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H 4287

Mary Elizabeth Mullikin sympathy

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Terry Alexander and 122 co-sponsors

West Springfield can issue four new off-premises licenses for all alcoholic beverages to four named stores, bypassing the usual cap with location-specific approvals.

Introduced and adopted
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Bill Summary · H 4287

Summary of H.4287 (2025)

Overview

H.4287 is a Massachusetts bill that would authorize the city known as the town of West Springfield to issue four additional licenses for the sale of all alcoholic beverages not to be consumed on the premises (off-premises or “package” licenses). The bill explicitly bypasses the typical cap under Section 17 of Chapter 138 for these four licenses and designates their specific locations. The act would take effect upon passage.

Purpose and Intent

  • Increase the number of off-premises alcohol licenses in West Springfield by four.
  • Target specific local businesses to receive these licenses (off-premises sale of all alcoholic beverages, not for on-site consumption).
  • Establish a structured framework for issuance, transfer, renewal, and revocation that preserves local control while ensuring compliance with state revenue and unemployment insurance requirements.

Key Provisions

  1. Authority and Scope (Section 1)

    • The West Springfield licensing authority may grant four new licenses for the sale of all alcoholic beverages not to be drunk on the premises, bypassing Section 17 of Chapter 138.
    • Licenses are to be issued to four named establishments:
      • Calabrese Market – 54 Park Street
      • Delaney’s Market – 334 Park Street
      • KKK&P LLC (DBA The Country Store) – 1022 Amostown Road
      • Ye Olde Butcher Shoppe – 68 North Boulevard
    • These licenses remain subject to all provisions of Chapter 138 except Section 17.

  2. Transfers and Reassignments (Section 1(b))

    • Licenses granted under this section cannot be transferred to a different location.
    • They may be granted to a new applicant at the same location if the new applicant provides:
      • A letter from the Department of Revenue (DOR)
      • A letter from the Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA)
      • Evidence that taxes, fees, and contributions are paid and the license is in good standing.

  3. License Termination and Reassignment (Section 1(c))

    • If a licensee terminates, fails to renew, or if a license is canceled/revoked/otherwise unused, the license must be returned to the licensing authority.
    • The licensing authority may grant the license to a new applicant at the same location within three years under the same conditions; otherwise the license dissolves.

  4. Issuance Timing (Section 1(d))

    • A license under this section must be issued within one year after the act’s effective date.
    • If originally granted within that window, a license may be granted to a new applicant under (b) and (c) thereafter.

  5. Impact on Existing Wine/Malt Licenses (Section 2)

    • Upon issuance of the license for The Country Store (the third listed recipient), the recipient must surrender its license for the sale of wine and malt beverages not to be drunk on the premises (Section 15, Chapter 138).

  6. Effective Date (Section 3)

    • The act takes effect upon passage.

Affected Parties and Impacts

  • West Springfield Licensing Authority: Granted new off-premises licenses and oversight of issuance, transfers (within same location), renewals, and dissolution.
  • The four named businesses: Calabrese Market, Delaney’s Market, The Country Store (KKK&P LLC), Ye Olde Butcher Shoppe – eligible to receive one off-premises license each.
  • Other stakeholders: State Department of Revenue (DOR) and Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) involvement for license transfers; potential impact on local tax revenue and employment.

Timeline and Status

  • Introduced: July 23, 2025
  • Committee action: Reported favorably by the Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure on July 23, 2025 (New draft referenced as H.4155)
  • House actions: Read, amended, and moved through Second and Third readings across August–October 2025
  • Current status: Read second and ordered to a third reading (as of the latest available data)

Notes

  • This bill is a local-approval measure enabling four specific off-premises licenses beyond the usual quota.
  • It creates a structured framework for transfers limited to the same location, promoting continuity at each site while ensuring regulatory compliance.

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

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