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H 4815

An Act authorizing the select board of the town of Arlington to place upon a town ballot a question to increase the number of licenses for the sale of all alcoholic beverages not to be drunk on the premises

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Cindy Friedman and 2 co-sponsors

Arlington may ask in 2026 to authorize 2 off-premises all-alcohol licenses; if voters say yes, the town may issue them under Chapter 138 rules.

Read second and ordered to a third reading
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Bill Summary · H 4815

Summary: House Bill 4815 (H.4815) — Arlington Licensing Question Authority

Overview

H.4815 would authorize the Town of Arlington to place a ballot question on the 2026 town election to determine whether the town may issue 2 additional licenses for the sale of all alcoholic beverages not to be drunk on the premises (i.e., all-alcoholic-beverages licenses not for on-premises consumption). If the voters approve, Arlington may issue two new licenses under the framework of Chapter 138 of the General Laws, with exceptions specified in the act.

Purpose and intent

  • Enable Arlington to determine, via a local ballot question, whether to increase the town’s number of licenses for off-premises alcohol sales.
  • Provide a pathway for Arlington to issue two additional off-premises alcohol licenses if approved by voters.

Key provisions

  • Ballot question: The select board may place the following question on the 2026 town election ballot:
    • “Shall the Select Board of the town be authorized to issue 2 additional licenses for the sale of all alcoholic beverages not to be drunk on the premises?”
  • Qualification of licenses: If the majority votes “Yes,” the select board may issue 2 additional licenses for off-premises sale of all alcoholic beverages, subject to the licensing regime in Chapter 138 of the General Laws, with the specific exceptions or adaptations provided by this act.
  • Effective date: The act takes effect upon passage.
  • Statutory navigation: The licenses, if issued, would follow the general licensing framework of Chapter 138, Massachusetts liquor laws, except as otherwise stated in the act.

Affected parties and scope

  • Town of Arlington: The primary locality affected; the act grants local authority to place the question and, if approved, to issue two additional licenses.
  • Licensees and prospective licensees: Potential new off-premises alcohol license holders in Arlington, should the ballot measure pass.
  • General public: Arlington voters in the 2026 town election would determine the outcome via the ballot.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Status: Read second and ordered to a third reading.
  • Introduction date: December 8, 2025.
  • Legislative actions:
    • December 8, 2025: Reported favorably by the Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure; referred to House Steering, Policy and Scheduling.
    • December 8, 2025 onward: Various housekeeping steps; December 24, 2025, committee reports and scheduling actions; December 24, 2025, rules suspension noted.
  • Election timing: The authorization would be decided at the 2026 Arlington town election, if the bill advances and is enacted.

Fiscal/administrative considerations

  • Any issuance of the two additional licenses would be governed by the existing license fee, renewal, and regulatory framework of Chapter 138, with the act providing the scope for the new licenses.
  • The bill does not specify a monetary price or fee schedule within the text provided; it relies on the Chapter 138 framework for fiscal and regulatory parameters.

Notes

  • The bill is a local approval measure, contingent on voter approval in Arlington.
  • The act provides a mechanism to increase licensed off-premises alcohol sales capacity in Arlington, subject to the 2026 ballot result.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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