An Act authorizing the town of Westwood to reissue licenses for the sale of wine and malt beverages not to be drunk on the premises and grant licenses for the sale of all alcoholic beverages not to be drunk on the premises
Sponsored By: Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure
Signed by Governor
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Large Westwood groceries can sell alcohol
The law lets Westwood license large food stores to sell all alcoholic drinks for off-site use. A food store must have at least 20,000 square feet and sell meats, dairy, eggs, produce, baked goods, canned goods, and dessert items. Convenience, specialty, and gasoline stores do not qualify. The select board decides if a store meets this test, based on sales and product range. The store must be operating as a commercial business, and the licensing authority sets the initial and renewal fees. Licensed stores may sell alcohol alone or with other items.
Stricter license transfers, easier reissue in Westwood
The law does not allow moving an alcohol license to a new location. A new applicant can get a license at the same or another suitable site only after filing letters from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue and the Department of Unemployment Assistance. The letters must state good standing and that all taxes, fees, and contributions are paid. If a license ends, is revoked, or is not used, the holder must physically return it to the town. The town may then grant that returned license to a new applicant under the same conditions.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure
Affiliation unavailable
Cosponsors
Michael F. Rush
Democratic • Senate
Paul McMurtry
Democratic • House
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
Actions Timeline
Signed by the Governor, Chapter 14 of the Acts of 2026
1/30/2026Enacted and laid before the Governor
1/22/2026SenateEnacted
1/22/2026HouseRead third and passed to be engrossed
1/15/2026SenateTaken out of the Orders of the Day
1/15/2026SenateRead, rules suspended, read second and ordered to a third reading
12/29/2025SenateRead third and passed to be engrossed
12/24/2025HouseRead second and ordered to a third reading
12/15/2025HouseRules suspended
12/15/2025HouseCommittee reported that the matter be placed in the Orders of the Day for the next sitting
12/15/2025HouseBill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Steering, Policy and Scheduling
12/8/2025HouseNew draft of H4188
12/8/2025HouseReported from the committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure
12/8/2025House
Bill Text
Chapter 14 of the Acts of 2026
1/30/2026
Related Bills
H 5350 — An Act modernizing the commonwealth’s cannabis laws
H 3213 — An Act relative to the assessment of local property taxes in the city of Springfield
H 4542 — An Act relative to making the charter of the city of Chicopee gender neutral
H 2988 — An Act authorizing Freddy Castaneda to take the civil service examination for the position of police officer in the city of Haverhill notwithstanding the maximum age requirement
H 2987 — An Act authorizing Brittany Sproule to take the civil service examination for the position of firefighter in the city of Haverhill notwithstanding the maximum age requirement
H 2985 — An Act authorizing Stephen Justice to take the civil service examination for the position of firefighter in the city of Haverhill notwithstanding the maximum age requirement