HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 5599

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, July 30, 2026.

 The committee on Municipalities and Regional Government, to whom was referred the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 5544) of Dennis C. Gallagher (with the approval of the town council) relative to the citizen referendum petition timeframe in the charter of the city known as the town of Bridgewater, reports recommending that the accompanying bill (House, No. 5599) ought to pass [Local Approval Received].

For the committee,

JACK PATRICK LEWIS.

        FILED ON: 7/23/2026

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 5599

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 extending the timeframe for filing citizen referendum petitions in the town of Bridgewater.

 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. Article VIII of the charter of the city known as the town of Bridgewater, which is on file with the state archivist, as provided by section 12 of chapter 43B of the General Laws, is hereby amended by striking out section 8-2 and inserting in place thereof the following section:-

          Section 8-2. Citizen Referendum Procedures; Referendum Petition; Effect on Final Passage

         If within 30 days after the final passage of a measure, a petition signed by voters equal in number to at least 5 per cent of the total number of voters and addressed to the town council, protesting against the measure or any part thereof taking effect, is filed with the elected town clerk, the same shall thereupon and thereby be suspended from taking effect and the town council, as the case may be, shall immediately reconsider the measure or part thereof and if such measure or part thereof is not entirely rescinded, the town council shall submit the same, to a vote of the voters either at the next regular town election or at a special election which may, in its discretion, be called for the purpose and the measure or part thereof shall forthwith become null and void unless a majority of the voters voting on the same at the election vote in favor thereof.

 SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon approval by a majority of the voters of the city known as the town of Bridgewater, but not otherwise.