Massachusetts General Laws
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 4, § 5 (2026)
Return showing action of body accepting or rejecting statute
✓ current as of July 2026
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Section 5. If a statute is to take effect upon action by a body politic or corporate or by any board or officer of such a body, or to become or cease to be operative, in whole or in so far as it affects such a body, upon action as aforesaid, a return of the result of any action so taken shall be made by the clerk of such body, or officer having like powers, to the state secretary within thirty days thereafter. If a statute prescribes a time within which such action may be taken, and within the time limited no action is taken thereon, said clerk or other officer shall, within thirty days after the expiration of the time so limited, make to the state secretary a return to that effect.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 1
case, 1961–1961 · leading case: Oleksak v. City of Westfield, 172 N.E.2d 85 (Mass. 1961).
Oleksak v. City of Westfield, 172 N.E.2d 85 (Mass. 1961). “G. L. c. 4, § 5. On the other hand, an ordinance is a legislative enactment of a city effective only within its own boundaries, and no return to any State authority is required after its enactment.”
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