Bill
H 4501
Amends Plymouth charter to formalize governance as Representative Town Meeting, establishing 9 RTM members per precinct (phased 3/year) with 3‑year terms and clarified powers.
Status & Sponsors
- Bill number: H.4501
- Short title shown: “Mt. Nebo Baptist Church” (see note on conflicting text below)
- Sponsors / Petitioners: Rep. Kathleen R. LaNatra (12th Plymouth) and Rep. Michelle L. Badger (1st Plymouth)
- Filed: House Docket No. 5113 — filed 9/5/2025; presented to Legislature 9/11/2025
- Classification on docket: resolution (but substance is a local charter amendment)
- Local approval: received
Purpose and intent
- The principal purpose of the measure (as contained in the docketed text) is to amend the Town of Plymouth’s charter. The amendment restates and updates fundamental provisions governing the town’s powers, form of government, definitions, and the composition and procedures of the Representative Town Meeting (the legislative branch under the charter).
Key provisions (from the provided excerpts)
- CHAPTER 1 — Powers of the Town
- Reaffirms the Town of Plymouth’s corporate status and declares that the Town shall have all powers allowed by the Massachusetts Constitution and statutes.
- Establishes the municipal form of government as Representative Town Meeting — Select Board — Town Manager.
- Sets liberal construction of charter powers and authorizes intergovernmental cooperation (contracts/joint activities with other governments/agencies).
- Provides a set of definitions for terms used in the charter (e.g., by-law, charter, majority vote, quorum, Select Board/Select Person, Town Agency, Town Officer, Website, etc.). Notable specifics:
- “Days” defined as business days for periods under seven days.
- “Majority vote” defined as a majority of those present and voting (if quorum present).
- “Town Meeting” refers to the full body of Representative Town Meeting members.
What (and who) would be affected
- The Town of Plymouth’s governing documents and municipal operations: elected Representative Town Meeting members, Town Clerk, Select Board, Town Manager, town boards/commissions, and registered voters.
- The procedural operations of Town Meeting (membership count, election cycles, notice requirements) and statutory interpretation of town powers and intergovernmental activities.
Procedural history & timeline (selected entries from docket)
- 2025-09-11: Referred to the committee on Municipalities and Regional Government.
- 2025-09-15: Senate concurred (docket lists concurrence).
- 2025-09-23: Hearing scheduled (written testimony only).
- 2025-10-14: Reported favorably by committee as changed; referred to House Steering, Policy and Scheduling.
- 2025-11-10: Rules suspended; read second and ordered to third reading; matter placed in Orders of the Day for next sitting.
- Earlier entry (5/06/2025): indicates “Introduced and adopted” — this date appears to correspond to a different document (see note).
Important note about conflicting content in the docket
- The version content provided to the analyst includes, in addition to the Plymouth charter text, the full language of an unrelated South Carolina House resolution (filed 05/06/2025) honoring Pastor Ronald W. Henderson of Mt. Nebo Baptist Church in Spartanburg on his twentieth anniversary. That resolution is a distinct legislative item from South Carolina and is not substantively related to the Massachusetts Plymouth charter amendment. The docket metadata appears to conflate or include both documents; readers should treat the Plymouth charter amendment and the South Carolina resolution as separate items.
Next steps / recommendation
- The bill text provided is partially truncated; interested readers should consult the full bill as filed in the Massachusetts House (House Docket No. 5113 / H.4501) or the Town of Plymouth’s submitted charter amendment package for all sections and any additional changes beyond Chapters 1–2 excerpts shown.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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