H5358 • 2025

An Act authorizing the city of Newton to place municipal charges liens on certain properties in the city of Newton for nonpayment of any local charge, fee or fine

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Sponsor: Lawn, Jr., John J.
Last action: 2026-04-30
Official status: Referred to Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government
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 authorizing the city of Newton to place municipal charges liens on certain properties in the city of Newton for nonpayment of any local charge, fee or fine

An Act authorizing the city of Newton to place municipal charges liens on certain properties in the city of Newton for nonpayment of any local charge, fee or fine By Representatives Lawn of Watertown and Schwartz of Newton, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.

What This Bill Does

An Act authorizing the city of Newton to place municipal charges liens on certain properties in the city of Newton for nonpayment of any local charge, fee or fine By Representatives Lawn of Watertown and Schwartz of Newton, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
5358) of John J.
Lawn, Jr., and Greg Schwartz (with the approval of the mayor and city council) that the city of Newton be authorized to place municipal charges liens on certain properties for certain non-payments in said city.
Municipalities and Regional Government.

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

2026-04-30 Joint
Hearing scheduled for 05/13/2026 from 10:00 AM-12:00 PM in B-1
2026-04-09 Senate
Senate concurred
2026-04-08 House
Referred to the committee on Municipalities and Regional Government

Official Summary Text

An Act authorizing the city of Newton to place municipal charges liens on certain properties in the city of Newton for nonpayment of any local charge, fee or fine
By Representatives Lawn of Watertown and Schwartz of Newton, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 5358) of John J. Lawn, Jr., and Greg Schwartz (with the approval of the mayor and city council) that the city of Newton be authorized to place municipal charges liens on certain properties for certain non-payments in said city. Municipalities and Regional Government. [Local Approval Received.]
Status:
Referred to Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Bill H.5358

SECTION 1. (a) The city of Newton may impose a lien on property located within the city for any local charge, fee or fine that has not been paid by the due date. This lien shall be known as a municipal charges lien. For purposes of this act, "local charge, fee or fine" shall mean any charge, fee or fine imposed by the city pursuant to the city code, city ordinance, city regulations, general or special laws or state regulations and any charge, fee or fine imposed by a court payable to the city as a result of any action initiated by the city to enforce the city code, city regulations, general or special laws or state regulations.

(b) A lien authorized pursuant to this act shall take effect upon the recording of the unpaid local charge, fee or fine by parcel of land and by the name of the property owner assessed for the charge, fee or fine in the Middlesex southern district registry of deeds.

(c) If a local charge, fee or fine that is secured by a municipal charges lien remains unpaid when the city assessors are preparing a real estate tax list and warrant to be committed under section 53 of chapter 59 of the General Laws, the board or officer in charge of the collection of the local charge, fee or fine shall certify such charge, fee or fine to the assessors, who shall add the charge, fee or fine to the tax on the property to which it relates and commit it with the warrant to the collector of taxes as part of such tax.

(d) If the property to which such charge, fee or fine relates is tax exempt, the charge, fee or fine shall be committed as the tax.

(e) A lien under this section may be discharged by filing in the Middlesex southern district registry of deeds, a certificate from the treasurer-collector that all municipal charges, fees or fines constituting the lien, together with any interest and costs thereon, have been paid or legally abated.

(f) All costs of recording or discharging a lien under this act shall be borne by the owner of the property.

(g) Prior to any lien being imposed for any local charge, fee or fine, a vote of the city council shall be taken specifying each type of charge, fee or fine to be collected under this act.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon its passage.

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