Massachusetts House Sets Monday Budget Session, Advances Seven Bills in Brief Formal Session

BOSTON — April 23, 2026 — Massachusetts House advances seven bills and clears four local measures in a brief formal session, setting Monday exclusively for the state budget. The House voted unanimously Wednesday on every item before it, including ordering to a third reading bills addressing vulnerable adult financial protections (House No. 5300), Beverly Regional Airport noise policy (House No. 5278), and alcoholic beverages licensing equity (House No. 5306). Two engrossed local acts passed to enactment: House No. 4225, authorizing Marblehead to establish a means-tested senior property tax exemption, and House No. 4584, further regulating special police appointments in Malden. Speaker Ronald Mariano capped the session with an order directing the clerk to prepare a Monday calendar "containing only the general appropriation bill" — House No. 5500 — signaling that the full House budget debate begins at 11 a.m. next week.