HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 5693

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, October 13, 2026.

 The committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure, to whom was referred the joint petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 5659) of Kimberly N. Ferguson (by vote of the town) that the town of Rutland be authorized to grant one additional license for the sale of all alcoholic beverages to be drunk off the premises, reports recommending that the accompanying bill (House, No. 5693) ought to pass [Local Approval Received].

For the committee,

TACKEY CHAN.

        FILED ON: 10/8/2026

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 5693

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 town of Rutland to convert one seasonal license for the sale of all alcoholic beverages to be drunk off the premises to an annual license for the sale of all alcoholic beverages to be drunk off 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 17B of chapter 138 of the General Laws, the licensing authority of the town of Rutland may convert a seasonal license for the sale of all alcoholic beverages not to be drunk on the premises under section 15 of said chapter 138, currently issued to Varahi Foods Inc., d/b/a Rutland Market Place, located at 26 Pommogusett Road to an annual license for the sale of all alcoholic beverages not to be drunk on the premises under said section 15 of said chapter 138 to Varahi Foods Inc., d/b/a Rutland Market Place, located at 26 Pommogusett Road. The license converted under this section shall be subject to all of said chapter 138 except said sections 17 and 17B.

 (b) The licensing authority shall not approve the transfer of a 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 the 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 terms and conditions as specified in this section, otherwise such license shall dissolve.

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

 SECTION 2. Upon the 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 wine and malt beverages not to be drunk on the premises under section 15 of chapter 138 of the General Laws.

 SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon its passage.