H4438
An Act relative to the charter of the town of Swampscott establishing a fall annual town meeting
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- Passed House
- Passed Senate
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Bill overview
This bill authorizes the town of Swampscott to establish an annual fall town meeting. It amends the town’s charter to formally recognize and implement this new meeting structure. The petition was approved by the town of Swampscott and subsequently passed by the Massachusetts legislature. This action formalizes a new tradition for town governance in Swampscott.
Key provisions
- Authorizes Swampscott to establish an annual fall town meeting.
- Amends the town charter to reflect this new meeting.
- The establishment of the fall town meeting was approved by the town of Swampscott.
- The bill was referred to the committee on Municipalities and Regional Government.
- The bill was reported favorably by the committee.
- The bill was read and passed by the House and Senate.
- The bill was enacted into law as Chapter 32 of the Acts of 2026.
- The bill was signed by the Governor.
Who is affected
- Town of Swampscott
- Residents of Swampscott
- Local government officials in Swampscott
- Municipalities in Massachusetts
- The Governor of Massachusetts
Notable changes
- Introduces a new annual fall town meeting as a standard part of Swampscott’s governance.
- Formalizes the process for holding town meetings within the town charter.
- Establishes a specific time for a town meeting – fall.
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsor
Jennifer Balinsky Armini
Cosponsors
Brendan P. Crighton
Jennifer Balinsky Armini
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Bill H.4438 194th (Current)
An Act relative to the charter of the town of Swampscott establishing a fall annual town meeting
By Representative Armini of Marblehead and Senator Crighton, a joint petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 4438) of Jennifer Balinsky Armini and Brendan P. Crighton (by vote of the town) that the town of Swampscott be authorized to establish an annual fall town meeting. Municipalities and Regional Government. [Local Approval Received.]
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Bill Information
Bill Information
Presenters: Jennifer Balinsky Armini , Brendan P. Crighton City/Town: Swampscott (Local Approval Received)
Tabs
Bill History Petitioners Committee Vote Committee Summary
Bill History
Displaying 15 actions for Bill H.4438
| Date | Branch | Action |
| 8/25/2025 | House | Referred to the committee on Municipalities and Regional Government |
| 8/28/2025 | Senate | Senate concurred |
| 9/4/2025 | Joint | Hearing scheduled for 09/04/2025 from 03:10 PM-01:30 PM in Written Testimony Only |
| 9/22/2025 | House | Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Steering, Policy and Scheduling |
| 10/16/2025 | House | Committee reported that the matter be placed in the Orders of the Day for the next sitting |
| 10/16/2025 | House | Rules suspended |
| 10/16/2025 | House | Read second and ordered to a third reading |
| 10/30/2025 | House | Read third and passed to be engrossed |
| 11/3/2025 | Senate | Read; and placed in the Orders of the Day for the next session |
| 11/13/2025 | Senate | Read second and ordered to a third reading |
| 2/17/2026 | Senate | Taken out of the Orders of the Day |
| 2/17/2026 | Senate | Read third (title changed) and passed to be engrossed |
| 2/19/2026 | House | Enacted |
| 2/19/2026 | Senate | Enacted and laid before the Governor |
| 2/26/2026 | Executive | Signed by the Governor, Chapter 32 of the Acts of 2026 |
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