Massachusetts Senate Engrosses Five Local-Government Bills in Brief Session

BOSTON — May 11, 2026 — Massachusetts Senate clears five local-government bills in a rapid, unanimous May 11 session. Senate Minority Leader Bruce E. Tarr moved to suspend rules on legislation allowing Andover residents to adjust the registered-voter threshold for petitioning a special town meeting, Senate No. 2544, which the chamber concurred in after the House added a section two. The Senate also passed to enactment House No. H4842, clarifying the organization of the Lexington Housing Assistance Board, sending that bill to the Governor. Three additional local measures — authorizing Berkeley to expand its Board of Selectmen (Senate No. 2897), amending Plymouth's town charter (House No. 4501), and granting Pembroke an additional off-premises all-alcoholic-beverages retail license (House No. 4817) — were each taken off the calendar by unanimous consent, read a third time, and engrossed without debate. The Senate adjourned to Thursday, May 14, at 11 a.m.