The Fall River Licensing Board held a special meeting on June 11, 2026, to discuss a single agenda item: House Bill H5482, Section 3. The board chair explained that this section of the state bill would allow licensed establishments in the city to sell alcoholic beverages for one additional hour beyond their currently licensed time, up to a maximum closing time of 3:00 a.m. This provision would be effective until July 31, 2026. The chair repeatedly emphasized that the extension was for only one additional hour and not a blanket approval for all establishments to operate until 3:00 a.m. For instance, an establishment licensed until 10:00 p.m. could only extend its service to 11:00 p.m. The chair recommended that the board only adopt Section 3 of the bill and not other provisions related to public events. After a brief discussion where no board members had questions, a motion was made to adopt only Section 3 of H5482. The motion passed unanimously, and the board subsequently voted to adjourn.
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Notice special meeting of city of Florida license board on June 11, 2026 at 2 pm uh to undertake the following matters. Uh first I want to say open meeting law. Pursuant to the open meeting law, any person may make an audio or video recording of this public meeting and may transmit the meeting through any media. Attendees are therefore advised that such recordings or transmissions are being made whether
0:21perceived or unpersceived by those present and are deemed acknowledged and permissible. City Charter section 9-18 mandates all multiple member bodies develop and adopt rules or policy for public comment. We have adopted such a policy which in short provides for citizens in import license and board specific matters at the beginning of each meeting. There is a signup sheet located in the back of them. Do we have any?
0:42Nope.
0:43Okay. Uh we'll go to um item two on the agenda which is a discussion of bill H5482 section 3. Uh and and I I limit it to section three although um that's what's on the agenda. We can discuss the bill as a whole just for purpose of edification for the general public.
1:01Section three states notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary and study to section five. A license establishment may may subject to approve the lo local license authority sell alcoholic beverages on premises for one additional hour beyond the time set forth in the establishment's license but not to exceed 3:00 a.m. until July 31st, 2026, subject to any applicable uh local
1:25rules and regulations, any conditions placed on its license. I want to I want to just stress that this is one additional hour. So, if a license establishment has a liquor license right now that goes to 10:00, they can only go to 11. It's not 3:00 for everybody, 3:00 a.m. Okay. Now, if you have a 2:00 liquor license, then you can go to the 3:00 3:00 a.m. time. So, but again, I
1:49want to make that crystal clear that it's only 1 hour beyond your normal license allowed license time, not till 3:00 a.m. across the board. Okay? There are other provisions of this license which would designate areas um that they could hold public um uh events uh through this until until an excessive time and we are not adopting that today. We are not discussing it. We are not adopting as a
2:17board. Um we can discuss it. Excuse me.
2:19I want to apologize. We can discuss it, but it's my recommendation as the chair that we only discuss and adopt section three, one additional hour beyond your established license time until July 31st. Um, I'll give it open to the board for any questions, comments.
2:40I don't have any.
2:41None. Uh if we have no if we have none then I would entertain a motion to accept section D of House Bill number 5482 section 3 only which will give uh the license establishments one additional hour beyond its already established license time.
3:01Yes. Um, I'd like to make a motion to accept um House Bill um 5482 section 3 only. Make that and I think you've done a terrific job making that very very clear. I don't see how anybody can misunderstand what you just said.
3:20But go assist anybody if they do. But that's the motion section three only.
3:25And I will second.
3:26And I'll just we'll take a vote in one second. I just want to again make that crystal clear. As Mr. The prayer stated it's only one additional hour beyond your license time now. Not everyone is able to open till 3:00 a.m. So anybody who violates that is subject to reprimand from this board. I want to make that crystal clear. We are not going to say, "Well, I misinterpreted."
3:48You have one additional hour beyond your license time. Um that's all I have to say. So uh we'll take a vote. All those in favor? I I. All those opposed hearing none. Uh motion unanimously carries.
4:02I'll make a motion to adjurnn.
4:03Second.
4:05All in favor? I.
4:06All opposed.