An Act to preserve local decision making during an emergency

This bill allows Massachusetts towns to adjust town meeting schedules during emergencies. For emergencies lasting up to 14 days, towns may postpone meetings with moderator approval and provide 48-hour notice of the new time. For longer emergencies (over 14 days), towns must request written approval from the Attorney General’s office, explaining the emergency duration, before holding meetings under modified rules. All actions taken under these provisions are treated as fully valid, preserving the legal effect of decisions made during the emergency. The bill directly affects town officials, including select boards, moderators, and mayors, who manage local meetings.