# Massachusetts H 4224: An Act validating the New Salem annual town election

Massachusetts H 4224, An Act validating the New Salem annual town election, is a 194th General Court (2025-2026) House bill sponsored by Aaron L. Saunders (Democratic), Joanne M. Comerford (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-08-04 (Signed by the Governor, Chapter 158 of the Acts of 2026) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MA-H4224-194
- As of: 2026-11-01
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Massachusetts H 4224
- State: Massachusetts
- Session: 194th General Court (2025-2026)
- Title: An Act validating the New Salem annual town election
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-06-16
- Last action: 2026-08-04, Signed by the Governor, Chapter 158 of the Acts of 2026
- Sponsors: Aaron L. Saunders (Democratic), Joanne M. Comerford (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Election Laws, House Steering, Policy and Scheduling
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 1 (10 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- New Salem 2025 town election validated: benefit, low. The law validates all votes cast in New Salem’s annual town election on May 5, 2025. It fixes any defects or omissions in how the election was called, despite any other law or by-law. The results stand, and town officials can act on them. It takes effect upon passage.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Aaron L. Saunders (Democratic), House
- Sponsor: Joanne M. Comerford (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-10-06 | committee | Committee Favorable: Poll/Vote | pass | 10 | 0 | 1 |

## Bill text

- Chapter 158 of the Acts of 2026, 2026-08-04: [PDF](https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H4224.pdf)

## Related bills

- H 4585: An Act authorizing the town of Auburn to offer expanded senior property tax abatements (signed)
- H 5435: An Act authorizing the town of Topsfield to continue to employment of police chief Neal Hovey (passed senate)
- H 5515: An Act to increase the value of estates eligible for abatements pursuant to M.G.L. chapter 59, section 5, clauses seventeenth D and forty-first C in the town o… (passed house)
- H 3909: An Act authorizing the Provincetown year-round market rate rental housing trust to acquire year-round housing occupancy restrictions (signed)
- H 5520: An Act exempting George Patrinos from the maximum age requirement age for the position of firefighter in the town of Dudley (signed)
- H 5429: An Act providing injured on duty compensation to Chelmsford firefighter Nicholas Spinale (second reading)

## Sources
- [Chapter 158 of the Acts of 2026 (PDF)](https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H4224.pdf)

## Related
- [H 4585: An Act authorizing the town of Auburn to offer expanded senior property tax aba…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MA-H4585-194)
- [H 5435: An Act authorizing the town of Topsfield to continue to employment of police ch…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MA-H5435-194)
- [H 5515: An Act to increase the value of estates eligible for abatements pursuant to M.G…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MA-H5515-194)
- [H 3909: An Act authorizing the Provincetown year-round market rate rental housing trust…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MA-H3909-194)
- [H 5520: An Act exempting George Patrinos from the maximum age requirement age for the p…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MA-H5520-194)
- [H 5429: An Act providing injured on duty compensation to Chelmsford firefighter Nichola…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MA-H5429-194)
- [Massachusetts bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/massachusetts/bills)
- [Massachusetts state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/massachusetts)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MA-H4224-194 (as of 2026-11-01).