MA H5215

Establishes a Blue Communities Program to provide technical and financial assistance (grants and loans) to municipalities that take local action to reduce nutrient pollution and ocean acidification in Massachusetts waters

Municipalities must adopt 5 of 9 eligible initiatives to qualify, including: liquid hazardous waste collection programs, impervious surface zoning bylaws, rain barrel programs, shell collection systems, shellfish/seaweed farming or restoration projects, water quality monitoring, sewer overflow elimination plans, fertilizer restriction bylaws, or stormwater utility programs

Creates a Blue Communities Fund financed through offshore wind contributions, cap-and-invest programs, sales tax on fertilizers, and other environmental revenue sources

Requires participating communities to prioritize implementation in environmental justice communities and report expenditures and results every two years

Directs the executive office to submit an annual report by September 1 to the legislature and to provide greater funding to communities that adopt more initiatives