Massachusetts House Clears Local-Option Bills for Seven Communities in Brief Session

BOSTON — May 4, 2026 — Massachusetts House clears recall, liquor-license, and charter bills for seven communities in brief informal session. The House, presided over by Speaker Pro Tempore Kate Hogan, passed or engrossed eleven measures by unanimous voice vote Monday in a session lasting under fifteen minutes before adjourning to Thursday at 11 a.m. on an order filed by Speaker Ronald Mariano of Quincy. Senate No. 2789, providing for recall elections in Rutland, and Senate No. 3018, authorizing recall elections in Berkeley, both cleared the chamber, as did House No. 5339 granting Ashland ten additional on-premises liquor licenses and House No. 5344 lifting Belmont's seating-capacity requirement for similar licenses. Representative Thomas P. Walsh of Peabody won adoption of a substitute bill, House No. 5412, revising the Falmouth town charter and town clerk measure before it was engrossed. Senate No. 2652, establishing a separate water-billing rate for Taunton manufactured housing communities, also passed to engrossment.