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H 4635

An Act relative to the effective enforcement of municipal ordinances and by-laws

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by James Arena-DeRosa and 11 co-sponsors

The bill raises the maximum civil fine for violating municipal ordinances from $300 to $500 per offense.

Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Ways and Means
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Bill Summary · H 4635

Summary of H.4635 — An Act relative to the effective enforcement of municipal ordinances and by-laws

Overview

H.4635, introduced on October 23, 2025, seeks to strengthen municipal enforcement of local ordinances and by-laws by increasing the civil penalty that cities and towns can impose for violations. The bill was reported favorably by the Judiciary Committee and referred to the House Ways and Means Committee for potential fiscal review.

  • Bill number: H.4635
  • Title: An Act relative to the effective enforcement of municipal ordinances and by-laws
  • Introduced: October 23, 2025
  • Current status: Reported favorably by the Judiciary Committee; referred to House Ways and Means
  • Committee actions: The Judiciary Committee reported a new draft (House, No. 1669) and recommended passage
  • Sponsors: Includes a broad list of cosponsors (e.g., Vanna Howard, James B. Eldridge, James C. Arena-DeRosa, Brian M. Ashe, Brian W. Murray, Adam J. Scanlon, Erika Uyterhoeven, Andres X. Vargas, James K. Hawkins, Kate Donaghue, Tara T. Hong, and others)

What the bill does

  • The core amendment raises the maximum civil penalty for violations of municipal ordinances and by-laws set forth in Section 21D of Chapter 40 of the General Laws.
  • Specifically, the bill changes the statutory amount from $300 to $500 for each offense.

Key provisions

  • Section amended: Section 21D of Chapter 40 of the General Laws (as appears in the 2022 Official Edition).
  • Exact change: Replaces the phrase “three hundred dollars” with the figure “$500.”
  • Scope of impact: Applies to fines assessed for violations of municipal ordinances and by-laws (i.e., local laws enacted by cities and towns in Massachusetts).

Who is affected

  • Municipalities (cities and towns): Authorities empowered to enforce local ordinances and by-laws would have an increased penalty cap, potentially improving incentive and ability to deter violations.
  • Residents, businesses, and organizations: Individuals and entities subject to local ordinances could face higher maximum fines per offense for noncompliance, depending on local enforcement and how municipalities implement the increased cap.
  • State and local fiscal offices: May consider potential revenue or revenue-neutral enforcement impacts as part of committee deliberations (reflected in referral to Ways and Means).

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Legislative actions to date:
    • 2025-10-23: Reported from the Judiciary Committee
    • 2025-10-23: New draft referenced as House 1669
    • 2025-10-23: Bill reported favorably by the Judiciary Committee and referred to House Ways and Means
  • Effective date: Not specified in the provided text. As with most general laws, enactment would follow passage and signing into law, with any effective date determined by the final enacted language.

Potential impact and considerations

  • The higher penalty cap may enhance enforcement leverage for local officials and could influence compliance behavior.
  • Municipalities will need to consider enforcement practices to avoid over-penalization and to ensure fairness and consistency in applying fines.
  • The fiscal impact is indeterminate at this stage and will be evaluated by Ways and Means as part of the budgetary process.

This summary covers the essential elements available from the bill text and status. For a deeper understanding, review the full legislative language of H.4635 and any fiscal note accompanying the Ways and Means review.

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

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