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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1613 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 370
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Paul K. Frost
_________________
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to removing liquor license caps in communities.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Paul K. Frost7th Worcester1/15/2025 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1613 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 370
By Representative Frost of Auburn, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 370) of Paul K.
Frost relative to removing liquor license caps in cities and towns. Consumer Protection and
Professional Licensure.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 296 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act relative to removing liquor license caps in communities.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Section 12 of chapter 138 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018
2official edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 79 to 81, inclusive, the words “,
3notwithstanding any limitation on the number of licenses the city or town is authorized to grant
4in section 17,” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “pursuant to the municipal
5plan as required by section 17.”
6 SECTION 2. Said section 12 of said chapter 138, as so appearing, is hereby further
7amended by striking out, in lines 107 to 109, inclusive, the words “and irrespective of any
8limitation of number of licenses contained in section seventeen” 2 of 2
9 SECTION 3. The first paragraph of section 14 of said chapter 138, as so appearing, is
10hereby amended by striking out the first sentence and inserting in place thereof the following
11sentence:- Special licenses for the sale of all alcoholic beverages or wine and malt beverages
12only, or any of them, may be issued, as determined by the municipality, by the local licensing
13authorities to the responsible manager of any indoor or outdoor activity or enterprise or to the
14responsible manager of any nonprofit organization conducting any indoor or outdoor activity or
15enterprise.
16 SECTION 4 . Section 17 of said chapter 138, as so appearing in the 2018 official edition,
17is hereby amended by striking out the introductory paragraph and the first 4 paragraphs and
18inserting in place thereof the following 3 paragraphs:-
19 Section 17. A city or town, except the city of Boston, shall determine the number of all
20alcoholic beverage or wines and malt beverage licenses to be issued by its local licensing
21authority under sections 12, 14 and 15F, including the number of seasonal licenses.
22 A city or town, except the city of Boston, that seeks to grant additional licenses on or
23after January 1, 2022 under sections 12, 14 and 15F shall adopt a plan that is approved by the
24mayor, city council or board of selectmen. The plan shall determine the process for granting
25additional licenses; provided, however, that:
26 (i) at least 1 public hearing regarding the plan shall be conducted by the city council,
27board of selectmen or governing body of the city or town; and (ii) the city or town shall notify
28the alcoholic beverages control commission of the public hearing.
29 The governing body of each city or town, except the city of Boston, shall hold a public
30hearing regarding a license application within 30 days of the date of the license application.