Massachusetts Senate Passes Six Local Bills, Names Literacy Conference Conferees

BOSTON — February 17, 2026 — The Massachusetts Senate advanced six local and special bills and appointed a conference committee on a teacher preparation and student literacy measure during a brief floor session Tuesday. The Senate, presiding under President Karen E. Spilka, passed to be enacted House Bill 4815 authorizing Arlington to expand off-premises liquor licenses by town ballot and House Bill 4380 amending Agawam's charter, sending both to the Governor. A conference committee was named to resolve House-Senate differences on House Bill 4683, the teacher preparation and student literacy bill, with Senators Sal N. DiDomenico, Jason M. Lewis, and Patrick M. O'Connor appointed as Senate conferees. Senate Bill 1915 clarifying call firefighter rights, Senate Bill 2128 authorizing a land conveyance in Brookfield, and bills for Beckett and Swampscott each passed to be engrossed, all by unanimous voice vote. A House petition by Senator Paul R. Feeney and Representative James K. Hawkins on manufactured housing occupancy payments in Attleboro was referred to the Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government under a Joint Rule 12 suspension.