SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1504        FILED ON: 1/16/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Pavel M. Payano

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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 relative to the creation of a municipal licensing commission.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1504        FILED ON: 1/16/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

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 relative to the creation of a municipal licensing commission.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Chapter 40 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 official edition, is hereby amended by adding the following new section:

Section 70. There shall be a special commission to study the streamlining of municipal licenses for businesses. The commission shall consist of the following members, the chairs of the joint committee on Community Development and Small Businesses, who shall serve as co-chairs; 1 member of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker; 1 member of the senate appointed by the senate president; 1 member appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives; 1 member appointed by the minority leader of the senate; the secretary of housing and economic development or a designee; 1 member appointed by the Massachusetts Municipal Association; 1 member appointed by the Retailers Association of Massachusetts; 1 member appointed by the Massachusetts chapter of the national federation of independent businesses; and 1 member appointed by the Massachusetts Restaurant Association.

The commission shall hold at least three public hearings and shall solicit input from the public, and businesses on the process of municipal licensing for businesses and ways to streamline processes and procedures. The commission shall submit a report to the legislature on its findings and any legislative recommendations to update the laws of the commonwealth by March 1, 2027.