On March 28, 2025, Mass. Governor Maura Healy signed an emergency law extending the COVID-19 remote and hybrid meeting authorizations for public meetings of local boards and committees until June 30, 2027. The law, Chapter 2 of the Acts of 2025, also extends legislation permitting remote representative Town Meetings and reducing the quorum requirements for open Town Meetings. The COVID-19-era legislation allowing remote meetings was set to expire on March 31, 2025, but was extended just in time to permit municipalities to continue holding meetings and hearings remotely. The ability to hold remote meetings has been popular among board members, developers, and citizens alike for improving access and saving time driving to and from town halls.

Legislation to permanently allow remote meetings (the so-called “Municipal Empowerment Act”, H.3342) has been resubmitted by Representative Danielle Gregoire of Marlborough. We’ll track this bill and report back on any significant developments.