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HD 5211

An Act relative to the town of Southbridge granting additional licenses for the sale of all alcoholic beverages to be drunk on the premises

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by John Marsi

Extends Southbridge's window to grant additional on-premises all-alcohol licenses from 2025 to 2029; effective immediately.

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Bill Summary · HD 5211

Summary of HD 5211: An Act relative to the town of Southbridge granting additional licenses for the sale of all alcoholic beverages to be drunk on the premises

Overview

HD 5211 proposes to amend a provision in the 2022 acts that governs Southbridge’s ability to grant additional on-premises licenses for all alcohol sales. The core change is a simple year adjustment intended to extend the period during which such licenses can be granted.

What the bill would do

  • Change the year referenced in subsection (e) of section 1 of Chapter 214 of the Acts of 2022 from 2025 to 2029. This effectively prolongs the timeframe within which Southbridge may grant additional licenses for the sale of all alcoholic beverages to be consumed on the premises.
  • The act would take effect immediately upon passage.

Key provisions

  • Section 1: Amends the 2022 acts by replacing the date “2025” with “2029” in the specified subsection, thereby extending the licensing window.
  • Section 2: Establishes that the act takes effect upon passage.

Who is affected

  • Town of Southbridge and its local government (board of selectmen/town council, licensing authorities).
  • Prospective and current licensees seeking on-premises sales of all alcoholic beverages.
  • Local residents and businesses in Southbridge that rely on or are affected by on-premises alcohol licenses.

Procedural and timeline context

  • Introduced: November 29, 2025.
  • Filed: October 2, 2025 (House Docket No. 5211; accompanying House No. 4588).
  • Local approval status noted as received for the petition.
  • Purposefully narrow in scope: does not create new license counts or authorize new license types beyond extending the existing licensing window; no appropriation or funding provisions are included.
  • Effective date: immediate upon enactment.

Potential impact and considerations

  • By extending the licensing window to 2029, Southbridge may have more time to grant additional all-alcohol licenses for on-premises consumption, subject to existing local and state license processes.
  • No explicit changes to the total number of licenses or distribution; any new licenses would still operate under the state and local licensing framework already in place.
  • Since it is a local-petition bill with a straightforward amendment, passage would largely depend on general consensus around extending the licensing period for Southbridge.

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

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