The bill titled "An Act authorizing the release or exclusion of certain land from conservation restrictions in the town of Deerfield" allows for the release of a specific portion of land from existing conservation restrictions to facilitate the Massachusetts Department of Transportation's rehabilitation of Upper Road over the Deerfield River. The bill empowers the commissioner of capital asset management and maintenance, in consultation with the commissioner of conservation and recreation, to execute a certificate of release for approximately 15,977 square feet of land currently under a conservation restriction granted to the Department of Environmental Management. The land in question is detailed in the bill and is owned by Great River Hydro LLC.

To mitigate the impact of this release, the town of Deerfield is required to convey approximately 5.5 acres of land along the Deerfield River to the Commonwealth, which will be held for conservation and recreation purposes. Additionally, the town must provide an easement for access to this land and may need to compensate the Commonwealth if the value of the conveyed land is less than that of the released land. The bill also mandates an independent appraisal of the property values involved and outlines the responsibilities of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation for associated costs. The conservation restriction will remain in effect for all other areas not released or amended by this act.