All Roll Calls
Yes: 11 • No: 0
MassachusettsH 5344194th General Court (2025-2026)HouseWALLET
An Act removing the seating capacity requirements of licenses for the sale of alcoholic beverages to be drunk on the premises in the town of Belmont
Sponsored By: Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure
Signed by Governor
Consumer Protection and Professional LicensureHouse Steering, Policy and SchedulingBills in the Third Reading
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Belmont restaurants gain flexible seating rules
Belmont restaurants with covered on-premises alcohol licenses can choose any number of seats under these special laws. This covers Chapter 128 (1997) and Chapter 14 (2004) licenses, including related ballot-question authorizations. The law also removes the 60–250-seat range for licenses under Chapter 388 (2010). It removes the 39–125-seat range for licenses under Chapter 15 (2014). These changes took effect upon passage.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure
Affiliation unavailable
Cosponsors
David M. Rogers
Democratic • House
William N. Brownsberger
Democratic • Senate
Roll Call Votes
committee vote • 4/3/2026
Committee Redraft: Favorable, as Redraft
Yes: 11 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Signed by the Governor, Chapter 204 of the Acts of 2026
9/4/2026Enacted and laid before the Governor
8/27/2026SenateEnacted
8/27/2026HouseHouse concurred in the Senate amendment
8/24/2026HouseReferred to the committee on Bills in the Third Reading
7/22/2026HouseRead third (title changed), amended and passed to be engrossed
7/20/2026SenateTaken out of the Orders of the Day
7/20/2026SenateRead second and ordered to a third reading
6/18/2026SenateRead; and placed in the Orders of the Day for the next session
6/8/2026SenateRead third and passed to be engrossed
6/4/2026HouseRules suspended
6/4/2026HouseRead second and ordered to a third reading
5/4/2026HouseRules suspended
5/4/2026HouseCommittee reported that the matter be placed in the Orders of the Day for the next sitting
5/4/2026HouseBill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Steering, Policy and Scheduling
4/9/2026HouseNew draft of H5051
4/9/2026HouseReported from the committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure
4/9/2026House
Bill Text
Chapter 204 of the Acts of 2026
9/4/2026
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