Home Rule Petitions

A home rule petition from a town asks the state legislature for local control over a specific matter that’s otherwise governed by the state. A town can submit a home rule petition if a majority of residents approve at Town Meeting. The petition organizers must collect signatures from at least 10 residents who are registered to vote in the town in order for it to be placed on the Town Meeting warrant.

As of December 2024, there are four home-rule petitions under consideration by the legislature. These measures would all authorize individual towns to satisfy legal notice requirements via digital publication. All four have been “passed to be engrossed,” meaning printed on special parchment to await the governor’s signature.

• Arlington — H.4027 sponsored by Rep. Sean Garballey of Arlington and Sen. Cindy Friedman of Arlington. Bill filed after Arlington voters approved Article 17 on April 26, 2023.
• Bedford — H.2062 sponsored by Rep. Kenneth Gordon of Bedford and Assistant Senate Majority Leader Mike Barrett of Lexington. Bill filed after Bedford voters passed Article 9 on November 14, 2022.

• Franklin — H.2108 filed by Rep. Jeffrey Roy of Franklin — bill filed after Franklin voters approved Resolution 23-11 on January 18, 2023.

• Lincoln — H.4664 sponsored by Assistant House Minority Leader Alice Peisch and Carmine Gentile and Assistant Senate Majority Leader Mike Barrett of Lexington. Bill filed after Lincoln voters approved Article 27 on March 23, 2024.