Massachusetts House Passes Scituate Alcohol Licenses, Randolph Charter Changes in Brief Session

BOSTON -- January 5, 2026, Massachusetts House clears seven local bills in a six-minute informal session to open 2026. The House convened January 5 in informal session, with Speaker Pro Tempore Kate Hogan presiding, and passed all business by voice vote. House 4657 authorized the town of Scituate to issue four additional on-premises all-alcoholic-beverage licenses, with the presiding officer noting more than two-thirds in favor; House 2341 amended the Scituate town charter. House 4247 authorized the Hull Select Board to set a parking-violation fine schedule. Representative Thomas P. Walsh of Peabody secured adoption of a substitute amendment to House 4400, replacing it with House 4891 to address compensation of Randolph's town council and School Committee members and the conduct of multi-member body meetings; the bill passed to be engrossed as amended. Representatives John Barrett III and Lindsay N. Sabadosa had a joint petition on the sale of nitrous oxides referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure under a suspended Joint Rule 12.