KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to Massachusetts

H371 • 2025

An Act relative to local boards of health and the sale of legal consumer products in the Commonwealth

An Act relative to local boards of health and the sale of legal consumer products in the Commonwealth

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Paul K. Frost
Last action
2026-02-17
Official status
Accompanied a study order, see H5081
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

An Act relative to local boards of health and the sale of legal consumer products in the Commonwealth

An Act relative to local boards of health and the sale of legal consumer products in the Commonwealth By Representative Frost of Auburn, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.

What This Bill Does

  • An Act relative to local boards of health and the sale of legal consumer products in the Commonwealth By Representative Frost of Auburn, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
  • 371) of Paul K.
  • Frost and Joseph D.
  • McKenna relative to bans on the sale of legal consumer products by local boards of health.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-17 House

    Accompanied a study order, see H5081

  2. 2025-10-10 Joint

    Hearing scheduled for 10/20/2025 from 10:00 AM-01:00 PM in A-2

  3. 2025-02-27 House

    Referred to the committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure

  4. 2025-02-27 Senate

    Senate concurred

Official Summary Text

An Act relative to local boards of health and the sale of legal consumer products in the Commonwealth
By Representative Frost of Auburn, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 371) of Paul K. Frost and Joseph D. McKenna relative to bans on the sale of legal consumer products by local boards of health. Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
×

Bill H.371

Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, Boards of Health in cities and towns shall not have the power to ban the community-wide sale of any legal consumer product by authorized stores, establishments and any other entities legally allowed to sell such products in the Commonwealth and within the existing by-laws of the community, wholesale or retail, without receiving the approval of town meeting or city council to create such a by-law within the city or town. This provision shall not interfere with a Board of Health’s ability to take action for an emergency and immediate health concern for a specific consumer product or from a specific location if a health code violation has otherwise occurred or some other emergency health issue should arise so long as such action is not to ban the legal sale for the sake of doing so.

The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. The General Court provides this information as a public service and while we endeavor to keep the data accurate and current to the best of our ability, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.

Close