HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 6301        FILED ON: 8/19/2026

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 5660

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

David M. Rogers and William N. Brownsberger

_________________

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 authorizing remote participation at town meetings and special town meetings in the town of Belmont.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

David M. Rogers

24th Middlesex

8/19/2026

William N. Brownsberger

Suffolk and Middlesex

8/19/2026


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 6301        FILED ON: 8/19/2026

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 5660

By Representative Rogers of Cambridge and Senator Brownsberger, a joint petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 5660) of David M. Rogers and William N. Brownsberger (by vote of the town) that the town of Belmont be authorized to hold hybrid and remote town meetings.  Municipalities and Regional Government.  [Local Approval Received.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

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

_______________

 

An Act authorizing remote participation at town meetings and special town meetings in the town of Belmont.

 

 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: Notwithstanding chapter 39 of the General Laws, or any other general or special law or charter provision to the contrary, the Town of Belmont may hold Town Meetings and Special Town Meetings with voters located in a common, physical location-in person, full remotely, or through a hybrid of remote and in-person format.

 SECTION 2: Any Town Meeting held completely remotely or in hybrid form in accordance with this act shall be recorded and the recording shall be made available for public viewing on the Town’s website, or another publicly available video platform for at least 30 days following the conclusion of the meeting. The recording shall also be a public record of the Town, subject to disclosure on request.

 SECTION 3: All actions taken at a remote or hybrid Town Meeting held in accordance with this act shall have the same effect as if the Town Meeting had been conducted entirely in person.

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