H 4264
An Act establishing a charter for the city of Somerville
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- Passed House
- Passed Senate
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- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill establishes a charter for the city of Somerville, Massachusetts. The charter outlines the structure of the city’s government, separating executive and legislative powers, defining the roles of the mayor and city council, and establishing procedures for elections and financial management. It aims to reaffirm the city’s traditions of justice, empowerment, transparency, and resident engagement. The charter also includes provisions for community input on the city budget and establishes a framework for future amendments and revisions.
Key provisions
- Establishes a charter for the city of Somerville, outlining the structure of its government.
- Separates executive and legislative powers between a mayor and a city council.
- Defines the roles and responsibilities of the mayor and city council members.
- Specifies procedures for elections, including preliminary elections and regular municipal elections.
- Outlines a process for establishing and reviewing city agencies and ordinances.
- Establishes a framework for community input on the city budget.
- Includes provisions for a public financing of campaigns committee.
- Details the process for amending or repealing the charter.
Who is affected
- Residents of Somerville, Massachusetts
- City of Somerville government officials
- City agencies
- School Committee members
- Voters in Somerville
Notable changes
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsor
Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government
Cosponsor
Christine P. Barber
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Bill H.4264 194th (Current)
An Act establishing a charter for the city of Somerville
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Bill Information
Bill Information
Sponsor: Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government City/Town: Somerville (Local Approval Received)
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Bill History Amendments Cosponsors
Bill History
Displaying 8 actions for Bill H.4264
| Date | Branch | Action |
| 7/16/2025 | House | Reported from the committee on Municipalities and Regional Government |
| 7/16/2025 | House | New draft of H4153 |
| 7/16/2025 | House | Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Steering, Policy and Scheduling |
| 7/23/2025 | House | Committee reported that the matter be placed in the Orders of the Day for the next sitting |
| 7/23/2025 | House | Rules suspended |
| 7/23/2025 | House | Read second and ordered to a third reading |
| 8/21/2025 | House | Read third |
| 8/21/2025 | House | Amended by substitution of bill with the same title, see H4445 |
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