MMLA 2026 Annual Conference (1 Oct 2026)

Thu, 01 Oct 2026 04:00:00 GMT

It's that time of year again! Get ready for MMLA's 2026 Annual Conference. The MMLA is excited to be returning to Historic New Bedford for our 2026 Annual Conference on Thursday, October 1 and Friday, October 2. We are delighted to host this year's conference in historic New Bedford at the Fairfield Inn & Waypoint Conference Center, with Thursday’s dinner across the street at Merrill’s on the Waterfront!

As usual, the MMLA has special room rates for attendees. Reserve your room at the Fairfield Inn at our special rate of $169.00 - $189.00 per night, plus tax and fees. There is free parking for guests. We have a limited number of rooms at this special rate, so you are urged to go on the link below and make your reservation. Given the location and programs, we expect another great turnout so don’t miss out on staying at the Inn with your colleagues. Many members come on Wednesday night at these same special rates and beat the traffic!

Click this link for the online hotel registration access-

Book your group rate for Mass Municipal Lawyers Association 2026

Registration includes continental breakfast on both Thursday and Friday, lunch and dinner on Thursday, refreshments on both days, 6 outstanding panels on municipal law updates, Municipal Potpourri, networking and socializing, presentation of awards, surprises, and more!

Program Topics Include*

Dealing with Challenging Public Records Requests, Appeals and Attorneys' Fees
Lessons for Municipal Attorneys and Local Officials From the Recently Decided Emerald Isle v Boston- It’s More than a Chapter 97 Case!
AI and Law Enforcement- What Municipal Counsels Need to Know
Election Law For Municipal Attorneys and Officials- What you Need to Know About Challenges
Supreme Court Review of Last Term's Cases That Affect Local Government, AND Presentation on Key Parts of the MA Constitution That Affect Local Government
Land Use Update- Including New Zoning Changes to Chapter 40A, ADUs and Affordable Housing, Data Centers, Pickleball and More
New To Municipal Law Roundtable- for New and Seasoned Municipal Attorneys
Municipal Potpourri
Other topics and events to be announced

Watch your email for more announcements on this popular annual event! Don’t miss this unique opportunity to network with your colleagues from around the state.

*Programs subject to change.

Pricing

Just look at what you receive for your registration- 1 ½ days of cutting edge municipal law topics, delicious meals, networking opportunities with fellow municipal attorneys, time in historic New Bedford, surprises and just a plain ol’ great time!

To keep this event affordable for all, we have kept the fees low, with MMLA subsidizing the costs. MMLA does have scholarship funds available if the costs are an issue. We want all our members to be able to attend!

When you compare the costs for this 1 ½ days event to other legal education providers, MMLA is by far the most reasonably priced for all you receive.

Members- $230.00, Guests- $65.00
Members with less than 5 years of practice- $180.00 SAVE $50.00!
Non-Members- $290.00, Guests- $80.00
Local Officials (non-members/guests only) attending the Thursday morning programs and continental breakfast- $50.00
Local Officials (non-members/guests only) attending the Thursday afternoon programs and lunch- $50.00
Local Officials (non-members/guests only) attending the Thursday dinner and Municipal Potpourri- $75.00
Local Officials (non-members/guests only) attending the Friday morning programs and continental breakfast- $50.00

New Bedford is an exciting and historic city- lots to see and do! Bring your family!

For more information, please contact Jim Lampke :

Cell: 617-285-4561

executivedirector@massmunilaw.org or james.lampke@lampkelaw.com

November Lunch & Learn - Tobacco Control at the Municipal Level (4 Nov 2026)

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Our November monthly lunch and learn webinar is coming up on Wednesday, November 4th at noon. This month we will be hearing from Cheryl Sbarra, Esq., Executive Director and Senior Staff Attorney at the Massachusetts Association of Health Boards and Lisa Stevens-Goodnight, Esq., Tobacco Control Director at the Massachusetts Municipal Association. Cheryl and Lisa will be presenting on tobacco control in municipal government.

The majority of Massachusetts tobacco control enforcement is carried out on the municipal level, overseen by local boards of health, and supported by the Department of Public Health though the Massachusetts Tobacco Cessation and Prevention Program and partners. This lunch and learn will cover the following topics:

An overview of the education and resources available to Boards of Health and health departments, to understand how the boards of health are approaching these issues
How to assist boards of health when they face challenges to tobacco control enforcement and where to look for guidance; and
Current and potential future legal challenges and areas of concern worth paying attention to.

This session is designed for municipal counsel, officials, and staff seeking to better understand tobacco control at the municipal level so they can foster a safe and healthy community for all.

If you have particular questions that you want addressed, please send them to Jim Lampke at james.lampke@lampkelaw.com and he will pass them along.

[ MMLA ] MassMuniLaw upcoming events

MMLA 2026 Annual Conference (1 Oct 2026)

November Lunch & Learn - Tobacco Control at the Municipal Level (4 Nov 2026)