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S 274

Establishes voluntary opportunities for veterans

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Robert Jackson and 2 co-sponsors

Marshfield may issue 6 new all-alcohol licenses (2 on-premises, 1 BRVO-restricted, 3 off-premises) with location, transfer, and reissuance rules.

SUBSTITUTED BY A8485
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Bill Summary · S 274

Summary — S 274 (Marshfield): Authorization to grant additional alcoholic beverage licenses

Note: Although some supplied metadata references veterans’ issues and unrelated sponsors, the enacted bill text for S 274 (as introduced by Senator Patrick M. O’Connor) concerns local alcoholic beverage licensing for the town of Marshfield. The summary below reflects the bill text.

Purpose

To authorize the town of Marshfield to issue six (6) additional licenses for the sale of all alcoholic beverages, notwithstanding the quota provision in G.L. c. 138, §17, and to set specific location, transfer, and reissuance conditions for those licenses.

Key provisions and changes

  • Authorization: The Marshfield licensing authority may grant 6 additional “all alcoholic beverages” licenses (subject to all of G.L. c. 138 except §17).
  • Allocation and specific recipients/locations:
    • Two on‑premises (section 12) licenses:
    • Don Bravo Mexican Grill — 57 Snow Road #30
    • The Corner Café — 2000 Ocean Street
    • One on‑premises (section 12) license restricted to the Brant Rock Village Overlay District (BRVO) (map adopted April 27, 2015). This license must be stamped “Brant Rock Village Overlay District.”
    • Three off‑premises/package store (section 15) licenses:
    • Jackansons Package Store — 1921 Ocean Street / Route 139
    • Hubbards Cupboard — 29 Main Street
    • Ocean Market & Liquor — 915 Ocean Street
  • Use restriction: On‑premises licenses (clauses (i) and (ii)) may be exercised only in the dining room of a common victualler and any other public rooms/areas certified by the licensing authority.
  • Transfer and reissuance limits:
    • The BRVO license (clause (ii)) may not be transferred outside the BRVO; it may be reissued within the BRVO to a new applicant only if the applicant provides letters from the Department of Revenue and the Department of Unemployment Assistance showing good standing and payment of applicable obligations. If returned/cancelled, the licensing authority may regrant it under the same conditions.
    • Licenses authorized in clauses (i) and (iii) may not be transferred to another location. They may be reissued to a new applicant at the same initial location upon submission of DOR and DUA good‑standing letters. If such a license is returned, the licensing authority may regrant it within 3 years; otherwise it dissolves.
  • License swaps: Upon issuance of any clause (iii) (off‑premises) license, the recipient must physically return its current wine & malt off‑premises license (G.L. c. 138, §15). Upon issuance of any clause (i) (on‑premises) license, the recipient must return its current wine & malt on‑premises license (G.L. c. 138, §12).
  • Deadline: All licenses authorized under this act must be issued within 3 years of the act’s effective date (but a license originally granted within that period may later be reissued under the conditions above).
  • Effective date: Upon passage.

Who is affected

  • The town of Marshfield’s licensing authority and local businesses benefiting from new licenses.
  • Named establishments listed above (specific addresses).
  • Existing holders of wine & malt licenses who will return those licenses as a condition of receiving the new “all alcoholic beverages” license.
  • Residents and businesses in the Brant Rock Village Overlay District (for the BRVO‑restricted license).
  • Potential competitors (other local restaurants and package stores) and municipal tax/regulatory administration.

Legislative status / timeline highlights

  • Filed: introduced in Senate (Senate Docket No. 514) — January 2025.
  • Passed Senate: May 20, 2025; delivered to the House/Assembly.
  • Referred to relevant committees (Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure; Veterans’ Affairs referenced in actions appears to be administrative routing).
  • SUBSTITUTED BY A8485: June 12, 2025 (indicating the House bill A8485 became the vehicle/substitute for this measure).
  • Multiple committee actions, hearings and procedural entries occurred between Jan.–Oct. 2025 (including recalls and amendments noted in the record).

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Local economic: increases capacity for alcohol service and retail in Marshfield, potentially boosting restaurant and retail revenue.
  • Fiscal/regulatory: changes in license count and types may affect local license fees, oversight, and enforcement workload.
  • Community: new off‑premises outlets and on‑premises service in specific locations could raise local concerns about density, alcohol access, and neighborhood effects; those issues remain subject to local licensing authority discretion under the act.
  • Legal/administrative: the law creates site‑specific and zone‑restricted licenses and ties transfers/reissuances to good‑standing certifications from state revenue and unemployment agencies.

If you want, I can produce a short one‑page fact sheet for Marshfield residents summarizing what the new licenses mean locally, or track the status/history of substitute bill A8485.

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

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