PRIA Logo™
MassachusettsH 4312194th General Court (2025-2026)House

An Act relative to charter changes for the town of Longmeadow

Sponsored By: Brian M. Ashe (Democratic), Jacob R. Oliveira (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

Municipalities and Regional GovernmentHouse Steering, Policy and Scheduling

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

New capital planning and building committee

The law creates a Capital Planning and Building Committee. It reviews the Town Manager’s yearly capital plan and the five‑year program. It can suggest funding priority changes after hearing from residents. The Select Board must hold a public hearing before voting. It then sends the plan with the budget to the Finance Committee. The committee has seven members. Six are appointed by the Select Board for staggered three‑year terms. One is chosen by the Finance Committee. Each capital plan must list all projects for the next five years. It must include cost estimates, sources, financing methods, and schedules. It must also estimate yearly operating and maintenance costs for each major item. The committee advises on town and school buildings, uses the Long Range Plan, and stresses climate resiliency. It sets procedures (approved by the Select Board), monitors projects and spending, checks past appropriations, and gives yearly updates.

Finance Committee limits and planning seat

The law bars any town officer, any town or school board or committee member, and any town or school employee from serving on the Finance Committee. The Finance Committee must also choose one of its members to serve on the Capital Planning and Building Committee. This prevents officers and employees from holding Finance Committee seats and adds finance representation in capital planning.

Select Board gains light board powers

The law makes the Select Board the town’s municipal light board and gives it all light‑board powers under state law. The Select Board may instead appoint a separate three‑member light board. Initial terms are one, two, and three years. After that, each term is three years.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • Brian M. Ashe

    Democratic • House

  • Jacob R. Oliveira

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 10 • No: 0

committee vote • 8/25/2025

Committee Favorable: Ought to pass

Yes: 10 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by the Governor, Chapter 107 of the Acts of 2026

    6/22/2026

  2. Enacted and laid before the Governor

    6/15/2026Senate

  3. Enacted

    6/15/2026House

  4. Read third (title changed) and passed to be engrossed

    6/11/2026Senate

  5. Read second and ordered to a third reading

    11/13/2025Senate

  6. Read; and placed in the Orders of the Day for the next session

    11/3/2025Senate

  7. Read third and passed to be engrossed

    10/30/2025House

  8. Read second and ordered to a third reading

    10/14/2025House

  9. Rules suspended

    10/14/2025House

  10. Committee reported that the matter be placed in the Orders of the Day for the next sitting for a second reading

    10/14/2025House

  11. Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Steering, Policy and Scheduling

    9/8/2025House

  12. Hearing scheduled for 08/14/2025 from 10:00 AM-5:00 PM in Written Testimony Only

    8/14/2025legislature

  13. Senate concurred

    7/24/2025Senate

  14. Referred to the committee on Municipalities and Regional Government

    7/23/2025House

Bill Text

  • Chapter 107 of the Acts of 2026

    6/22/2026

    PDF

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation