following year, and provides that the fund "shall be exempt from the indirect and fringe benefits that would otherwise be assessed pursuant to this chapter."

The bill filing notes placement with the House committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies and references similar matter filed in the prior legislative session (House No. 408 of 2023-2024). The filing does not record any House vote or committee action; the bill remains a proposal pending committee consideration and any subsequent floor action.

If enacted, the changes would alter statutory definitions that affect eligibility for certain state programs and create a dedicated funding vehicle to support economic activity in port communities. The bill text does not specify appropriation amounts, eligibility criteria beyond the geographic and statutory definitions, or an implementation timetable.