Press Release  AG Campbell Issues Statement After SJC Rejects Marshfield’s Claims Challenging The MBTA Communities Law

Boston — Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell today released the following statement after the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) affirmed the Superior Court’s judgment of dismissal in Marshfield v. Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The SJC rejected Marshfield’s claims that the MBTA Communities Law is an unfunded mandate and that the Law violates the Home Rule Amendment and Zoning Act. 

“Massachusetts has a housing crisis, and it’s impacting everything from our ability to grow our workforce to the everyday cost of living,” said AG Campbell. “Today’s decision by the SJC rejects Marshfield’s claim that the MBTA Communities Law is an unfunded mandate and reaffirms that the Law is constitutional and compliance is mandatory. I’m grateful to the 168 MBTA communities that have already taken steps to comply with the law and are doing their part to address this crisis, including developing more than 10,000 units as a direct result of the law. My office will continue to enforce the law and provide guidance to municipalities so that we can meet our housing needs.” 

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