Massachusetts legislation · 194th General Court
Massachusetts H5556: An Act relative to Fall River polling places
Status: In committee, October 1, 2026
What the bill says
From the introduced text, July 1, 2026:
SECTION 1. Notwithstanding Section 24 of Chapter 54 of the General Laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, the City Council in the City of Fall River may, by recorded and public vote, change any polling place previously designated under said Section 24 to be used at the election not less than 20 days prior to the date of the election if it is determined that the public convenience or public health would be better served; provided, however, that alcoholic beverages shall not be served or consumed in that portion of a building used as a polling place during voting hours or while ballots are being counted therein. The City Council may designate polling places in non-adjacent precincts if they determine the public convenience or public health would be better served. In making a decision to change a polling place, the City Council shall evaluate and report on whether such change would have a disparate, adverse impact on access to the polls on the basis of race, national origin, disability, income or age and, not later than 3 days prior to changing a polling place, the City Council shall make publicly available on its website and at the office of the City Clerk a report on its evaluation. When the polling places have been designated pursuant …
Sponsors
- Alan Silvia (D) · primary sponsor
- Steven Ouellette (D)
- Carole Fiola (D)
Latest actions
- : Read second and ordered to a third reading
- : Rules suspended
- : Committee reported that the matter be placed in the Orders of the Day for the next sitting
- : Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Steering, Policy and Scheduling
- : Hearing rescheduled to 07/21/2026 from 01:00 PM-02:20 PM in A-1 <br> <span style="color: blue; font-style: italic;">Hearing updated to New End Time</span>
- : Hearing rescheduled to 07/21/2026 from 01:00 PM-04:00 PM in A-1 <br> <span style="color: blue; font-style: italic;">Hearing updated to include Virtual</span>
- : Hearing scheduled for 07/21/2026 from 01:00 PM-04:00 PM in A-1
- : Senate concurred
- : Referred to the committee on Election Laws
Votes
- Committee Vote - Joint Committee on Election Laws (September 1, 2026): 11 yea, 0 nay, passed
Common questions
- What is H5556?
- H5556 is a bill in the Massachusetts Legislature (194th General Court): An Act relative to Fall River polling places.
- What is the status of H5556?
- In committee as of October 1, 2026. Latest action: Read second and ordered to a third reading (October 1, 2026).
- Who sponsored H5556?
- Alan Silvia (D), with 2 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for H5556?
- On the Massachusetts Legislature website: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H5556
Source: official Massachusetts record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.