By Representative Ashe of Longmeadow, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3447) of Brian M. Ashe and Francisco E. Paulino for legislation to include nip bottles and certain other containers in the bottle law. Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy.
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Date
Branch
Action
4/6/2026
House
4/6/2026 HouseAccompanied a study order, see H5323↗
12/4/2025
House
12/4/2025 HouseReporting date extended to Wednesday, March 18, 2026
9/15/2025
House
9/15/2025 HouseReporting date extended to Wednesday, December 3, 2025
6/11/2025
Joint
6/11/2025 JointHearing scheduled for 06/18/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2
2/27/2025
Senate
2/27/2025 SenateSenate concurred
2/27/2025
House
2/27/2025 HouseReferred to the committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy
An Act relative to containers, litter, ecology and nips (CLEAN Act)
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7 section(s) · formatted for easier reading
▸SECTION 1
Section 321 of chapter 94 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the definitions of “Beverage” and “Beverage container” and inserting in place thereof the following 2 definitions:-
“Beverage”, soda water or similar carbonated soft drinks, mineral water, beer and other malt beverages and alcoholic beverages sold in a miniature, but shall not include alcoholic beverages other than beer and malt beverages as defined in chapter 138 and alcoholic beverages sold in a miniature, dairy products, natural fruit juices or wine.
“Beverage container”, any sealable bottle, can, jar or carton which is primarily composed of glass, metal, plastic or any combination of those materials and is produced for the purpose of containing a beverage, including a miniature. This definition shall not include containers made of biodegradable material. The department of environmental protection may adopt regulations to further define beverage container.
▸SECTION 2
Said section 321 of said chapter 94, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after the definition of “Label” the following definition:-
“Miniature”, any sealable bottle, can, jar or carton which is primarily composed of glass, metal, plastic or any combination of those materials that has a capacity of not more than 100 milliliters and is produced for the purpose of containing an alcoholic beverage.
▸SECTION 3
Subsection (c) of section 323 of said chapter 94, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the words “one cent”, in line 13, and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- 3 cents.
▸SECTION 4
Subsection (d) of said section 323 of said chapter 94, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the words “one cent”, in line 20, and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- 3 cents.
▸SECTION 5
Subsection (e) of said section 323 of said chapter 94, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the words “one cent”, in line 37, and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- 3 cents.
▸SECTION 6
Said chapter 94 is hereby amended by inserting after section 323E the following section:-
▸SECTION 323F
No political subdivision of the commonwealth shall enact an ordinance or by-law prohibiting the sale of miniatures; provided, however, that a city or town, which has adopted an ordinance or by-law prohibiting the sale of miniatures pursuant to the authority conferred upon such city or town by general law or special act prior to the effective date of this section may continue to exercise such authority, and this section shall not be construed to restrict the authority of any such city or town to amend or repeal any ordinance or by-law in accordance with the provisions of such special act.
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SECTION 1. Section 321 of chapter 94 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the definitions of “Beverage” and “Beverage container” and inserting in place thereof the following 2 definitions:-
“Beverage”, soda water or similar carbonated soft drinks, mineral water, beer and other malt beverages and alcoholic beverages sold in a miniature, but shall not include alcoholic beverages other than beer and malt beverages as defined in chapter 138 and alcoholic beverages sold in a miniature, dairy products, natural fruit juices or wine.
“Beverage container”, any sealable bottle, can, jar or carton which is primarily composed of glass, metal, plastic or any combination of those materials and is produced for the purpose of containing a beverage, including a miniature. This definition shall not include containers made of biodegradable material. The department of environmental protection may adopt regulations to further define beverage container.
SECTION 2. Said section 321 of said chapter 94, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after the definition of “Label” the following definition:-
“Miniature”, any sealable bottle, can, jar or carton which is primarily composed of glass, metal, plastic or any combination of those materials that has a capacity of not more than 100 milliliters and is produced for the purpose of containing an alcoholic beverage.
SECTION 3. Subsection (c) of section 323 of said chapter 94, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the words “one cent”, in line 13, and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- 3 cents.
SECTION 4. Subsection (d) of said section 323 of said chapter 94, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the words “one cent”, in line 20, and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- 3 cents.
SECTION 5. Subsection (e) of said section 323 of said chapter 94, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the words “one cent”, in line 37, and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- 3 cents.
SECTION 6. Said chapter 94 is hereby amended by inserting after section 323E the following section:-
Section 323F. No political subdivision of the commonwealth shall enact an ordinance or by-law prohibiting the sale of miniatures; provided, however, that a city or town, which has adopted an ordinance or by-law prohibiting the sale of miniatures pursuant to the authority conferred upon such city or town by general law or special act prior to the effective date of this section may continue to exercise such authority, and this section shall not be construed to restrict the authority of any such city or town to amend or repeal any ordinance or by-law in accordance with the provisions of such special act.