H 5471

HOUSE . . . . . . . . No. 5471
   The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
  ________________________________________
  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, June 3, 2026.
    The committee on Economic Development and Emerging
Technologies, to whom was referred the petition (accompanied by House,
No. 5465) of Carole A. Fiola for legislation to authorize municipalities to
opt-in to a temporary pilot to extend the hours of liquor licenses and to
allow for public consumption in designated districts from June 1 to August
31, 2026, reports recommending that the accompanying bill (House, No.
5471) ought to pass.
  For the committee,
  CAROLE A. FIOLA.
  FILED ON: 6/2/2026
 HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 5471
  The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
  _______________
  In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
  (2025-2026)
  _______________
An Act authorizing municipalities to opt-in to a temporary pilot to extend the hours of liquor
licenses and to allow for public consumption in designated districts in summer 2026.
  Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1SECTION 1. Notwithstanding any provision of this section or any other general or
2 special law to the contrary, the local licensing authority in a city or town which votes to
3 authorize the granting of licenses for the sale of an alcoholic beverage may, on a temporary basis
4 not to begin prior to June 8, 2026, allow an establishment licensed to sell alcoholic beverages,
5 wine or malt beverages pursuant to Section 12 of Chapter 138 of the General Laws to sell
6 alcoholic beverages, wine or malt beverages for off-premises consumption in social consumption
7 districts established pursuant to Section 3 of this Act. Only licensees located within a designated
8 district as defined in Section 3 of this Act may sell alcoholic beverages to be consumed within
9 said district.
10SECTION 2. Notwithstanding any provision of this section or any other general or
11 special law to the contrary, an establishment licensed to sell alcoholic beverages pursuant to
12 Section 12 of Chapter 138 may, subject to approval of the local licensing authority, sell alcoholic
13 beverages or wine or malt beverages on-premises for one additional hour beyond the time set
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14 forth in the establishment’s license, but not to exceed 3:00 a.m. for the period of June 8, 2026
15 until July 31, 2026 subject to any applicable local rules or regulations and any conditions placed
16 upon their license.
17SECTION 3. Notwithstanding any provision of this section or any other general or
18 special law to the contrary, a city or town may elect to designate one or more areas in that city or
19 town in which alcoholic beverages are permitted to be consumed in public spaces, subject to
20 such restrictions as the city or town may deem appropriate and only for the period of June 8,
21 2026 until July 31, 2026. Alcohol consumed within a designated district shall be limited to
22 alcoholic beverages sold by participating licensees located within the designated district.
23SECTION 4. This act shall take effect upon its passage and shall expire on July 31, 2026.
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