Massachusetts House Advances Local Bills, Extends Revenue Panel Deadline to June

BOSTON -- March 9, 2026, The Massachusetts House cleared a package of local bills and extended a key committee deadline in a brief informal session March 9. The House adopted two orders, House Nos. 5220 and 5221, pushed the Committee on Revenue's reporting deadline first to March 18 and then to June 26, 2026, giving the panel more runway on pending tax legislation. Three bills were passed to be enacted, including one authorizing the City of Revere to pay money to Denise Matera, widow of former school committee member Anthony Matera, and another allowing the town of Wellesley to adjust senior property tax deferment income thresholds. A fourth bill, House No. 4741, was engrossed, directing the Boston Police Department to waive its maximum age requirement for applicant Edney Joseph. The House also suspended Joint Rule 12 to advance five late petitions, including one from Representative Lindsay N. Sabadosa on foreign government pension benefit taxation and one from Representative Joan Meschino to designate the American lobster as the Commonwealth's official crustacean.