SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2804        FILED ON: 10/16/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2511

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Julian Cyr

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to dark money in local government.

_______________

PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2804        FILED ON: 10/16/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2511

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

_______________

An Act relative to dark money in local government.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Section 1 of chapter 55 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting, after line 3 of the first paragraph, the following paragraph:- "“Article”, a proposal placed on a town meeting warrant by the select board of a town to be considered or acted upon at an annual, special or any other town meeting by the eligible voters of a town pursuant to the charter of said town.”.

SECTION 2. Said section 1 of said chapter 55, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting, in line 8, after the word “change” the following words:- “, town meeting article”.

SECTION 3. Said section 1 of said chapter 55, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting, in line 46, after the word “change” the following words:- “, town meeting article”.

SECTION 4. Said section 1 of said chapter 55, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting, in line 79, after the words “special preliminary, primary or election” the following words:- “, and any town meeting with one or more articles on a warrant to be considered or acted upon by the eligible voters of a town pursuant to the charter of said town”.

SECTION 5. Said section 1 of said chapter 55, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting, in line 111, after the word “change” the following words:- “, town meeting article”.

SECTION 6. Said section 1 of said chapter 55, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting, in line 161, after the word “change” the following words:- “, town meeting article”.

SECTION 7. Said section 1 of said chapter 55, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting, after line 168, the following paragraphs:- ““Town meeting”, the legislative body of a town meeting form of government.

“Warrant”, an agenda of articles approved by the select board of a town to be considered or acted upon at an annual, special, or any other town meeting by the eligible voters of a town pursuant to the charter of said town.”.

SECTION 8. Section 6B of said chapter 55, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting, in line 3 before the words “specific question” the following words:- “town meeting article or articles, or a”.

SECTION 9. Section 7 of said chapter 55, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting, in line 11 before the words “question submitted” the following words:- “town meeting article or a”.

SECTION 10. Section 18 of said chapter 55, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting, in line 11 before the words “question submitted” the following words:- “town meeting article or a”.

SECTION 11. Said section 18 of said chapter 55, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting, in line 63 before the words “question submitted” the following words:- “town meeting article or a”.

SECTION 12. Said section 18 of said chapter 55, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting, in line 64 before the word “ballot” the following words:- “town warrant at a town meeting or”.

SECTION 13. Said section 18 of said chapter 55, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting, in line 72 before the words “question submitted” the following words:- “town meeting article or”.

SECTION 14. Said section 18 of said chapter 55, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting, in line 76 before the words “question submitted” the following words:- “town meeting article or”.

SECTION 15. Said section 18 of said chapter 55, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting, in line 77 before the word “ballot” the following words:- “town warrant at a town meeting or”.

SECTION 16. Said section 18 of said chapter 55, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting, in line 152 before the word “question” the following words:- “town meeting article or”.

SECTION 17. Said section 18 of said chapter 55, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting, in line 158 before the words “question submitted” the following words:- “town meeting article or”.

SECTION 18. Said section 18 of said chapter 55, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting, in line 297 before the words “question submitted” the following words:- “town meeting article or”.

SECTION 19. Section 18G of said chapter 55, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting, in line 46 before the word “question” the following words:- “town meeting article or”.

SECTION 20. Section 22 of said chapter 55, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting, in line 6 before the words “question submitted” the following words:- “town meeting article or”.

SECTION 21. Said section 22 of said chapter 55, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting, in line 13 before the word “question” the following words:- “town meeting article or”.

SECTION 22. Said section 22 of said chapter 55, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting, in line 28 before the word “question” the following words:- “town meeting article or”.

SECTION 23. Section 22A of said chapter 55, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting, in line 4 before the words “question submitted” the following words:- “town meeting article or”.

SECTION 24. Said section 22A of said chapter 55, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting, in line 13 before the words “question submitted” the following words:- “town meeting article or”.

SECTION 25. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2024.