MA S622

Department of Public Health must create an assessment tool to quantify health impacts and costs of emissions from grid electricity and delivered fuels, as well as benefits from energy conservation, efficiency, and renewable energy

Assessment tool must separately analyze impacts on environmental justice populations, MassHealth, community hospitals, the state budget, and public health

Tool must measure health effects from particulate matter (<2.5 microns), sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, carbon, carbon dioxide, and mercury emissions, including premature death, cardiovascular events, asthma, hospital admissions, and lost school/work days

Department must submit the completed tool within 12 months of enactment and update it every 3 years; beginning 24 months after enactment, all new Commonwealth policies, regulations, or agency rulings affecting polluting emissions must incorporate the tool's health impact findings

Similar legislation was previously filed as Senate No. 515 in the 2023-2024 session