HB 310 (2008): allowing municipalities to regulate small wind energy systems.

Cite this page

Granite Record indexes the General Court’s record; it is not that record. Where a citation allows only one source, cite the General Court — every page here links to what it is drawn from. The date below is the day the page was read.

MLA
“HB 310 (2008): allowing municipalities to regulate small wind energy systems.” Granite Record, https://graniterecord.org/bill/2008/hb310. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.
APA
Granite Record. (n.d.). HB 310 (2008): allowing municipalities to regulate small wind energy systems. Retrieved 24 Oct. 2026, from https://graniterecord.org/bill/2008/hb310
Chicago
Granite Record. “HB 310 (2008): allowing municipalities to regulate small wind energy systems.” Accessed 24 Oct. 2026. https://graniterecord.org/bill/2008/hb310.
BibTeX
@misc{bill-2008-hb310, title = {HB 310 (2008): allowing municipalities to regulate small wind energy systems.}, howpublished = {Granite Record}, url = {https://graniterecord.org/bill/2008/hb310}, note = {Accessed 24 Oct. 2026} }

HB 310 (2008)

allowing municipalities to regulate small wind energy systems.

  • Status: Signed into law
  • Term: 2007-2008
  • House committee: Science, Technology and Energy
  • Senate committee: Public and Municipal Affairs
  • Subject: Energy and Utilities
  • Chapter law: 357

The Story

It was introduced on January 4, 2007 and referred to the House Science, Technology and Energy committee. The committee held a public hearing on February 6, 2007. The committee held a work session on February 8, 2007. The committee met in executive session on February 20, 2007 to vote on its recommendation. The committee voted 14–2 to recommend that the House pass it with changes, and the report was placed on the regular calendar. The committee's amendment (0268h) was adopted on a voice vote on March 6, 2007, changing the text of the bill. On March 6, 2007 the House voted to pass it with changes on a voice vote. On March 6, 2007 the bill was referred to the Municipal and County Government committee. The committee held a public hearing on March 12, 2007. The committee met in executive session on March 20, 2007 to vote on its recommendation. The committee voted 10–2 to recommend that the House pass it, and the report was placed on the consent calendar. The bill was taken off the consent calendar on March 27, 2007. On April 4, 2007 the House adopted “Rules Suspension: Deadline on Action for Bills Not in 2nd Comm” on a voice vote. On April 5, 2007 the House adopted “(Rep Simon) Recommit” on a voice vote. The committee met in executive session on April 5, 2007 to vote on its recommendation. The committee retained the bill, holding it for further work rather than reporting it out this year. The committee held work sessions on June 5, 2007, August 29, 2007 and September 11, 2007. The committee met in executive session on October 3, 2007 and October 24, 2007. The majority of the committee recommended that the House pass it with changes (amendment 2478h) by a vote of 10–3, and the report was placed on the regular calendar. The minority of the committee reported: Refer to Interim Study. The committee's amendment (2478h) was rejected on a voice vote on January 23, 2008. A floor amendment (08-0047h) was adopted on a division vote 254–49 on January 23, 2008, changing the text of the bill. A floor amendment (08-0104h) was rejected on a division vote 84–232 on January 23, 2008. On January 23, 2008 the House voted to pass it with changes on a division vote 246–50. It crossed to the Senate on February 21, 2008 and was referred to the Senate Public and Municipal Affairs committee. The committee held a public hearing on March 25, 2008. The committee recommended that the Senate pass it with changes. The committee's amendment (1623) was adopted on a voice vote on May 8, 2008, changing the text of the bill. On May 8, 2008 the Senate voted to pass it with changes on a voice vote and ordered it to a third reading. On May 21, 2008 the House adopted “House Non-Concurs and Requests Committee of Conference (Reps Kaen & Theberge)” on a voice vote. On May 21, 2008 the Senate adopted “Sen. Hassan Accede to House Request For Committee of Conference” on a voice vote. A committee of conference met on May 27, 2008 to try to settle the differences between the two chambers' versions of the bill. An enrolled bill amendment (2166) was adopted on June 4, 2008. These correct technical errors found after passage. The bill was enrolled on June 5, 2008 — the final check of the text before it goes to the governor — and an enrolled bill amendment (2166) was adopted to correct technical errors found after passage. The bill was enrolled on June 20, 2008 — the final check of the text before it goes to the governor. The governor signed it on July 11, 2008, making it Chapter 357 of the session laws.

Sponsors

Hearings and Sessions

  • February 6, 2007, 10:00 AM: public hearing, House Science, Technology and Energy, LOB 304
  • February 8, 2007, 9:30 AM: subcommittee work session, House Science, Technology and Energy, LOB 304
  • February 20, 2007, 1:00 PM: executive session, House Science, Technology and Energy, LOB 304
  • March 12, 2007, 9:00 AM: public hearing, House Municipal and County Government, LOB 301
  • March 20, 2007, 9:00 AM: executive session, House Municipal and County Government, LOB 301
  • April 5, 2007: executive session, House Municipal and County Government, Immediately Following Session
  • June 5, 2007, 1:00 PM: work session, House Municipal and County Government, LOB 301
  • August 29, 2007, 1:00 PM: subcommittee work session, House Municipal and County Government, LOB 301
  • September 11, 2007, 10:00 AM: full committee work session, House Municipal and County Government, LOB 301
  • October 3, 2007, 10:00 AM: executive session, House Municipal and County Government, LOB 301
  • October 24, 2007, 10:00 AM: executive session, House Municipal and County Government, LOB 301
  • March 25, 2008, 8:30 AM: hearing, Senate Public and Municipal Affairs, LOB 101
  • May 27, 2008, 11:30 AM: committee of conference, LOB 304

Votes

  • March 6, 2007, House: Ought to Pass with Amendment #0268h(New Title) — voice vote, passed
  • April 4, 2007, House: Rules Suspension: Deadline on Action for Bills Not in 2nd Comm — voice vote, passed
  • April 5, 2007, House: (Rep Simon) Recommit — voice vote, passed
  • January 23, 2008, House: Adopt Floor Amendment — yeas 254, nays 49, passed
  • January 23, 2008, House: Adopt Floor Amendment — yeas 84, nays 232, failed
  • January 23, 2008, House: Ought to Pass with Amendment #08-0047h — yeas 246, nays 50, passed
  • May 8, 2008, Senate: Ought to Pass with Amendment{1623} — voice vote, passed
  • May 21, 2008, House: House Non-Concurs and Requests Committee of Conference (Reps Kaen & Theberge) — voice vote, passed
  • May 21, 2008, Senate: Sen. Hassan Accede to House Request For Committee of Conference — voice vote, passed

The Docket

  • January 4, 2007: Introduced and ref to Science, Technology and Energy
  • February 6, 2007: Public Hearing: 2/6/2007 10:00 AM LOB 304
  • February 8, 2007: Subcommittee Work Session: 2/8/2007 9:30 AM LOB 304
  • February 20, 2007: Executive Session: 2/20/07 1:00 PM LOB 304
  • February 20, 2007: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment {0268h}NT for March 6 (vote 14-2; RC)
  • February 20, 2007: Proposed Committee Amendment: #0268h (New Title)
  • March 6, 2007: Amendment {0268h} Adopted, VV (New Title)
  • March 6, 2007: Ought to Pass with Amendment #0268h(New Title): MA VV
  • March 6, 2007: Referred to Municipal and County Government
  • March 12, 2007: Public Hearing: 3/12/2007 9:00 AM LOB 301
  • March 20, 2007: Executive Session: 3/20/2007 9:00 AM LOB 301
  • March 20, 2007: Committee Report: Ought to Pass for March 27 (vote 10-2; CC)
  • March 27, 2007: Removed from Consent Calendar (Rep Dokmo)
  • March 28, 2007: Special Order to April 4, Regular Place on Calendar: Without Objection
  • April 4, 2007: Rules Suspension: Deadline on Action for Bills Not in 2nd Comm: MA VV Necessary 2/3
  • April 4, 2007: Special Order to April 5: Without Objection
  • April 5, 2007: (Rep Simon) Recommit: MA VV, Necessary Two-Thirds
  • April 5, 2007: Executive Session: 4/5/07 Immediately Following Session
  • April 5, 2007: Retained in Committee
  • June 5, 2007: ==DATE & TIME CHANGE==Group C Assessing Subcom Work Session: 6/5/2007 1:00 PM LOB 301
  • August 29, 2007: Retained Bill - Subcommittee Work Session: 8/29/07 1:00 PM LOB 301
  • September 11, 2007: Full Committee Work Session: 9/11/07 10:00 AM LOB 301
  • October 3, 2007: Retained Bill - Executive Session: 10/3/07 10:00 AM LOB 301
  • October 24, 2007: Retained Bill - Executive Session: 10/24/07 10:00 AM LOB 301
  • October 26, 2007: Majority Committee Rept: Ought to Pass with Amendment #2478h for Jan 16 (vote 10-3;RC)
  • October 26, 2007: Proposed Majority Committee Amendment: #2478h
  • October 26, 2007: Minority Committee Report: Refer to Interim Study
  • January 16, 2008: Special Ordered to Regular Calendar for 1/23: Without Objection
  • January 23, 2008: Amendment #2478h Failed, VV
  • January 23, 2008: Floor Amendment #08-0047h (Rep W.Chase) Adopted, DIV 254-49
  • January 23, 2008: Floor Amendment #08-0104h (Rep Butterworth) Failed, DIV 84-232
  • January 23, 2008: Ought to Pass with Amendment #08-0047h: MA DIV 246-50
  • February 21, 2008: Introduced and Referred to Public and Municipal Affairs
  • March 25, 2008: Hearing; March 25, 2008, Room 101, LOB, 8:30 a.m.; SC11C
  • April 30, 2008: Committee Report; Ought to Pass with Amendment{1623} [05/08/08]; SC18, Pg.7-8
  • May 8, 2008: Committee Amendment{1623}, AA, VV
  • May 8, 2008: Ought to Pass with Amendment{1623}, MA, VV; OT3rdg
  • May 8, 2008: Passed by Third Reading Resolution
  • May 21, 2008: House Non-Concurs and Requests Committee of Conference (Reps Kaen & Theberge): MA VV
  • May 21, 2008: Speaker Appoints: Reps W.Chase, Fargo, J.Thomas, and Butterworth
  • May 21, 2008: Sen. Hassan Accede to House Request For Committee of Conference, MA, VV
  • May 21, 2008: President Appoints: Senators Hassan, Sgambati and Roberge
  • May 27, 2008: Committee of Conference Meeting: 5/27/2008 11:30 AM LOB 304
  • May 30, 2008: Conference Committee Report; Senate Amendment + New Amendment{2064}, Filed
  • June 4, 2008: Conference Committee Report{2064}; Adopted, VV
  • June 4, 2008: Conference Committee Report #2064 Adopted, VV
  • June 4, 2008: Enrolled Bill Amendment #2166 Adopted
  • June 5, 2008: Enrolled Bill Amendment{2166}, Adopted
  • June 5, 2008: Enrolled
  • June 20, 2008: Enrolled [6/4/2008]
  • July 11, 2008: Signed by the Governor 07/11/2008; Chapter 0357
  • July 16, 2008: I. Secion 1-3 Effective 07/11/2009
  • July 16, 2008: II. Remainder Effective 07/11/2008

Laws It Would Change

From the General Court