NORWOOD – Local leaders at the State House transitioned a petition into a bill in an attempt to seize the Norwood Hospital site by eminent domain.
State Representative John Rogers (D-Norwood) announced recently that H.D. 5528, the act authorizing the state to take the Washington Street property, has successfully cleared the House Committee on Rules and passed through both legislative chambers with rare speed.
Last week the House Committee on Rules, chaired by Representative William Galvin of Canton, reported the matter out of committee. In a strategic maneuver to bypass standard delays, Representative Jeffrey Roy of Franklin moved to suspend Joint Rule 12, allowing for an immediate vote to send the petition to the Senate almost immediately.
“I asked for a vote forthwith,” Rep. Rogers stated in a statement.
Senator Mike Rush then pushed the bill to his Senate colleagues to concur with the House’s decision which had a favorable vote. The docket then underwent a formal transformation: HD5528 officially became House Bill No. 5047.
The bill has been referred to the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight which is the critical next phase where the specifics of the land taking will be scrutinized.
Rogers and Rush have already met with committee chairs to schedule a Public hearing “as soon as practicable.” Then the Joint Committee must report the bill favorably and send it to both chambers for a final vote. If the final version passes, it heads to the Governor’s desk.
“We will continue pushing this legislation forward without delay,” Rogers promised in a statement.
By pursuing eminent domain, the state aims to wrest control of the property to ensure it remains a healthcare facility, rather than leaving its fate to the current owners or private developers. -RD
I enjoyed your factual news information as there were articles I did not see in the local paper or missed on social media. I really only take note to something posted by our Norwood Police or Fire.
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Steve Eosco