Senator’s office: House bill H4992 passed; county, Bourne await Senate action

Emily Sompkins, district director for Senator Fernandez, updated the Barnstable County Board of Regional Commissioners and the Bourne select board on the status of House bill H4992, a measure drafted to transfer county property to the town of Bourne.

Sompkins said H4992 has passed the House of Representatives and is now in the Senate committee process, where it has been with Senate rules since January and is under review by Senate counsel. She told the joint meeting the senator’s office is working with the Senate President’s office and counsel to advance the measure and that it is not unusual for Article 97 matters to take months because of constitutional requirements. “It’s been in senate rule since January, and committee reports that they’ve been working with the senate counsel on it,” Sompkins said.

Commissioners and select board members asked whether there was anything the town or county could do to assist. Sompkins said the senator’s office will review potential advocacy steps and get back to the board on specific actions towns can take. Chair thanked the senator’s staff for the update and offered the commissioners’ and the town’s willingness to help move the measure forward.

The exchange clarified that the House hurdle has been cleared and that next steps depend on Senate committee action and possible votes later in the legislative session.

The update was informational; no formal county action was taken at the meeting aside from the request that staff and local officials remain available to assist with advocacy if asked.