Massachusetts House Enacts Boylston Name Change, Advances Municipal Bills

BOSTON — April 13, 2026 — Massachusetts House passes local governance bills with no dissent in a brief April 13 formal session. The House enacted House 4621 renaming Boylston's Board of Selectmen to the Select Board, and passed to engrossment House 4201 changing the elected term for the Mayor of Chicopee from two years to four years, with an amendment specifying the new structure takes effect "to be held in 2027." The House also engrossed House 4702 exempting Leominster police lieutenant and sergeant positions from civil service law, House 5053 establishing a charter for the Town of Orange, and House 5097 allowing Salem to convert seasonal alcohol licenses to annual on-premises licenses. An order extending the Committee on Education's reporting deadline through May 22, 2026 was adopted on a motion by Representatives Kenneth I. Gordon of Bedford and Bruce J. Ayers of Quincy.