HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4275

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, July 23, 2025.

The committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure, to whom was referred the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 390) of Steven S. Howitt relative to alcoholic beverage license suspensions, reports recommending that the accompanying bill (House, No. 4275) ought to pass.

For the committee,

TACKEY CHAN.

        FILED ON: 7/7/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4275

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

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An Act relative to alcohol license permits and suspensions.

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 23 of chapter 138 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in the third sentence of the twelfth paragraph, the words “alcoholic beverage sales” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- all sales.

SECTION 2.  Notwithstanding the provisions of chapter 138 of the General Laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, there shall be no distinction between a supermarket, convenience store or package store whenever the holder of a license issued under the provisions of section 15 of chapter 138 is found to have been in violation of section 34 of said chapter relative to the sale of alcohol to a minor or to an intoxicated individual that results in the suspension of all commercial activity by the licensee as adjudicated by the local licensing authority in any city or town which votes to authorize the granting of licenses for the sale of all alcoholic beverages. For the purposes of this paragraph, the suspension of commercial activity for a licensee shall mean that all commercial activity, including the sale of non-alcoholic items, within the licensed establishment shall cease for the period of the suspension.