Massachusetts Panel Hears Marion Land Transfer, Falmouth Licensing Bills Without Questions

BOSTON — May 13, 2026 — Massachusetts legislative panel takes up Marion land transfer and Falmouth licensing reform in quick hearing. The Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government, co-chaired by Rep. Jack Patrick Lewis and Sen. Rebecca L. Rausch, heard testimony May 13 on two local-option bills with no committee questions on either. Rep. Sylvia testified in favor of H. 5388, which would transfer a 2,900-square-foot parcel in Marion to support a shared-use pathway while permanently protecting 13.38 acres under Article 97; the measure passed Marion's special town meeting 102-0 on March 23. Falmouth town counsel Maura O'Keefe argued for H. 5365, which would create a standalone Falmouth Licensing Commission to absorb the roughly 100 annual on-premise alcohol licenses that O'Keefe said consume disproportionate Select Board time — more licenses than Framingham issues despite that city having twice Falmouth's population of 32,000.