Massachusetts House Bill H5097

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/12/26
• Refer: 2/12/26
• Engrossed: 4/13/26

Caption

Authorizing the city of Salem to convert seasonal licenses for the sale of alcoholic beverages to be drunk on the premises to annual licenses for the sale of alcoholic beverages to be drunk on the premises

Summary

This bill authorizes the city of Salem to convert two existing seasonal on-premises alcohol licenses into annual licenses. One conversion applies to Amazing Pizza LLC at 62 Wharf Street, changing a seasonal license for all alcoholic beverages to an annual license limited to wine, malt beverages, and cordials. The other applies to Maitland Farm LLC at 84 Derby Street, converting a seasonal all-alcohol license into an annual all-alcohol license. In both cases, the licenses remain tied to the same locations and are subject to Massachusetts alcohol licensing law, with specified exceptions for sections 17 and 17A of chapter 138. The bill also sets conditions for future use of the licenses. The licenses may not be moved to another location, but they may be transferred to a new applicant at the same location if the applicant provides letters from the Department of Revenue and the Department of Unemployment Assistance showing the license is in good standing and that taxes, fees, and contributions are paid. If a license is cancelled, revoked, or no longer used, it must be returned to the local licensing authority, which may reissue it at the same location within three years before the license dissolves. The bill further allows Salem to let the license fee be paid in installments if the city chooses, and directs any amount above the city’s normal annual renewal fee into Salem’s economic development account.

Impact

The bill creates a local exception to state alcohol licensing rules by allowing Salem to convert two seasonal licenses into annual licenses, thereby expanding year-round on-premises alcohol service at the named establishments. It affects chapter 138 of the General Laws by authorizing these specific licenses and by exempting them from sections 17 and 17A, while preserving the rest of the state licensing framework. It also establishes local administrative rules for transfer, reinstatement, fee payment, and revenue allocation tied to the city’s economic development account.

Sentiment

The available context suggests the bill is generally routine and favorable, with the House committee recommending that it ought to pass and no recorded opposition, votes, or transcript debate provided. The measure appears to be a local economic and licensing adjustment supported by the petitioners and the city’s approval process. Because there is no committee transcript or voting record showing disagreement, the overall sentiment appears positive and uncontroversial.

Contention

The main policy questions raised by the bill are limited to the mechanics of converting seasonal licenses into annual ones and the safeguards attached to that conversion. Potential points of concern include whether the licenses should be allowed to become permanent annual privileges, how strictly the no-relocation rule should be enforced, and whether installment payments for license fees should be available equally to all qualified applicants if Salem adopts that option. The bill also conditions transferability on tax and unemployment compliance, which suggests attention to fiscal accountability rather than substantive opposition.