Senate Passes Municipal Roads Bill With Emergency Preamble, Adjourns to Thursday

BOSTON — May 26, 2026 — Massachusetts Senate clears municipal roads bill and local police age waivers in brief Monday session. The Senate voted 32-0 to adopt the emergency preamble for House No. 5375, an act financing long-term improvements to municipal roads and bridges, allowing the measure to take effect immediately upon the governor's signature. The chamber then passed to be engrossed, on voice votes, House No. 2800 authorizing Stoneham to waive the maximum age requirement for new police officer appointments and House No. 4718 doing the same for Newton. Senator Rebecca L. Rausch successfully amended House No. 4805, the Plainville town charter bill, inserting language referencing "the select board" before the bill cleared on a voice vote; a Lexington parkland exchange bill also passed to be engrossed without amendment. A House petition to establish a Veterans Suicide Mortality Review and Prevention Council was referred to the Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs under suspension of Joint Rule 12.