The following is a list of the legislative acts accepted by the Town of Braintree:
Date Accepted
Statutory Reference
Subject
4-25-1888
Ch. 217, Acts of 1885
Water supply
1-25-1901
Ch. 548, Acts of 1898
Voting precincts; ballots
1-25-1901
MGL c. 11
Precinct voting
MGL c. 28
Public parks
Ch. 423, Acts of 1909
Ice cream sales
3-11-1929, Article 22
Ch. 546, Acts of 1910
Sewage system
Ch. 306, Acts of 1911
Smelts
Ch. 494, Acts of 1911
Eight-hour day
Ch. 503, Acts of 1912
Pensioning laborers
Ch. 635, Acts of 1912
Tenement houses
Ch. 807, Acts of 1913
Workmen's compensation
Ch. 217, Acts of 1914
Laborers' vacations
Ch. 688, Acts of 1914
Saturday half holiday
Ch. 790, Acts of 1914
Party enrollment
Ch. 807, Acts of 1914
Workmen's compensation
11-4-1919: Question 2
Ch. 311, Acts of 1919
Continuation schools
MGL c. 48, §§ 42 to 44
Fire Department
3-27-1922: Article 57
Ch. 55, Acts of 1922
Louis N. Goodhue
3-10-1924: Article 8A
MGL c. 143, §§ 3 to 12
Inspection of buildings
3-17-1924: Article 11
MGL c. 39, § 48
Regular or permanent police force, civil service
3-17-1924: Article 12
MGL c. 31, § 49
Police and chief, civil service
3-17-1924: Article 13
MGL c. 32, § 85
Police and firemen
3-24-1924: Article 70
Ch. 391, Acts of 1923
Water rates
4-7-1924: Article 91
MGL c. 139, §§ 1 to 3
Burned or dangerous buildings
MGL c. 41, § 73
Board of Survey
3-25-1925: Article 106
MGL c. 32, § 77B
Pensions
MGL c. 82, § 37
Building lines
Ch. 63, Acts of 1929
Day off for police officers
4-11-1932: Article 47
Ch. 15, Acts of 1930
Reserve police force
11-27-1933: Article 4
Ch. 17, Acts of 1930
Construction of sewage system
4-11-1932: Article 42
MGL c. 136
Sunday sports
March 1936
Ch. 45, Acts of 1936
Sewers
Ch. 406, Acts of 1936
"Laborers, workmen and mechanics" includes all Town employees regardless of nature of duties, except fire and police
MGL c. 32, §§ 26 to 31H
Contributory retirement fund
March 1937
Ch. 17, Acts of 1937
Representative form of Town government
March 1943: Article 53
MGL c. 41, § 103
Purchasing Department
March 1944: Article 13
MGL c. 94, § 120A
Additional fees for slaughtering
March 1945: Article 13
MGL c. 147, § 16B
Police Department, 1 day off in 6
Ch. 391, § 1, Acts of 1945
Damages for public employees
March 1946: Article 9
Ch. 723, Acts of 1945
Department of Veterans' Services
March 1947: Article 60
MGL c. 136, § 4B, as inserted by Ch. 207, § 4B, Acts of 1946
Licenses for bowling on the Lord's day
March 1947: Article 9
Ch. 559, Acts of 1946
Retirement of police and firemen
March 1947: Article 8
Ch. 576, § 6, Acts of 1946
Increased pensions for public employees
March 1949
Ch. 340, Acts of 1947
Planning Board; Subdivision Control Act
March 1948: Article 8
Ch. 615, Acts of 1947
Increased pensions to employees and beneficiaries
Ch. 588, Acts of 1948
Increased pensions to employees and beneficiaries
March 1949: Article 7-A
MGL c. 41, § 100A
Indemnification of officers and employees for damages or expenses arising out of injuries caused by the operation of vehicles or equipment owned by a municipality
March 1951: Article 9
MGL c. 41, § 97A
Police Departments; Chief of Police
Ch. 595, Acts of 1948
Police Department
March 1951: Article 23
MGL c. 111, § 128
State regulations on public health
March 1951: Article 38
Ch. 538, Acts of 1950
Repairs to private ways
Ch. 757, Acts of 1950
Annuities to dependents of certain public employees killed, etc., in performance of duty
March 1951: Article 10
Ch. 783, Acts of 1950
Increase in retirement allowances to persons retired after 1-1-1946, with a minimum allowance
March 1951: Article 11
Ch. 820, Acts of 1950
Increase in certain benefits payable by commonwealth and its political subdivisions to certain former employees and persons claiming under them
March 1951: Article 8
Ch. 41, § 110A, Acts of 1951
Any Town public office may remain closed on any and all Saturdays
March 1951: Article 12
Ch. 41, § 97A, Acts of 1951, as amended by Ch. 130, § 52, Acts of 1951
Authorize Selectmen to regulate shell fisheries in Town
March 1951: Article 23
Ch. 111, § 128, Acts of 1951
Accept State Department of Health regulations relative to minimum standards of fitness for human habitation
March 1952: Article 33
Ch. 781, Acts of 1951
Act relative to increasing pensions payable to certain former public employees
3-26-1951
MGL c. 45, § 14
Board of Parks and Playground Commissioners to consist of 7 elected and appointed members
4-14-1952: Article 25
Ch. 32, § 89A, as amended by Ch. 227, Acts of 1951
Tenure of office members of Fire Department and Fire Alarm Department
March 1952: Article 37
Ch. 54, § 103A, Acts of 1952
Absentee voting at Town elections
4-21-1952: Article 68
Ch. 140, § 194, Acts of 1952
Licensing of boat rental business
Ch. 166, § 32, Acts of 1953
Authorize Selectmen to establish wire inspection fee schedule
3-29-1954
Ch. 40, § 27A, Acts of 1954
Zoning changes cannot be reconsidered, after adverse vote, within 2 years except upon Planning Board recommendation
Ch. 15, Acts of 1955
Transfer of Braintree Cemetery Association
MGL c. 31, § 47B
School building janitors under civil service
3-5-1956 (Rescinded 5-11-1981)
MGL c. 31, § 47
Labor service under civil service
3-5-1956
MGL c. 32B
Provide group insurance plan
4-9-1956
MGL c. 78, § 10
Treasurer of library trust funds
3-20-1957
MGL c. 41, § 45
Board of Commissioners of Trust Funds
3-20-1957
Ch. 374, Acts of 1956
Providing certain pension options
3-20-1957
Ch. 401, Acts of 1956
Civil defense volunteers classified
3-20-1957
MGL c. 41, § 1
3-year terms for Clerk, Treasurer and Tax Collector
3-24-1958
Ch. 750, Acts of 1957
Relative to election of pension options
3-28-1960
Ch. 493, Acts of 1959
Pensions and retirement allowances to certain former public employees
3-28-1960 (Rescinded 5-5-1981)
Ch. 628, Acts of 1953
Indemnification of certain retired police officers and firefighters for certain hospital, medical and surgical expenses
3-6-1961
Ch. 595, Acts of 1959
Town pays 1/2 of premium costs payable by retired employee for group life and health insurance
3-5-1962
MGL c. 48, § 58B
48-hour week for Fire Department
3-5-1962
Ch. 334, § 5, Acts of 1961
Town purchase of additional group life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance for employees
3-4-1963
Ch. 647, Acts of 1962
Extension of group health insurance to elderly retired from Town service and their dependents
3-19-1963
Ch. 409, Acts of 1962
Pedestrian control
3-19-1963
MGL c. 40, § 8C
Conservation Commission, 5 members
10-29-1963
MGL c. 41, § 1
Increase number of School Committee members to 7
3-2-1964
MGL c. 71, §§ 16 to 16I
Establishment of regional school district
3-18-1964
Ch. 58, Acts of 1963
First Parish Cemetery
3-1-1965
MGL c. 41, § 1
Selectmen to act as Board of Public Welfare
3-18-1965
Ch. 486, Acts of 1964
Increasing pension and retirement allowances payable to certain former public employees
3-18-1965
MGL c. 40, § 8C
Increase Conservation Commission membership from 5 to 7
3-19-1968
Ch. 670, Acts of 1960
Act requiring cities and towns to grant annuities to surviving spouse or children of certain officials or employees retired or pensioned under any noncontributory retirement law
3-16-1971
Ch. 635, Acts of 1945
Payment of advances in vacation pay to Town employees
1-31-1972
MGL c. 40, § 13
Establishment of municipal buildings insurance fund
3-20-1972
MGL c. 53, § 9A
Nomination papers for candidates for Town offices
3-21-1972
MGL c. 40, § 6B
Appropriation of money for purchases of uniforms for members of Police and Fire Departments
11-28-1972
Ch. 344, Acts of 1970
Relative to deposit in treasury of money received in payment for off-duty work by Police Department members
3-25-1974
Ch. 571, Acts of 1973
Authorizing domestic electric utilities to enter into a New England power pool agreement
3-26-1974
Ch. 430, Acts of 1967
Authorizing cities and towns to employ police cadets
3-12-1975
MGL c. 90, § 20C
Regulating motor vehicle parking and authorizing Selectmen to establish by rule or regulation a fine schedule for offenses
3-12-1975
MGL c. 40, § 22D
Authorize Selectmen to adopt rules relative to towing of illegally parked vehicles in public ways
5-6-1975
MGL c. 83, § 17
Sewer assessments
5-24-1976
Ch. 775, Acts of 1975
Members of Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Company
6-20-1978
MGL c. 40A, amended by Ch. 808, Acts of 1975
Further regulating zoning
5-9-1979
MGL c. 71, § 71E, as amended by Ch. 639, Acts of 1977
Appropriations for expenditures of receipts from adult education and continuing education programs
5-9-1979
Ch. 364, Acts of 1978
Act providing compensation of Town officers in connection with contributory retirement system
5-5-1981
MGL c. 41, § 100B
Rescinds the acceptance of referenced statute accepted 3-28-1960
5-11-1981
MGL c. 31
Rescinds the acceptance of referenced statute as it relates to the labor service
5-11-1981
MGL c. 148, § 26C
Requires apartment houses containing 6 or more dwelling units, hotels, boardinghouses or lodging houses to be equipped with automatic smoke or heat detectors
5-11-1981
MGL c. 148, § 26E
Requiring buildings used for residential purposes to be equipped with approved smoke detectors
12-7-1981 (Rescinded 10-20-1997)
MGL c. 90, § 20A1/2, as amended by Ch. 351, Acts of 1981
Parking regulations and fines
5-9-1983
Ch. 641, § 20A, Acts of 1982
Indemnify Retirement Board
11-7-1983
MGL c. 60A, § 1, as amended by Ch. 597, Acts of 1982
Excise exemption for POW
11-26-1984
MGL c. 40, § 8J
Establish Handicapped Commission
11-28-1984
Ch. 288, Acts of 1984
Braintree Water and Sewer Reorganization Act of 1984
5-7-1985
MGL c. 32B, § 9D
Town pays 1/2 premium cost surviving spouse health insurance
11-4-1985
MGL c. 71, § 40, as amended by Ch. 188, Acts of 1985
Minimum teacher salaries
11-4-1985
MGL c. 32, § 20, Paragraph 4(c)
Authorize Selectmen to appoint contributory retirement member
11-4-1985
Ch. 188, § 13, Acts of 1985
Increasing teacher compensation
5-5-1986
MGL c. 59, § 5, Clause 5
Veterans' organization exemptions
5-12-1986
MGL c. 59, § 5, Clauses 17C and 37A to 41B (enacted by §§ 2, 3 and 5 of Ch. 653, Acts of 1982)
Real estate exemptions
5-12-1986
MGL c. 64G, § 3A
Hotel/motel excise; amended 8-11-2009 to increase local excise tax to 6%
10-6-1986
MGL c. 140, § 147A
Regulation of dogs
1-28-1987
MGL c. 59, § 5, Clause 41C (enacted by § 3 of Ch. 73, Acts of 1986)
Tax abatement for the elderly
5-5-1987
MGL c. 40, § 4A
Hazardous material rescue vehicle
5-6-1987
MGL c. 59, § 5, Clause 50 (enacted by § 142 of Ch. 200, Acts of 1986)
Exempts certain residential improvements from property tax
5-6-1987
MGL c. 59, § 5 (enacted by § 1, Ch. 73, Acts of 1986)
Relief of revaluation for widows and aged
5-9-1988
Ch. 640, Acts of 1985, adding MGL c. 40, §  57
Authority of Town to deny any application for or revoke or suspend any local license or permit issued to any person for failure to pay any municipal charges
5-9-1988
Ch. 402, Acts of 1987, amending MGL c. 59
Tax collector – collecting interest
5-3-1989
MGL c. 44, § 53F
Compensating balance agreements
5-8-1989
MGL c. 148, § 26G
Installation of automatic sprinkler system
5-8-1989
MGL c. 148, § 26H
Automatic sprinkler system in lodging houses and boardinghouses
1-8-1990
MGL c. 41, § 41B
Direct bank deposits for Town employees
5-7-1990
MGL c. 148, § 56
Open air parking space
5-7-1990
MGL c. 40, § 13C
Reserves to pay workers' compensation
5-7-1990
MGL c. 44, § 53F, as amended by Ch. 454, Acts of 1989
Compensating balance agreement
5-8-1990
MGL c. 59, § 5, Clause 5B
Tax exemptions for VFW
5-9-1990
Ch. 642, Acts of 1989
Automatic sprinkler systems
5-8-1991
Ch. 291, Acts of 1990
Enhanced 911
5-8-1991
MGL c. 40, § 8G
Mutual aid
5-13-1991
Ch. 245, Acts of 1988, amending MGL c. 41, § 81U
Bond – subdivision
5-13-1991
Ch. 254, Acts of 1990, amending MGL c. 32
Services beyond age 70
5-13-1991
Ch. 303, Acts of 1990
Water/sewer rehabilitation fund
10-7-1991
Ch. 653, § 41, Acts of 1989, adding MGL c. 59, § 57C
Quarterly tax bills
5-5-1992
MGL c. 32B, § 18
Requires municipal retirees to transfer to a Medicare extension plan offered by the Town
5-6-1992
MGL c. 32, § 22D
Establishing a funding schedule for the Town contributory retirement system
5-11-1992
MGL c. 262, § 34
New fee schedules for Town Clerk
10-26-1992
MGL c. 32B, § 2A
Traffic supervisors group health insurance
5-11-1993
MGL c. 44, § 53E1/2
Student transportation revolving fund
5-11-1993
MGL c. 44, § 53E1/2
Seniors activity revolving fund
5-9-1994
Ch. 71, § 83, Acts of 1993
Education Reform Act – early retirement
10-25-1994
MGL c. 40, § 8A
Economic Development Commission
5-1-1995
MGL c. 148, § 26H
Sprinklers in lodging houses and boardinghouses
10-29-1996
Ch. 71, Acts of 1996
Creditable retirement service for active service in the armed services
5-5-1997
MGL c. 40, § 8E
Youth Commission establishment
10-20-1997
MGL c. 40, § 8G
Mutual aid agreements
10-20-1997
MGL c. 90, § 20A
Positive motion parking violations, rescinds acceptance dated 12-7-1981
5-26-1998
MGL c. 148, § 26I
Sprinklers, multifamily buildings
5-26-1998
MGL c. 32, § 103
Retirement Board (retirees—COLA)
10-27-1998
MGL c. 194, § 288
Retirement option
5-10-1999
MGL c. 40, § 3
Allow School Committee to expend ay unused balance remaining in the Rental or Lease Income Account for the upkeep and maintenance of any facility under the its control
5-17-1999
Ch. 456, §§ 2, 3, 4 and 5, Acts of 1998
Cost of living increase to members/survivors of noncontributory retirees
1-24-2000
MGL c. 32, § 103
Cost of living increase for retirees
5-8-2000
MGL c. 44, § 53E1/2
Council on Aging revolving fund
5-8-2000
MGL c. 44, § 53E1/2
Recycling Committee revolving fund
5-15-2000
MGL c. 41, § 108L
Modified Quinn Bill
5-14-2001
MGL c. 59, § 5K
Establish a program to allow persons over the age of 60 to volunteer to provide services to the Town in exchange for reduced property tax obligations
5-14-2001
Ch. 411, Acts of 2000
Provide a pension allowance adjustment for noncontributory retirees who retired under MGL c. 32, § 58B, before 1-12-1998 and whose beneficiary predeceased them
10-23-2001
MGL c. 40, §§ 42A to 42F
Allow the Water and Sewer Departments to assess liens on properties of delinquent accounts
5-15-2002
Ch. 160, Acts of 2001
An Act Authorizing the Town of Braintree To Establish a Department of Public Works
10-8-2002
Ch. 116, § 6, Acts of 2002
Offer veterans who did not elect to purchase military service credit an additional 180 days to purchase such service credit
5-5-2003
MGL c. 40, § 22F
Allow local boards and officers to set reasonable fees for licenses, permits, certificates and services
5-3-2004
Ch. 181, § 1, Acts of 1995
Provide an annual increase in the amount of the real estate tax exemption granted to senior citizens and surviving spouses and minors in an amount equal to 3.5% of the cost of living adjustment of the prior year as determined by the Commissioner of Revenue, whichever is less
5-10-2004
Ch. 137, Acts of 2003
Protection of the salaries of certain public employees who served or are serving in the armed services
5-3-2005
Ch. 133, Acts of 2005
An Act To Establish a Town Manager for the Town of Braintree
5-10-2005
MGL c. 59, § 5, Clause 41A
Maximum annual income limit of $40,000 for persons 65 or older with regard to property tax deferral
5-10-2005
Ch. 653, § 40, Acts of 1989
Change effective date for new growth from January 1 to June 30 each year
10-25-2005
Ch. 189, Acts of 2005
An Act Establishing a Mayor/Town Council for the Town of Braintree
5-9-2006
Ch. 157, § 1, Acts of 2005
Provide veterans' benefit to accidental disability retirees
5-9-2006
Ch. 157, § 2, Acts of 2005
Provide retroactive veterans' benefits to certain accidental disability retirees
5-10-2006
MGL c. 40, § 4A
Authorize the Board of Health to enter into an intermunicipal mutual agreement
8-19-2008
MGL c. 44, § 64
Payment of bills incurred in excess of appropriations
9-23-2008
MGL c. 32B, § 19
Coalition bargaining over group health insurance (said acceptance is contingent upon the Town negotiating a written agreement with the Public Employee Committee)
8-11-2009
MGL c. 64G, § 3A
Amend 5-12-1986 vote to increase local excise tax from 4% to 6%
1-5-2010
Ch. 183, Acts of 2009
Extend the time period for the issuance of third quarter tax bills to 1-30-2010
8-17-2010
MGL c. 48, § 59A
Mutual aid agreements for joint fire and rescue services
11-18-2010
MGL c. 41, § 100G1/4
Funeral benefits for police officers and firefighters
11-18-2010
MGL c. 41, § 91
Authorizing the Mayor to appoint constables
10-18-2011
MGL c. 32, § 101, as amended by Ch. 131, Acts of 2010
Increase allowance to widows of disabled public employees
2-28-2012
Ch. 134, Acts of 2008
Extend through fiscal year 2014
9-20-2012
MGL c. 54, § 16A
Authorizing Town Clerk to appoint Election Officers to fill vacancies
12-4-2012
MGL c. 59, § 5, Clause 41C
Adjusting the eligibility requirements within the limits of the statute
12-4-2012
MGL c. 59, § 5, Clause 41D
Authorizing annual increase in gross receipts and whole estate, real and personal
5-21-2013
MGL c. 64L, § 2
Impose local meals excise tax
10-6-2015
Ch. 134, Acts of 2008
Extend through fiscal year 2018
2-7-2017
MGL c. 39, § 23D
Permitting absentee members of local boards to vote if only a single session of an adjudicatory hearing is missed
10-4-2017
MGL c. 90, § 17C
Authorizes establishment of a speed limit of 25 mph in thickly settled and business districts
10-4-2017
MGL c. 90, § 18B
Authorizes establishment of a speed limit of 20 mph in certain safety zones
3-20-2018
Ch. 134, Acts of 2008
Extend through fiscal year 2021
5-29-2018
MGL c. 44, § 53F 1/2
Establishing a stormwater fund as an enterprise fund
5-28-2019
MGL c. 44, § 53F 1/2
Establishing a cable public education and government (PEG) fund as an enterprise fund effective fiscal year 2020
4-7-2020
MGL c. 59, § 5C 1/2
Providing an additional exemption up to 20% of the personal exemption for taxpayers who are granted personal exemptions on their domiciles under MGL c. 59, § 5, to be effective for exemptions granted for any fiscal year beginning on or after July 1, 2020
11-17-2020
Ch. 419, Acts of 1998
Providing for membership in the South Shore Recycling Collaborative
7-13-2021
MGL c. 71, § 37M
Allowing for the consolidation of administrative functions of the school committee with those of the Town
10-3-2022
MGL c. 64N, § 3
Providing for a local sales tax upon sale or transfer of marijuana or marijuana products
10-3-2022
MGL c. 59, § 5, Clause 22H
Providing for a veterans' exemption for surviving parents and guardians
6-6-2023
MCL c. 44, § 53e 1/2
Establishment of new revolving fund for tree replacement
6-6-2023
Ch. 92, Acts of 2022
Deferring authority on police detail assignment selections to Town Clerk and Police Chief or their designees
12-19-2023
MGL c. 59, § 5C 1/2
Providing additional real estate tax exemptions to taxpayers who are granted personal exemptions on their domiciles under MGL c. 59, § 5, granted for any fiscal year beginning on or after July 1, 2023
12-16-2025
MGL c. 59, § 5, Clause 22I
Annual increase in the amount of certain tax exemptions by the percentage increase in the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index ( CPI) for the previous year, to be effective for applicable exemptions granted for any fiscal year beginning on or after July 1, 2026
12-16-2025
MGL c. 59, § 5, Clause 22J
Annual increase in the amount of certain exemptions by 100% of the personal exemption amount, subject to the conditions in Clause 22J, effective for applicable exemptions granted for any fiscal year beginning on or after July 1, 2026