Massachusetts legislation · 194th General Court
Massachusetts H5344: 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
Status: Signed into law, September 4, 2026
What the bill says
From the introduced text, April 9, 2026:
SECTION 1. Notwithstanding anything in chapter 128 of the acts of 1997 to the contrary, restaurants holding licenses issued pursuant to such chapter, or authorized pursuant to a ballot question thereunder, may have any number of seats. SECTION 2. Notwithstanding anything in chapter 14 of the acts of 2004 to the contrary, restaurants holding licenses issued pursuant to such chapter, or authorized pursuant to a ballot question thereunder, may have any number of seats. SECTION 3. Section 1 of chapter 388 of the acts of 2010 is hereby amended by striking out the words "having a seating capacity of not less than 60 and no more than 250 seats". SECTION 4. Section 1 of chapter 15 of the acts of 2014 is hereby amended by striking out the words "having a seating capacity of not less than 39 and not more than 125 seats". SECTION 5. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
Sponsors
- David Rogers (D, 24th Middlesex)
- William Brownsberger (D, Suffolk and Middlesex)
Latest actions
- : Signed by the Governor, Chapter 204 of the Acts of 2026
- : Enacted and laid before the Governor
- : Enacted
- : House concurred in the Senate amendment
- : Referred to the committee on Bills in the Third Reading
- : Passed to be engrossed
- : Amendment (Brownsberger) adopted
- : Read third (title changed), amended and passed to be engrossed
- : Taken out of the Orders of the Day
- : Read second and ordered to a third reading
Common questions
- What is H5344?
- H5344 is a bill in the Massachusetts Legislature (194th General Court): 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.
- What is the status of H5344?
- Signed into law as of September 4, 2026. Latest action: Signed by the Governor, Chapter 204 of the Acts of 2026 (September 4, 2026).
- Who sponsored H5344?
- David Rogers (D, 24th Middlesex), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for H5344?
- On the Massachusetts Legislature website: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H5344
Source: official Massachusetts record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.