Authorizes municipalities to establish a history, arts, and culture levy

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jeremy Cooney

Allows Berkley MA to issue up to five additional on-premises liquor licenses in its General Business District, bypassing population limits.

REFERRED TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Purpose

This bill authorizes the town of Berkley (Massachusetts) to increase the number of local on‑premises alcoholic beverage licenses available within a defined commercial area. The intent is to allow up to five additional full liquor (all alcoholic beverages) licenses for establishments located in Berkley’s General Business District, subject to local licensing authority control.

Key provisions

Grants the Berkley licensing authority the power to issue up to five (5) additional on‑premises licenses for the sale of all alcoholic beverages pursuant to section 15 of chapter 138 of the Massachusetts General Laws.

These additional licenses are authorized notwithstanding section 17 of chapter 138 (the statutory population‑based limit on the number of licenses).

The licenses may only be issued to establishments located within the Town of Berkley’s General Business District as shown on the “Town of Berkley Zoning Map” (as amended from time to time).

Each license is otherwise subject to chapter 138 and may carry such conditions/restrictions as the local licensing authority deems appropriate.

If a license issued under this act is cancelled, revoked, or no longer used at its original issuance location, it must be physically returned to the local licensing authority; that authority may then grant the license to a new applicant.

The act takes effect upon passage.

Who is affected

Businesses in Berkley’s General Business District seeking on‑premises alcoholic beverage licenses (restaurants, bars, hotels, etc.).

Berkley’s local licensing authority (which will set conditions and manage issuance and reissuance).

Residents and municipal officials concerned with local economic development, public safety, and alcohol regulation.

State regulatory framework remains in effect except for the specific section 17 limitation waived for these five licenses.

Procedural status & timeline (as provided)

Introduced in the Senate: 2025-07-30 (read twice and referred to Committee on the Judiciary; also referred to Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure on 2025-07-10 in the text).

Referred to Local Government (records show 2025-01-21 entries).

House concurred: 2025-07-14 (per provided actions).

Hearings scheduled/rescheduled for October 2025 (10/02, 10/14 entries). Note: the provided legislative action dates contain inconsistencies/duplicates (different referral dates and committee assignments); readers should consult the official legislature docket for the authoritative procedural history.

Potential impacts

Economic: may encourage restaurant/retail growth in the General Business District, increase local sales and meals tax revenue, and reduce license scarcity.

Regulatory/public safety: requires careful local oversight (hours, capacity, compliance) to manage potential public‑safety and nuisance concerns.

Fiscal: possible increases in local license fee revenue; market value of licenses may change.

Notes

The bill text is specific to the town of Berkley, MA, and modifies local application of chapter 138 for up to five licenses.

The provided sponsor list and some procedural dates appear inconsistent with a Massachusetts local-option bill (these inconsistencies are likely clerical and should be verified against the official state legislative records).

Bill