By Bob Katzen

This bill would prohibit municipal Boards of Health from banning the sale of any legal consumer product by authorized retailers without authorization of the local town meeting or city council.

“This bill seeks to ensure that local boards and committees, be they elected or appointed, don’t overstep their authority to pursue idealistic, but potentially unconstitutional, bans on consumer products,” said sponsor Rep. Joe McKenna (R-Sutton). “It maintains the ability for a community to come together through its ordinary legislative process, whether city council or town meeting, to pass such a local bylaw should the constituency of the community want it. Government entities must respect individuals’ rights and liberties and ability to choose to live their life free of onerous government mandates or restrictions.