1 of 1
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1821 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 879
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Tommy Vitolo
_________________
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 to preserve local decision making during an emergency.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Tommy Vitolo15th Norfolk1/15/2025 1 of 3
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1821 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 879
By Representative Vitolo of Brookline, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 879) of
Tommy Vitolo for legislation to authorize cities and towns to postpone town meetings due to
certain short-term emergencies. Election Laws.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 729 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
_______________
An Act to preserve local decision making during an emergency.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 Chapter 30A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 20 the
2following 3 sections:-
3 Section 20A: (a) A town may postpone any town meeting for up to 14 calendar days,
4with the approval of the moderator, provided that a short-term emergency prevents the meeting
5from taking place at the scheduled place and time.
6 (b) The moderator shall provide notice of the rescheduled town meeting, in a manner
7consistent with the notice provisions for a regularly scheduled town meeting, not less than 48
8hours before the rescheduled meeting will take place. 2 of 3
9 (c) All actions taken pursuant to this section are hereby ratified, validated and confirmed
10to the same extent as if the town meeting had been conducted in accordance with all other
11applicable laws, charter provisions, ordinances and by-laws.
12 Section 20B: (a) In an emergency that is expected to last more than 14 days, a town may
13request approval from the attorney general’s office to hold a town meeting according to the rules
14established in section 20 of chapter 20 of the acts of 2021. The chair of the select board or board
15of selectmen, along with the moderator, shall submit a written request to the attorney general’s
16office requesting to meet according to said section 20 of chapter 20 of the acts of 2021,
17explaining the nature of the emergency and how long they anticipate the emergency will last.
18 (b) Provided that the attorney general’s office provides the town with written approval to
19meet according to said section 20 of chapter 20 of the acts of 2021 for a specified length of time,
20all actions taken pursuant to this section are hereby ratified, validated and confirmed to the same
21extent as if the town meeting had been conducted in accordance with all other applicable laws,
22charter provisions, ordinances and by-laws.
23 Section 20C. (a) In an emergency that is expected to last more than 14 days, a town may
24request approval from the attorney general’s office to hold public meetings and hearings
25according to the rules established in section 20 of chapter 20 of the acts of 2021. The chair of the
26select board or board of selectmen, or mayor, shall submit a written request to the attorney
27general’s office requesting that public meetings be held according to section 20 of chapter 20 of
28the acts of 2021, explaining the nature of the emergency and how long they anticipate the
29emergency will last. 3 of 3
30 (b) Provided that the attorney general’s office provides the town with written approval to
31meet according to section 20 of chapter 20 of the acts of 2021 for a specified length of time, all
32actions taken pursuant to this section are hereby ratified, validated and confirmed to the same
33extent as if the town meeting had been conducted in accordance with all other applicable laws,
34charter provisions, ordinances and by-laws.