{"AmendmentNumber":"457","ParentBillNumber":"H5562","Bill":null,"Sponsor":{"Id":"JDM1","Name":"Joseph D. McKenna","Type":1,"Details":"https://malegislature.gov/api/GeneralCourts/194/LegislativeMembers/JDM1","ResponseDate":"2026-07-06T16:18:10.28"},"Category":null,"Action":"Consolidated","RollCall":[],"Title":"Returning Liquor License Control to Municipalities","Branch":"House","RedraftNumber":null,"IsFurther":false,"GeneralCourtNumber":194,"Text":"Mr. McKenna of Sutton moves to amend the bill by adding the following new section:\r\n\r\nSECTION XXX:\r\n\r\nSECTION 1. Section 12 of chapter 138 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 120 and 121, the words “and irrespective of any limitation of number of licenses contained in section seventeen.\r\n\r\nSECTION 2. Said section 12 of said chapter 138, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by adding the following 3 paragraphs:-\r\nA new license issued pursuant to this section in response to an application filed after January 1, 2027, pursuant to the municipal plan as required by section 17, shall be non-transferable and no licensing authority shall approve the transfer of such license.\r\nIf a license issued pursuant to this section is cancelled, revoked or no longer in use by the licensee, the license shall be returned physically, with all of the legal rights, privileges and restrictions pertaining thereto to the licensing authority.\r\nIf a licensee holder closes or terminates the licensee’s business or sells or transfers the license holder’s business, the licensee shall return the license physically, with all of the legal rights, privileges and restrictions pertaining thereto to the licensing authority.\r\n\r\nSECTION 3. The first paragraph of section 14 of said chapter 138, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the first sentence and inserting in place thereof the following sentence:- Special licenses for the sale of all alcoholic beverages or wines and malt beverages only may be issued, as determined by the municipality, by the local licensing authorities to the responsible manager of an indoor or outdoor activity or enterprise or to the responsible manager of a nonprofit organization conducting an indoor or outdoor activity or enterprise.\r\n\r\nSECTION 4. Section 16A of said chapter 138, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 12, the word “so” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- as determined by a municipality to be.\r\n\r\nSECTION 5. Said section 16A of said chapter 138, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 15 and 16, the words “, to the extent that the same are issuable under section seventeen.\r\n\r\nSECTION 6. Said section 16A of said chapter 138, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 19, the words “for the purposes of section seventeen”.\r\n\r\nSECTION 7. Section 17 of said chapter 138 is hereby amended by striking out the first 8 paragraphs, in lines 1 to 166, inclusive, and inserting in place thereof the following 3 paragraphs:-\r\nA city or town shall determine the number of all alcoholic beverage or wines and malt beverage licenses to be issued by its local licensing authority under sections 12, 14 and 15F, including the number of seasonal licenses; provided, however, that for licenses issued under section 15, cities and towns may grant 1 such license for each population unit of 5,000 or any additional fraction thereof; provided, however, that cities and towns may, regardless of population, grant at least 2 licenses under said section 15; and provided further, that nothing in this section shall limit the city of Boston from granting at least 250 licenses for the sale of all alcoholic beverages under said section 15.\r\nA city or town shall adopt and may amend a plan that is approved by the mayor and city council or select board, which shall determine the process for granting additional licenses; provided, however, that prior to adopting or amending the plan: (i) at least 1 public hearing regarding the plan shall be conducted by the city council, select board or legislative body of the city or town; and (ii) the city or town shall notify the alcoholic beverages control commission of the public hearing.\r\nThe mayor and city council of a city or select board of a town shall hold a public hearing regarding a license application within 30 days of the date the application is filed.\r\n\r\nSECTION 8. Sections 17A to 17C, inclusive, of said chapter 138 are hereby repealed\r\n"}