Massachusetts H 5358: An Act authorizing the city of Newton to place municipal charges liens on certain properties in the city of Newton for nonpayment of any local charge, fee or fine

Bill Text

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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 6002        FILED ON: 3/30/2026 
HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 5358 
 
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts 
_________________ 
PRESENTED BY: 
John J. Lawn, Jr. and Greg Schwartz 
_________________ 
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General 
 Court assembled: 
 The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill: 
An Act authorizing the city of Newton to place municipal charges liens on certain properties in 
the city of Newton for nonpayment of any local charge, fee or fine. 
_______________ 
PETITION OF: 
 
NAME: DISTRICT/ADDRESS: DATE ADDED: 
John J. Lawn, Jr. 10th Middlesex 3/30/2026 
Greg Schwartz 12th Middlesex 3/30/2026 

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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 6002        FILED ON: 3/30/2026 
HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 5358 
By Representatives Lawn of Watertown and Schwartz of Newton, a petition (accompanied by 
bill, House, No. 5358) of John J. Lawn, Jr., and Greg Schwartz (with the approval of the mayor 
and city council) that the city of Newton be authorized to place municipal charges liens on 
certain properties for certain non-payments in said city.  Municipalities and Regional 
Government.  [Local Approval Received.] 
 
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts 
 
_______________
 
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court 
(2025-2026) 
_______________
 
 
An Act authorizing the city of Newton to place municipal charges liens on certain properties in 
the city of Newton for nonpayment of any local charge, fee or fine. 
 
 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority 
of the same, as follows: 
 
1 SECTION 1. (a) The city of Newton may impose a lien on property located within the 
2city for any local charge, fee or fine that has not been paid by the due date. This lien shall be 
3known as a municipal charges lien. For purposes of this act, "local charge, fee or fine" shall 
4mean any charge, fee or fine imposed by the city pursuant to the city code, city ordinance, city 
5regulations, general or special laws or state regulations and any charge, fee or fine imposed by a 
6court payable to the city as a result of any action initiated by the city to enforce the city code, 
7city regulations, general or special laws or state regulations. 
8 (b) A lien authorized pursuant to this act shall take effect upon the recording of the 
9unpaid local charge, fee or fine by parcel of land and by the name of the property owner assessed 
10for the charge, fee or fine in the Middlesex southern district registry of deeds. 

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11 (c) If a local charge, fee or fine that is secured by a municipal charges lien remains 
12unpaid when the city assessors are preparing a real estate tax list and warrant to be committed 
13under section 53 of chapter 59 of the General Laws, the board or officer in charge of the 
14collection of the local charge, fee or fine shall certify such charge, fee or fine to the assessors, 
15who shall add the charge, fee or fine to the tax on the property to which it relates and commit it 
16with the warrant to the collector of taxes as part of such tax. 
17 (d) If the property to which such charge, fee or fine relates is tax exempt, the charge, fee 
18or fine shall be committed as the tax. 
19 (e) A lien under this section may be discharged by filing in the Middlesex southern 
20district registry of deeds, a certificate from the treasurer-collector that all municipal charges, fees 
21or fines constituting the lien, together with any interest and costs thereon, have been paid or 
22legally abated. 
23 (f) All costs of recording or discharging a lien under this act shall be borne by the owner 
24of the property. 
25 (g) Prior to any lien being imposed for any local charge, fee or fine, a vote of the city 
26council shall be taken specifying each type of charge, fee or fine to be collected under this act. 
27 SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon its passage.