House Passes Milford Town Meeting Vacancy Bill, Advances Five Local Acts

BOSTON -- January 29, 2026, The Massachusetts House passed a Milford town meeting vacancy bill and advanced five local government measures in a brief informal session January 29. House Bill 4171, an act further regulating vacancies among town meeting members in the Town of Milford, cleared both a concurrence vote on a Senate amendment and a final passage vote to be enacted, both approved unanimously. The House also ordered five local bills to a third reading: Senate Bill 1898 for Plainville, House Bill 4185 for Milford's nomination process, House Bill 4751 for the Westborough charter, House Bill 4752 permitting Revere to impose penalties and liens for rooming house violations, and House Bill 4784 establishing a town administrator in Hopedale. Governor Maura Healey's fiscal year 2027 budget, filed January 28 in the Office of the Clerk, was referred to the House Ways and Means Committee, chaired by Representative Aaron Michlewitz, formally opening the state's annual budget process.