I'm Just a Bill

Annual Town Meeting voters have approved the filing of petitions with the General Court for Special Legislation on several matters in the last few years. All are working their way through the system on their way to hopefully be signed into law by the Governor.

Remember that Schoolhouse Rock episode? Well, some of our bills are still stuck in Committee and may not move forward but others have been reported favorably and are closer to becoming laws.

H1932 is a bill that seeks to exempt certain Town projects from MA prevailing wage requirement. This bill has been re-voted and refiled every two years since it was originally approved by 2015 Annual Town Meeting. Upon its most recent filing, it was referred to the Committee on Labor and Workforce Development and a joint hearing was held on September 26^th. No further action has been taken on it.

H2915 is one of three petitions filed with the General Court in 2021 and refiled this year. It seeks to establish a real property transfer fee. Upon refiling this year, it was referred to the Committee on Revenue. A joint hearing was held on October 11^th, but no further action has been taken on it.

The two other bills originally filed in 2021 have been moving through the process in tandem with each other. H1365, which seeks to facilitate the appropriation and expenditure of Community Preservation Funds for community housing purposes, and H1366, which seeks to establish a new Housing Trust Fund, were both referred to the Committee on Housing when refiled and joint hearings were held on each on June 26^th. On October 18^th these bills were reported favorably and referred to the House Committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling. This Committee prioritizes bills and schedules legislative matters on the calendar. On November 20^th, this Committee reported both matters be placed on Orders of the Day for the next sitting. Both bills were read for a second time before the Legislature and then ordered for a third reading.

And, yes, that means they were referred to the House Committee on Bills in the Third Reading. According to the Legislature’s website, this Committee considers all bills prior to their final reading, and makes corrections and edits as necessary and considers any amendments received from the Senate. Hopefully this Committee will also report on H1365 and H1366 favorably and keep them moving forward.

Voters at 2022 Annual Town Meeting approved the filing of a petition to establish Special Revenue Accounts for Attainable Housing and Chatham Elementary School. If approved these accounts will each receive 1% of the local share of the Room Occupancy tax. Bill H3971 was referred to the Committee on Revenue and a joint hearing was held on July 25^th. On November 6^th it was reported favorably and referred to the House Committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling. On December 7^th, this Committee reported the matter be placed on Orders of the Day for the next sitting and it was read for a second time before the Legislature and then ordered for a third reading. It now awaits action from the House Committee on Bills in the Third Reading.

Voters at 2023 Annual Town Meeting approved a petitioned article from Pate’s Restaurant which seeks approval of Special Legislation for an additional annual all alcoholic beverages license above the Town’s approved quota be granted for 1260 Main Street. Bill H3968 was referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure and a joint hearing was held on September 25^th. On November 20^th the Committee submitted a new draft of the bill, now H4189, which, rather than granting an additional annual license to the Town’s quota, seeks to convert one of the Town’s seasonal licenses to an annual license for 1260 Main Street.  H4189 was reported favorably and referred to the House Committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling where it now awaits further action.

If you are interested in following these bills through the Legislative process visit General Court’s website – malegislature.gov - and enter “Chatham” in the search bar. Do you want to learn more about the legislative process? Download a succinct, easily read guide from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission.

Half Staff Notification

Please be advised that in honor and remembrance of Staff Sergeant Jacob “Jake” Galliher, U.S. Air Force, of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, who passed away off the coast of Japan during a training mission on November 29, 2023, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has ordered that the United States of America Flag and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts flag be lowered to half-staff at all state buildings beginning December 15, 2023, until sunset on the day of interment Wednesday, December 20, 2023.

1.  The main or administration building of each public institution of the Commonwealth, e.g. town and city halls
  
 2.  Other state-owned or state-controlled buildings
  
 3.  All state military installations

Survey Winding Down

Time is ticking away for you to take the Communications Survey. We are working toward improving the Town's communication with the community and we need to your input.

Whether you are a full-time or part-time resident, visitor, owner of a business or work in Town, we want to hear from you! Please take a few minutes and help us do a better job of keeping you informed of Town news and community events. The survey is available online and will be open through December 31st.