Massachusetts Senate Passes Dartmouth Liquor License, Westwood and Plymouth Charter Bills

BOSTON — May 14, 2026 — The Massachusetts Senate passed a slate of local home-rule bills and adjourned in memory of a Gloucester Coast Guard veteran at its brief May 14 session. The chamber approved House Bill 4006 authorizing Dartmouth to add one off-premises liquor license and House Bill 4753 updating Westwood's town charter, both passed to be engrossed on unanimous voice votes. Three additional bills — S2544 as amended, adjusting the registered-voter threshold for a special town meeting in Andover; H4501, amending Plymouth's town charter; and H4817, granting Pembroke an additional off-premises alcoholic beverages license — were passed to be enacted and will go to Governor Maura Healey. Senator Brendan P. Crighton opened the session by leading a resolution commending the National Brain Tumor Society, noting that roughly 380 Massachusetts residents are expected to die of primary brain tumors in 2026. Minority Leader Bruce E. Tarr moved that the Senate adjourn in memory of Joseph Elliott McKechnie, a 23-year Coast Guard veteran and LNG shipping expert from Gloucester who died April 19 at age 67.