Massachusetts Senate Passes Charter, Land Bills in Brief Opening Session

BOSTON — January 20, 2026 — The Massachusetts Senate opened its 2026 session January 20 with a short procedural meeting, passing several local government and commemorative bills. Senate Majority Leader Cynthia Stone Creem moved to convene a joint convention to receive a communication from Governor Maura Healey, adopted without objection. The chamber engrossed charter amendments for the towns of Avon (H-4556, shifting its town clerk from elected to appointed) and Provincetown (H-4176), and enacted four additional bills including one establishing Tuskegee Airmen Commemoration Day (H-3306), a Fall River police chief appointment measure (H-4214), a Seekonk charter amendment (H-4459), and a Billerica police officer age-limit bill (H-4632). A land conveyance bill for Wellesley (H-4363), carrying an emergency preamble requiring a standing vote, cleared with two members in the affirmative and none opposed. Senator Nick Collins moved that the Senate adjourn in memory of William Richard "Butch" Lynch of South Boston, who died December 31, 2025, with the chamber observing a moment of silence before setting its next session for Thursday, January 22, at 11 a.m.