S 1082 Massachusetts Senate · 194th Legislature (2025-2026)

An Act relative to the effective enforcement of municipal ordinances and by-laws

This bill increases the maximum civil penalty for violating municipal ordinances from $300 to $1,000. It also creates a new court enforcement mechanism allowing cities or towns to seek civil penalties, attorneys' fees, and costs when suing to enforce local rules. Courts must consider factors like whether the violation was willful, harm caused, economic benefit to the violator, and the violator's history of noncompliance when setting penalties. The bill directly affects municipalities (cities/towns) and individuals or businesses violating local ordinances.
Bill status passed 3 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Sep 2025
House Passage
Feb 2025
Governor
Introduced Feb 27, 2025 Last action Oct 20, 2025
Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the House. No roll call record of that vote is available.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
7
Key actions
2
Committee
2
Sep 29, 2025
Upper · Passed
Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Senate Ways and Means
upper
Feb 27, 2025
Lower · Passed
House concurred
lower
Feb 27, 2025
Committee
Referred to the committee on The Judiciary
upper
1 primary · 4 co-sponsors

Sponsors