Massachusetts House Engrosses Four Local Bills, Orders Dozen More to Third Reading

BOSTON — February 19, 2026 — Massachusetts House passes a slate of local and honorary measures in brief informal session. The House of Representatives met Thursday for fewer than 15 minutes, approving five honorary resolutions on voice votes and advancing 13 bills to third reading after suspending Rule 7A, including measures to ban coal rolling, establish Cecilia's Law right-of-way penalties, and name a highway for Bill Russell and Bob Cousy. Four bills were engrossed, among them House 4752 permitting the City of Revere to establish penalties and liens for rooming house certificate-of-fitness violations, and House 4388 directing the Boston Police Department to waive its maximum age requirement for officer candidate Angela C. DePena. Two additional bills — House 3977 authorizing alternate Conservation Commission members for Beckett and House 4438 allowing Swampscott to hold a fall annual town meeting — passed to enactment. Speaker Ronald Mariano offered the adjournment order; Representative Michael J. Soter moved the House to adjourn until Monday, February 23, at 11 a.m.