Massachusetts House enacts Westwood liquor bill, passes string of local charter measures

BOSTON — January 22, 2026 — The Massachusetts House passed a dozen local and special-legislation measures unanimously at its January 22 informal session. Every item — including final enactment of a Westwood off-premises liquor licensing bill (House 4814), charter amendments for Provincetown (House 4176) and Avon (House 4556), and Boston Police maximum-age waivers for officers Pierre Charles Darius and Kenny Gatteau — cleared by voice vote without recorded opposition. Representative Paul McMurtry of Dedham shepherded procedural suspensions for the bulk of the calendar, while Representative Thomas P. Walsh of Peabody introduced a last-minute amendment to the Sandwich town charter bill (Senate 2859), which was adopted and the bill passed to be engrossed as amended. The session also received a gubernatorial message from Gov. Maura Healey recommending legislation to manage federal tax changes in Massachusetts, filed as House 4975 and referred to the Committee on Revenue. The House paused for a silent tribute, led by Representative Richard M. Haggerty of Woburn, to Joseph Crowley Jr. — a 38-year Woburn School Committee veteran who died December 9, 2025, at 86.