The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Massachusetts authorizes the town of Rutland to issue one additional off-premises liquor license
Last action · September 18, 2026: Hearing scheduled for 09/30/2026 from 09:00 AM-05:00 PM in Written Testimony OnlySponsors: Kim Ferguson and 1 other
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What This Bill Would Do
The town of Rutland is authorized to grant one additional license for the retail sale of all alcoholic beverages to be , following local approval.
Expands the commercial licensing cap for package sales or similar retail establishments within the town of Rutland, altering the local business regulatory limit.
- Municipalities in Massachusetts generally operate under statutory quotas limiting the number of retail alcoholic beverage licenses they can issue based on population size, requiring special acts of the legislature like H 5659 to exceed those caps. context
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Rutland local businesses
Local merchants and prospective retailers gain the opportunity to apply for an additional off-premises alcoholic beverage license.
Town of Rutland
The municipality receives authority to issue one more retail liquor license than previously permitted under state law caps.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does House Bill 5659 allow the town of Rutland to do?
Was local approval required for this bill?
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News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
3 actions- Sep 18, 2026Massachusetts General CourtHearing scheduled for 09/30/2026 from 09:00 AM-05:00 PM in Written Testimony Only
- Aug 24, 2026SenateSenate concurred
- Aug 20, 2026HouseCommitteeReferred to the committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
malegislature.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance15How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy5Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment2Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz10Current news / social attention level
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