HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 5097

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, February 12, 2026.

 The committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure, to whom was referred the joint petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 4661) of Manny Cruz and Joan B. Lovely (with the approval of the mayor and city council) relative to alcoholic beverage licenses in the city of Salem, reports recommending that the accompanying bill (House, No. 5097) ought to pass.

For the committee,

TACKEY CHAN.

        FILED ON: 2/9/2026

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 5097

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 authorizing the city of Salem to convert seasonal licenses for the sale of alcoholic beverages to be drunk on the premises to annual licenses for the sale of alcoholic beverages to be drunk on the premises.

 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. (a) Notwithstanding sections 17 and 17A of chapter 138 of the General Laws, the licensing authority of the city of Salem may convert 1 seasonal license for the sale of all alcoholic beverages to be drunk on the premises under section 12 of said chapter 138, currently issued to Amazing Pizza LLC d/b/a Amazing Pizza and used at 62 Wharf Street to an annual license for the sale of wine and malt beverages and cordials to be drunk on the premises under said section 12 of said chapter 138 to Amazing Pizza LLC d/b/a Amazing Pizza and used at 62 Wharf Street. The license converted under this section shall be subject to all of said chapter 138 except sections 17 and 17A.

 (b) The licensing authority shall not approve the transfer of the license converted pursuant to this section to any other location but it may grant the license to a new applicant at the same location if the applicant files with the licensing authority a letter from the department of revenue and a letter from the department of unemployment assistance indicating that the license is in good standing with those departments and that all applicable taxes, fees, and contributions have been paid.

 (c) If a licensee terminates or fails to renew a license converted under this section or any such license is cancelled, revoked or no longer in use, it shall be returned physically, with all of the legal rights, privileges and restrictions pertaining thereto, to the licensing authority which may, within 3 years after such return, then grant the license to a new applicant at the same location and under the same conditions as specified in this section, otherwise such license shall dissolve.

 SECTION 2. (a) Notwithstanding sections 17 and 17A of chapter 138 of the General Laws, the licensing authority of the city of Salem may convert 1 seasonal license for the sale of all alcoholic beverages to be drunk on the premises under section 12 of said chapter 138, currently issued to Maitland Farm LLC d/b/a Maitland Farm Kitchen and Spirits and used at 84 Derby Street to an annual license for the sale of all alcoholic beverages to be drunk on the premises under said section 12 of said chapter 138 to Maitland Farm LLC d/b/a Maitland Farm Kitchen and Spirits and for use at 84 Derby Street. The license converted under this section shall be subject to all of said chapter 138 except sections 17 and 17A.

 (b) The licensing authority shall not approve the transfer of the license converted under this section to any other location, but it may grant the license to a new applicant at the same location if the applicant files with the licensing authority a letter from the department of revenue and a letter from the department of unemployment assistance indicating that the license is in good standing with those departments and that all applicable taxes, fees and contributions have been paid.

 (c) If a licensee terminates or fails to renew a license converted under this section or any such license is cancelled, revoked or no longer in use, it shall be returned physically, with all of the legal rights, privileges and restrictions pertaining thereto, to the licensing authority which may, within 3 years after such return, then grant the license to a new applicant at the same location and under the same conditions as specified in this section, otherwise such license shall dissolve.

 SECTION 3. (a) The city of Salem may charge a fee for the conversion of the licenses authorized in sections 1 and 2 which shall be paid by the licensee at the time of issuance unless the licensing authority agrees to enter into a contract with the licensees to allow the division of the fee into multiple payments over time from the licensees. If the city elects to accept multiple payments over time from the licensees, the option shall be made available, upon request, to all qualified applicants for a license.

 (b) Any fee collected by the city of Salem for the licenses converted pursuant to sections 1 and 2, which are greater than the amount of the fees charged for an annual renewal of a similar license issued by the city shall be deposited into the city's economic development account and expended by it in a manner consistent with the purposes of such account.

 SECTION 4. This act shall take effect upon its passage.