HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 5098

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. 4662) 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. 5098) ought to pass [Local Approval Received].

For the committee,

TACKEY CHAN.

        FILED ON: 2/9/2026

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 5098

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 grant an additional license for the sale of all alcoholic beverages to be drunk on the premises upon the return of the license authorized in chapter 67 of the acts of 2008.

 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 section 17 of chapter 138 of the General Laws, the licensing authority of the city of Salem may grant an additional license for the sale of all alcoholic beverages to be drunk on the premises under section 12 of said chapter 138 to Gulu-Gulu Cafe located at 247 Essex Street. The license shall be subject to all of said chapter 138 except section 17.

 (b) A license granted pursuant to this section shall only be exercised in the dining room of a common victualler and other such public rooms or areas as may be deemed reasonable and appropriate by the licensing authority as certified in writing.

 (c) The licensing authority shall not approve the transfer of the license granted 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.

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

 (e) The license granted pursuant to this section shall be issued within 1 year after the effective date of this act; provided, however, that a license that is originally granted within that time period may be granted to a new applicant under subsections (c) and (d) thereafter.

 SECTION 2. Upon issuance of the license authorized in section 1, the licensee shall return physically, with all of the legal rights, privileges and restrictions pertaining thereto, to the licensing authority, its license for the sale of wines and malt beverages and for the sale of cordials and liqueurs to be drunk on the premises pursuant to chapter 67 of the acts of 2008.

 SECTION 3. (a) The city of Salem may charge a fee for the conversion of the license described in sections 1 and 2 which shall be paid by the current licensee on the effective date of this act unless the licensing authority agrees to enter into a contract with the licensee to allow the division of the fee into multiple payments over time from the licensee; provided, however, that if the city elects to accept multiple payments over time from the licensee, the option shall be made available, upon request, to all qualified applicants for a license.

 (b) A fee collected by the city of Salem for the license converted pursuant to this act that is greater than the amount of the fee charged for an annual renewal of a similar license issued by the licensing authority shall be deposited into the city of Salem’s economic development account and expended by the city in a manner consistent with the purpose of such account.

 SECTION 4. Chapter 67 of the acts of 2008 is hereby repealed.

 SECTION 5. Section 4 shall take effect on January 1, 2027.

 SECTION 6. Except as otherwise specified, this act shall take effect upon its passage.