By Mr. Tarr, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 833) of Bruce E. Tarr for legislation to protect equity in real estate transactions through the use of a shared appreciation mortgage. Financial Services.
By Ms. Edwards, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 731) of Lydia Edwards for legislation to regulate shared appreciation mortgage loans. Financial Services.
By Ms. Rausch, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1244) of Rebecca L. Rausch, Sally P. Kerans, Manny Cruz, Susannah M. Whipps and other members of the General Court for legislation to enhance access to abortion care. The Judiciary.
This bill changes the standard for terminating Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) employees. It replaces language allowing protection against "arbitrary, capricious or unreasonable" actions with the requirement that employers must have "just cause" for termination. This means MWRA can only fire employees for valid, documented reasons, not based on subjective or unfair decisions. The change directly affects MWRA employees by strengthening their job protections under state law. The amendment modifies existing law (Chapter 372 of the General Laws) to implement this clearer standard.
This bill (H 5096) extends the deadline for the town of Southbridge to issue additional licenses allowing on-premises sales of all alcoholic beverages. It amends a 2022 law by changing the expiration date from December 31, 2025, to January 2, 2029. The change directly affects Southbridge town officials, giving them an additional three years to grant new licenses for bars and restaurants. The bill only modifies the existing deadline without altering licensing rules or creating new requirements.
This bill establishes a new governing charter for the Town of Orange, Massachusetts, replacing any previous charter. It directly affects all Orange residents by defining how their local government operates under Massachusetts' home rule authority. Key provisions include adopting an "Open Town Meeting-Select Board-Town Manager" structure, requiring a minimum of 75 registered voters for a quorum at Town Meetings, and mandating that budget and capital improvement proposals be included in combined "omnibus" articles. The charter also outlines specific procedures for Town Meeting notices, warrant preparation, and requires committee reviews for financial and land-use matters before voting. This document serves as the town's foundational governing framework.
By Representative Barrett of North Adams, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 4141) of John Barrett, III (by the approval of the mayor and city council) that the city of North Adams be authorized to appoint retired North Adams police officers as special police officers within said city for paid detail assignments. Public Service. [Local Approval Received.]
HD 4438 sets a maximum age of 39 for initial appointment as a police officer in the City of Worcester, prohibiting certification for applicants who turn 40 on or before the entrance examination date. This bill directly affects individuals applying for new police officer positions in Worcester who are 40 or older at the time of the entrance exam. It overrides existing age requirements in Chapter 31 of the General Laws and takes effect immediately upon passage. The policy change applies solely to original appointments for Worcester's police department.
By Representatives Linsky of Natick and Gentile of Sudbury, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 4137) of David Paul Linsky (by vote of the town) that the town of Wayland be authorized to establish a millennium fund of the Wayland Free Public Library. Municipalities and Regional Government. [Local Approval Received.]
This bill limits candidates in Haverhill municipal elections to running for only one office at a time. It requires anyone filing for multiple offices to withdraw from all but one by the deadline set in state election law. If they miss the deadline, they will only appear on the ballot for the first office they filed for, as recorded by the city's timestamp. The rule applies to city councilor and school committee elections starting with the 2025 biennial municipal election.
This bill prohibits Haverhill officials from holding multiple city offices that are paid from the city treasury. Specifically, it bars the Mayor, City Councilors, and School Committee members from also serving in any other elected or appointed city role with city-paid compensation, except when a City Councilor acts as Mayor. The rule will apply to all city elections beginning with the 2025 municipal cycle. This change aims to prevent conflicts of interest by limiting overlapping city roles for paid positions.
Report of the Executive Office of Technology Services & Security (pursuant to Section 11 of Chapter 7D of the General Laws) submitting its fiscal year 2026 annual report on data collection and reporting in the Massachusetts criminal justice system
