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Bill

H 4148

Constitutional amendment, healthcare

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Chris Hart

Allows Shutesbury to register and let lawful permanent residents 18+ vote in local elections and serve on town boards, but not state or federal elections.

Referred to Committee on Judiciary
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · H 4148

Summary — H 4148 (2025): Allowing lawful permanent resident voting in the Town of Shutesbury

Bill number: H 4148
Introduced: May 19, 2025
Sponsors: Rep. Aaron L. Saunders; Sen. Joanne M. Comerford
Classification: Joint resolution / local act (filed as House bill)
Committees / Status: Referred to Committee on Election Laws; hearing scheduled 09/16/2025 (1:00–5:00 PM, B-1). Legislative history also shows earlier referral to Judiciary (3/5/2025) and a Senate concurrence entry (5/20/2025). Local approval received (petitioned by vote of the town).

Note: The bill text included in the submission contains unrelated duplicated text proposing a South Carolina constitutional amendment on healthcare. That South Carolina language is not part of this Massachusetts local measure and is unrelated to H 4148’s purpose described below.

Purpose

To permit lawful permanent residents (noncitizen green card holders) aged 18 or older who reside in the Town of Shutesbury to register to vote for and participate in all municipal (town) elections, town meetings and to serve on Shutesbury municipal boards, commissions, and committees.

Key provisions

  • Overrides state voter eligibility provisions (specifically Section 1 of Chapter 51 and any conflicting law, rule, or regulation) for the limited purpose below.
  • Authorizes the Town Clerk of Shutesbury, upon application, to enter the names of lawful permanent residents (18+) who reside in the town on a local list of registered voters maintained by the town.
  • Those registered under this authority may vote in all Shutesbury town meetings, town elections and actions, and may serve on elected and appointed municipal boards, commissions, and committees in Shutesbury.
  • Explicitly excludes any right to vote for state or federal offices, or to vote on state or federal ballot questions, or to take any action related to them.
  • Grants the Shutesbury Selectboard authority to adopt regulations and guidelines to implement the act.

Who would be affected

  • Lawful permanent residents (green card holders) aged 18+ who live in Shutesbury — they would gain the ability to register for and vote in local town matters and serve in municipal roles.
  • Town officials and election administrators in Shutesbury — responsible for processing applications, maintaining a local voter list, adopting implementing regulations, and administering expanded local voting rolls.
  • The change is strictly local to Shutesbury and does not alter voter eligibility for state or federal elections anywhere in Massachusetts.

Implementation and timeline

  • Registration for eligible noncitizen permanent residents occurs by application to the Town Clerk and entry on a local voter list established under the act.
  • The Selectboard may promulgate rules to implement the program.
  • Next legislative procedural milestone: scheduled public hearing on 09/16/2025. Further committee action and votes will determine final enactment.

Potential considerations

  • Administrative: the town will need procedures, staff capacity, and possibly voter education for a separate local registration subsystem.
  • Legal: the bill contains a “notwithstanding” clause intended to displace conflicting state statutes for this local purpose; legal challenges could arise over consistency with state election law or constitutional provisions (not addressed in the text).
  • Scope: the authorization is narrowly local; it does not change statewide voting rights for noncitizens.

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

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