An Act to preserve local decision making during an emergency

This bill allows Massachusetts towns to postpone scheduled town meetings for up to 14 days if a short-term emergency prevents them from occurring as planned. The town moderator must approve the delay and provide at least 48 hours of notice to residents about the new meeting date. For emergencies expected to last longer than two weeks, the bill permits towns to request written approval from the Attorney General to hold meetings under special rules that allow for virtual participation. Any decisions made during these postponed or specially approved meetings are legally valid and treated the same as if the meetings had followed standard procedures.