H 5344 Massachusetts House · 194th Legislature (2025-2026)

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

This bill removes the legal limit on the number of seats allowed in restaurants that hold licenses to sell alcohol for on-premises consumption in the town of Belmont. Previously, these establishments were restricted to having between 39 and 250 seats depending on the specific license type, but the act eliminates these caps entirely. By amending existing state laws, the legislation allows Belmont restaurants to expand their seating capacity without needing to change their licenses or seek new approvals. The change applies only to Belmont and does not alter regulations for restaurants in other towns.
Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Apr 2026
Committee Review
Jul 2026
House Passage
Aug 2026
Senate Passage
Aug 2026
Governor
Introduced Apr 9, 2026 Last action Aug 27, 2026
Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
18
Key actions
9
Committee
4
Amendments
1
Aug 27, 2026
Upper · Passed
Enacted and laid before the Governor
upper
Aug 27, 2026
Lower · Passed
Enacted
lower
Aug 24, 2026
Lower · Passed
House concurred in the Senate amendment
lower
Jul 22, 2026
Committee
Referred to the committee on Bills in the Third Reading
lower
Jul 20, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed to be engrossed
upper
Jul 20, 2026
Upper · Passed
Amendment (Brownsberger) adopted
upper
Jun 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third and passed to be engrossed
lower
May 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Committee reported that the matter be placed in the Orders of the Day for the next sitting
lower
Apr 9, 2026
Lower · Passed
Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Steering, Policy and Scheduling
lower
Apr 9, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported from the committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure
lower
0 primary · 2 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.