Overview
- Lawmakers reconciled House and Senate changes and on Monday forwarded a temporary pilot to Governor Maura Healey that would allow licensed bars and restaurants to serve alcohol until 3 a.m.
- The measure requires municipal opt-in and local licensing-authority approval before any venue may use the extra hour or a designated outdoor public-drinking district.
- The final version sets the extended last-call window to run through July 31 and includes a requirement that the Executive Office of Economic Development submit a report by Dec. 31, 2026 on locations, participation, revenues, and any public-safety incidents.
- Some cities have already moved ahead locally, with Somerville approving short-term 3 a.m. hours, while critics and some service workers have warned about police, transit and worker-safety strains from later closing times.
- Officials and business groups say the trial aims to capture tourism dollars during the World Cup and other summer events, and the state report and local licensing choices will determine whether the pilot expands or ends.