Recently active Boston legislation

Items ready for action or still moving through the process.

In committee

Step 2 of 5 · 8 items

Next: The committee decides whether to send it to the full council for a vote.

2026-1332 · Request to the state · Introduced July 6, 2026

Refer Fireworks Fines Home Rule Petition to Committee

The City Council introduced a Fireworks Fines Home Rule Petition to increase civil penalties for illegal possession, use, or sale of fireworks within Boston.

updated July 9, 2026
2026-1236 · Request to the state · Introduced June 18, 2026

File Special Law to extend alcohol sales to 3 AM

The council asked the state to allow Boston restaurants and bars to sell alcoholic beverages until 3 a.m.

updated June 26, 2026
2026-1054 · Request to the state · Introduced May 18, 2026

Pursue 17F reform to speed information requests

This matter is a City Council petition to reform Rule 17F, which governs how the Mayor provides information to the Council.

updated May 21, 2026
2026-0583 · Request to the state · Introduced March 12, 2026

Expand Boston voting rights for all legal residents

This matter proposes a home rule petition to allow all legal Boston residents who are 18 or older to vote in local elections.

updated March 19, 2026
2026-0504 · Request to the state · Introduced March 9, 2026

Boston Seeks Special Law for Military Buy-Back

This matter is a City Council petition for a special law to allow and reorganize how veteran municipal employees buy back creditable military service time.

updated March 12, 2026
2026-0389 · Request to the state · Introduced February 20, 2026

Refer to General Court for ZBA reforms

This matter is a City of Boston home rule petition to establish a city board of appeal with nine voting members and nine alternates, including specialized nominees and residency requirements.

updated February 26, 2026
2026-0164 · Request to the state · Introduced January 23, 2026

Pursue Special Law Reclassifying Large Apartments as Commercial

The City Council introduced a home-rule petition to change how Boston classifies large apartment buildings for tax purposes and to add exemptions to ease the residential tax burden.

updated February 8, 2026
2026-0162 · Request to the state · Introduced January 14, 2026

Refer to Special Law for Boston School Committee Reorganization

The City Council referred a Home Rule Petition to the General Court to reorganize the Boston School Committee into a 13-member body with a phased transition, including two non-voting student members and mayoral appointment at large.

updated February 8, 2026