SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2189        FILED ON: 1/17/2025

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

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Rebecca L. Rausch

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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 empowering municipalities and improving efficiency.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2189        FILED ON: 1/17/2025

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 empowering municipalities and improving efficiency.

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. Section 8A of chapter 3 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting at the end thereof the following words:- An approval vote shall continue in full force and effect for a period of 6 years from the date of the vote, unless a vote to rescind such approval is passed by a majority of the voters of a city or town.

SECTION 2. Section 18 of chapter 43B of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the last sentence and inserting in place thereof the following words:- The procedures set forth in this chapter shall be exclusive.

SECTION 3. Said chapter 43B, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by adding the following section:-

Section 21. (a) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, a city or town shall not be required to submit for legislative review or approval a home rule petition pertaining to matters with minimal or no statewide impact, including but not limited to: increases in licenses in any municipality other than the city of Boston pursuant to section 17 of chapter 138, provided that the municipality has a licensing board or commission, board of health, or other municipal body that reviews applications or requests for new licenses; charter amendments; changes to voting methodology in municipal elections only; individual personnel exemptions from the provisions of chapter 31; reasonable changes to the proportionality limits set forth in section 1A of chapter 58; and property tax exemptions pursuant to section 5 of chapter 59.

(b) The attorney general may promulgate regulations to enforce this section.