Massachusetts House Engrosses Local Bills, Advances State Vegetable Designation

LEGISLATURE — July 20, 2026 — The Massachusetts House moved through a brief routine session July 20, passing a dozen measures by unanimous voice vote in under 20 minutes. The House engrossed five local bills, including Senate 2735 dissolving the North Carver Water District, House 5421 addressing vessel transportation in the town of Barnstable, and House 5528 establishing a sick leave bank for Edward Gillian, a Highway Division employee — the last amended by Representative Thomas P. Walsh to add an emergency preamble making it immediately effective. The Committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling advanced four bills for floor consideration, among them House 5088 designating asparagus as the official state vegetable and House 5335 establishing an official state crustacean. An order filed by Representatives Kenneth I. Gordon of Bedford and Bruce J. Ayers of Quincy extended the Education Committee's reporting deadline on House 5591 to July 31, 2026. Speaker Ronald Mariano set the next formal session for Wednesday, July 22, at 11 a.m.