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H376 • 2025

An Act restricting the sale of certain items at flea markets

An Act restricting the sale of certain items at flea markets

Active

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

Sponsor
Colleen M. Garry
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 restricting the sale of certain items at flea markets

An Act restricting the sale of certain items at flea markets By Representative Garry of Dracut, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.

What This Bill Does

  • An Act restricting the sale of certain items at flea markets By Representative Garry of Dracut, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
  • 376) of Colleen M.
  • Garry for legislation to restrict sales of certain items and products at flea markets, so-called.
  • Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure.

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 restricting the sale of certain items at flea markets
By Representative Garry of Dracut, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 376) of Colleen M. Garry for legislation to restrict sales of certain items and products at flea markets, so-called. Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
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Bill H.376

Chapter 101 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by deleting section 18A and inserting in place thereof the following section:—

Section 18A. (A) No person, except an authorized manufacturer’s or distributor’s representative possessing on his or her person written proof of that authorization for public retail sales, shall sell, offer for sale, or knowingly permit the sale at any flea market, so-called, any of the following items:

(i) food manufactured and packaged for sale for consumption by a child under the age of two years;

(ii) drugs and cosmetics, as those terms are defined in section one of chapter ninety-four;

(iii) any product which has an expiration date.

(B) In this section, “manufacturer’s or distributor’s representative” shall mean a person who has on his person and available for public inspection written proof that he or she is authorized by the manufacturer or distributor for the public retail sale of those products which are offered for sale.

Such credentials shall include the seller’s name and may include a date upon which such authorization shall expire.

(C) In this section, “flea market” shall mean any location other than a permanent retail store at which space is rented or otherwise made available to others for the conduct of business as transient or limited vendors; Transient or limited vendors shall not include those persons who sell by sample, catalogue or brochure for future delivery, or those persons who make sales presentations pursuant to a prior invitation issued by the owner or the legal occupant of the premises.

(D) Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall be punished by a fine of not less than $100 or more than $1,000 per violation. The sale of each product unit shall constitute a separate offense, and all such product shall be seized and forfeited to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

(E) The presenting of credentials pursuant to the requirements of this section which are false, fraudulent, forged, fraudulently obtained or the nature of which is misrepresented shall also be considered a prohibited act punishable by the same means as subsection (D) of this section.

(F) The appropriate law enforcement agency investigating any violation of this Act shall maintain a record of such violation available for public inspection.

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