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H5365 • 2025

An Act amending the home rule charter of the town of Falmouth to create the Falmouth Licensing Commission

An Act amending the home rule charter of the town of Falmouth to create the Falmouth Licensing Commission

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

Sponsor
David T. Vieira
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 amending the home rule charter of the town of Falmouth to create the Falmouth Licensing Commission

An Act amending the home rule charter of the town of Falmouth to create the Falmouth Licensing Commission By Representative Vieira of Falmouth, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.

What This Bill Does

  • An Act amending the home rule charter of the town of Falmouth to create the Falmouth Licensing Commission By Representative Vieira of Falmouth, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
  • 5365) of David T.
  • Vieira, Dylan A.
  • Fernandes and Thomas W.

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. 2026-04-30 Joint

    Hearing scheduled for 05/13/2026 from 10:00 AM-12:00 PM in B-1

  2. 2026-04-13 Senate

    Senate concurred

  3. 2026-04-09 House

    Referred to the committee on Municipalities and Regional Government

Official Summary Text

An Act amending the home rule charter of the town of Falmouth to create the Falmouth Licensing Commission
By Representative Vieira of Falmouth, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 5365) of David T. Vieira, Dylan A. Fernandes and Thomas W. Moakley (by vote of the town) that the town of Falmouth be authorized to amend its charter to establish the Falmouth licensing commission. Municipalities and Regional Government. [Local Approval Received.]
Status:
Referred to Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government

Current Bill Text

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Bill H.5365

SECTION 1. Article 3 of the Charter of the Town of Falmouth, which is on file in the office of the archivist of the Commonwealth as provided in section 12 of chapter 43B of the General Laws, is hereby amended by striking out section C3-7(B) and renumbering section C3-7 accordingly.

SECTION 2. Article 7 of said charter is hereby further amended by inserting the following as section C7-9:

§ C7-9: Licensing Commission

A. There shall be a Licensing Commission which shall consist of five members appointed for three-year terms.

B. The Licensing Commission shall act as the licensing authority and shall have the

following powers and responsibilities:

(1) The power to issue licenses for innholders or common victuallers; and

(2) The powers of a licensing board appointed under Section 4 of Chapter 138 of the

Massachusetts General Laws, to serve as the licensing authority for purposes of said

Chapter 138, and to grant all licenses related to alcoholic beverages under said Chapter.

(3) The power to issue licenses for entertainment including theatrical exhibitions, public

shows, and public amusements of any kind pursuant to M.G.L. c. 136 § 4, M.G.L. c.140§§181andl83A.

C. The Licensing Commission shall make all necessary rules and regulations regarding such licenses and shall be empowered to attach conditions and impose such restrictions thereto as it considers to be in the public interest.

D. The Licensing Commission shall have the authority to enforce, or cause to be enforced, the laws, rules and regulations relating to licensing as to all businesses, entities and individuals for or to which it issues licenses.

E. The Select Board shall have the authority to assign any additional licensing powers conferred upon it by statute to the Licensing Commission through the enactment of a general bylaw. The assignment of such authority shall include the power to grant the license, make all necessary rules and regulations, impose conditions and restrictions and enforce or cause to be enforced the laws, rules and regulations relating to the licensing, as above.

SECTION 3. Within 30 days of the passage of this act, the Select Board of the Town of Falmouth shall appoint five (5) individuals to the Licensing Commission in accordance with section C7-16 of the charter of the Town of Falmouth; provided, however, that one (1) member shall serve an initial term of one (1) year, two (2) members shall serve an initial term of two (2) years and two (2) members shall serve an initial term of three (3) years.

SECTION 4. This act shall take effect on January 1 ,2027.

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