Massachusetts House Passes Bridgewater Governance Reforms, Extends Committee Deadlines

BOSTON — February 9, 2026 — The Massachusetts House passed a package of local governance bills and extended committee reporting deadlines in a brief, all-voice-vote session February 9. Speaker Pro Tempore Kate Hogan presided as the chamber adopted four orders extending deadlines for the Education, Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery, and Revenue committees through dates ranging from February 27 to March 18. Three Bridgewater municipal charter bills — establishing a town council stipend (House 2268), governing town manager succession (House 4569), and regulating the manager's appointment powers (House 4579) — passed to be enacted alongside House 4774 establishing the Cambridge Employment and Job Training Trust. The House also passed to be engrossed an act on real property tax deferrals in Wellesley (House 4143) and a civil service age waiver for a Haverhill police officer candidate (House 4390), and concurred with a Senate amendment to the Rockland town charter. Joint Rule 12 was suspended to advance petitions on piping plover beach management and strengthening the Massachusetts Antitrust Act, the latter filed jointly by Representative David M. Rogers and Attorney General Andrea Campbell.