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H 4589

An Act authorizing the town of Ludlow to pay a certain unpaid bill

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Jake Oliveira and 1 co-sponsor

Authorizes the Town of Ludlow to pay a $98,620 unpaid 2024 invoice from available funds this fiscal year, contingent on a sworn certificate confirming order, delivery, and receipt.

Signed by the Governor, Chapter 18 of the Acts of 2026
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Bill Summary · H 4589

Summary: H.4589 — An Act authorizing the town of Ludlow to pay a certain unpaid bill

Purpose and intent

  • This bill authorizes the Town of Ludlow to pay a specific unpaid bill from the town’s available funds in the current fiscal year.
  • The bill targets a single, legally unenforceable invoice totaling $98,620 for goods and services provided to Ludlow in 2024.
  • The overarching goals are to resolve a longstanding financial obligation to a vendor and to provide a clear, auditable basis for the payment.

Key provisions

  • Section 1 – Authorized payment
    The Town of Ludlow may pay, from any available funds during the current fiscal year, the unpaid bill totaling $98,620 for goods and services supplied in 2024. The bill is specifically described as legally unenforceable against the town. This is a one-time authorization tied to this particular invoice.

  • Section 2 – Certification requirement
    Prior to approval or payment, the town must receive and file a certificate (under penalties of perjury) stating that:

    • the goods or services were ordered by a town official or employee,
    • the goods were delivered and actually received by the town, and
    • the services were rendered to the town (or both).
      This certification acts as an accountability safeguard to verify the legitimacy of the transaction.

  • Section 3 – Effective date
    The act takes effect upon passage.

Who is affected

  • Town of Ludlow and its procurement/payroll/finance processes.
  • Vendors or providers that supplied goods or services in 2024, for whom the invoice is being paid (subject to the certification requirements).
  • Local taxpayers in Ludlow, since payments would be drawn from available municipal funds in the current fiscal year.

Fiscal and procedural context

  • Financial impact: Payment would be funded from Ludlow’s available funds in the current fiscal year; the bill specifies a fixed amount ($98,620). There is no new revenue mechanism—just authorization to use existing funds if available.
  • Accountability safeguards: The required sworn certificate provides a formal review step to verify ordering, delivery, and receipt of goods/services.
  • Legal posture: The bill acknowledges that the underlying bill is unenforceable against the town, yet permits payment to settle the obligation.

Timeline and legislative status

  • Introduced: October 6, 2025
  • Hearing: October 14, 2025 (Written Testimony Only)
  • Committee actions: Reported favorably by committee (October 30, 2025); referred to House Steering, Policy and Scheduling
  • House actions: Read and passed to third reading; Rules suspended and second reading completed (late October–November 2025)
  • Senate actions: Senate concurrence noted (October 9, 2025)
  • Final status: Read third and passed to be engrossed (November 26, 2025)

Related measures

  • Related bill: HD 5210 (listed as a replacement measure in docket materials)

This bill is a focused, one-time local appropriation designed to resolve an outstanding 2024 invoice by authorizing payment from available funds, contingent on certification of proper ordering, delivery, and receipt.

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

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