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FILED ON: 2/1/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2024
House order No. 2023, as amended and as adopted by the House. February 1, 2023.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
House of Representatives, February 1, 2023.
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
_______________
1 The Rules of the House of Representatives for the 193rd General Court (for the years
22023-2024), as adopted by the House on February 1, 2023:
3 SPEAKER.
4 1. The Speaker shall take the Chair at the hour to which the House stands adjourned, call the
5members to order, and, on the appearance of a quorum, proceed to business. [1.]
6 1A. The House shall not be called to order before the hour of ten o'clock A.M. nor meet
7beyond the hour of midnight unless by unanimous consent of the Members present. If there is
8unanimous consent to continue meeting past midnight then, the House shall return to the
9business then pending; and if no business was pending, to the next order of business. However, if
10there is not unanimous consent of the members present to meet beyond the hour of midnight, the 2 of 141
11Speaker shall forthwith, and without further debate, adjourn or recess the House to a time not
12earlier than ten o'clock A.M. on the next succeeding calendar day.
13 [Adopted Jan. 12, 1983; Amended Jan. 11, 1985; Jan. 12, 1987; Jan. 14, 1997; May 16,
142000.]
15 2. The Speaker shall preserve decorum and order in the House Chamber. While in the House
16Chamber, members, staff and guests shall be required to dress in proper and appropriate attire
17and be courteous and professional when using electronic devices.
18Members, staff and guests shall not take photographs or videos of, or in, the House Chamber
19during formal or informal sessions unless otherwise permitted by this Rule. Members may take
20photographs at their assigned seats in the chamber during formal or informal sessions; provided,
21however that any photographs or video taken by members during formal or informal sessions
22shall not include images of any other member, staff or guest without their express written
23consent.
24The Speaker may permit photographs or videos during special occasions, which shall include,
25but shall not be limited to, swearing-in ceremonies and addresses by constitutional officers or
26other dignitaries. The use of audio-visual aids including, without limitation, videos, computers,
27posters, displays or charts shall be permitted only upon approval of the Speaker.
28The Speaker also may speak to points of order in preference to other members; and shall decide
29all questions of order, subject to an appeal to the House. [2.] (2.) [With regard to appeals, see
30Rule 77.]
31 [Amended Jan. 11, 1985; Jan. 9, 2003; Jan. 20, 2011; Jan. 29, 2015; Jan. 30, 2019.] 3 of 141
32 3. The Speaker shall declare all votes, subject to verification as hereinafter provided. [3.] (55.)
33[See Rules 49 to 53, inclusive.]
34 [Amended Jan. 11, 1985.]
35 4. In all cases the Speaker may vote. [4.] (3.)
36 [Amended Jan. 11, 1985.]
37 4A. The Speaker shall appoint a Speaker pro Tempore. The Speaker pro Tempore shall
38assist the Speaker in the coordination of policy development and the ceremonial functions of the
39House and shall perform such duties assigned to them by the Speaker. Upon a vacancy in the
40office of Speaker, the office of Speaker pro Tempore shall be considered vacant.
41 [Adopted Jan. 26, 2005, Amended, Jan. 23, 2007; Jan. 30, 2019.]
42 4B. (a) As used in this Rule, the following words shall have the following meanings:-
43"Earned income", income derived from salaries, wages, tips and commissions for performing
44services as an employee of an employer.
45"Unearned income", all other income that is not earned income.
46(b) The Speaker shall not receive earned income for:
47(1) affiliating with or being employed by a firm, partnership, association, corporation or other
48entity that provides professional services involving a fiduciary relationship;
49(2) permitting their name to be used by such a firm, partnership, association, corporation or
50other entity;
51(3) receiving compensation for practicing a profession that involves a fiduciary relationship; or 4 of 141
52(4) serving as an officer or member of the board of an association, corporation or other entity.
53(c) The provisions of this rule shall take effect on August 1, 2017.
54 [Added Feb. 2, 2017; Amended Jan 30, 2019.]
55 5. The Speaker may appoint a member to perform the duties of the Chair. In the event the
56Speaker fails to appoint a member to perform the duties of the Chair, the Speaker pro Tempore
57shall be the Acting Speaker until the Speaker otherwise provides or until a vacancy in the office
58of Speaker occurs. In the event that the Speaker pro Tempore is absent or is unable to perform
59the duties of Acting Speaker, the Majority Leader, the Assistant Majority Leader, the Second
60Assistant Majority Leader or other designee shall be the Acting Speaker. [7.] (4.)
61 [Amended April 18, 1979; Jan. 11, 1985; Jan. 14, 1997; Jan. 26, 2005.]
62 6. In case of a vacancy in the office of Speaker, or in case the Speaker or the member named
63by said Speaker in accordance with the preceding rule is absent at the hour to which the House
64stands adjourned, the senior member present shall call the House to order, and shall preside until
65a Speaker is elected, which shall be the first business in order. [8.] (5.)
66 [Amended Jan. 11, 1985, Amended, Jan. 23, 2007.]
67 7. At the beginning of the first year of the two-year General Court, the Speaker may, unless
68the House otherwise directs, appoint a Chaplain; and the Speaker may fill any vacancy in the
69office of Chaplain. [7A.] (4.)
70 [Amended Jan. 11, 1985; Jan. 29, 2015.] 5 of 141
71 SCHEDULING.
72 7A. There shall be appointed a standing committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling
73consisting of eleven members. The committee shall not be subject to the provisions of Rule 17A,
74but shall be authorized to meet from time to time at the call of the Chair for the purpose of
75assisting the members of the House of Representatives in identifying the major matters pending
76before the General Court, the relative urgency and priority for consideration of such matters, and
77alternative methods of responding to such matters by the General Court. Said committee shall
78schedule legislative matters in a manner that will provide for an even distribution and orderly
79consideration of reports of legislative committees on the daily Calendar.
80 The committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling shall not be authorized to recommend
81changes or amendments to legislation or recommend that a matter ought to pass or ought not to
82pass, but shall only report asking to be discharged from further consideration of a bill, and
83recommending that it be referred or recommitted to another committee; provided, however, that
84it shall not recommend that a matter be referred or recommitted to the committee on Rules or the
85committees on Rules of the two branches, acting concurrently, or what date a matter shall be
86scheduled for consideration by the House and placed in the Orders of the Day. All reports by the
87committee on petitions filed or approved by the voters of a city or town, or by the mayor and city
88council, or other legislative body of a city or the town meeting of a town with respect to a law
89relating to that city or town shall be read and considered by the House at a formal or informal
90session before being accepted, rejected or otherwise acted upon. Any such petition and any
91attachment to the petition shall be filed in both paper and electronic format approved by the
92Clerk. 6 of 141
93 All matters received from the Senate or reported from standing committees of the House and
94joint standing committees of the General Court shall, unless subject to provisions of any other
95House or joint rules, be referred to the committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling. All
96matters reported by said committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling recommending that a
97matter shall be scheduled for consideration by the House shall be placed in the Orders of the Day
98for the next sitting. Said committee may report on a legislative matter within thirty days
99following the day the matter was referred. If the committee fails to report a matter within thirty
100days following the date of its reference, the Clerk shall place the matter on the Calendar of the
101House as if it had been scheduled for consideration by said committee on Steering, Policy and
102Scheduling.
103 [Adopted Jan. 14, 1997; Amended Jan. 26, 1999; Jan. 24, 2001; Jan. 9, 2003; Jan. 26, 2005.]
104 7B. The committee on Rules shall be authorized to originate and report special orders for the
105scheduling and consideration of legislation on the floor of the House. Said committee shall not
106be subject to the notification provisions contained in Rule 17A but may hold public hearings and
107shall accept testimony only from the members of the House. A majority of the members
108appointed to the committee shall constitute a quorum. When reported, such orders may be
109amended by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting, and shall be subject to
110approval by a majority of the members of the House present and voting. Debate on the question
111on adoption of such orders shall be limited to one hour. No orders adopted pursuant to this
112paragraph shall limit the powers of the Speaker as provided in Rules 1 to 6, inclusive. Such
113orders shall not be subject to reconsideration. 7 of 141
114 The committee on Rules shall not be subject to the provisions of Rule 17A, but may meet in
115private to discuss or consider the appointment, discipline or dismissal of any individual the
116committee is authorized by law or rule to appoint, discipline or dismiss.
117 [Adopted Jan. 14, 1997; Amended Jan. 24, 2001; Feb. 11, 2009; Jan. 30, 2019; Feb. 1, 2023.]
118 7C. The committee on Rules may consider and make recommendations designed to improve
119and expedite the business and procedures of the House and its committees, and to recommend to
120the House any amendments to the Rules deemed necessary; provided that a majority of the
121members of the House present and voting shall be required to approve such recommendations.
122 The committee shall be privileged to report at any time.
123 [Adopted Jan. 14, 1997.]
124 7D. The Speaker shall, in consultation with the committee on Rules and the committee on
125Steering, Policy and Scheduling, establish a committee scheduling system that minimizes to the
126greatest extent possible scheduling conflicts for members of committees.
127 The Speaker shall determine a schedule for the House for each week relative to formal and
128informal sessions and shall make such schedule available to the members in writing or by
129electronic mail by 5:00 P.M. on Friday of the preceding week; provided, however, that the
130Speaker may make, notwithstanding the provisions of Rule 7A, changes in the schedules to
131facilitate the business of the House in an efficient and timely fashion. The Speaker shall
132communicate notice of any such scheduling change to the members in writing or by electronic
133mail as soon as practicable, and whenever possible, the Speaker shall provide such notice not
134less than twenty-four hours before the event so rescheduled is set to commence.
135 [Adopted Jan. 14, 1997; January 9, 2003; Jan. 30, 2019.] 8 of 141
136 MONITORS.
137 8. Two monitors shall be appointed by the Speaker for each division of the House, whose
138duty it shall be to see to the due observance of the rules, and, on request of the Speaker, to return
139the number of votes and members in their respective divisions. [9.]
140 9. If a member transgresses any of the rules after being notified thereof by a monitor, it shall
141be the duty of such monitor to report the case to the House.
142 It shall be the duty of a monitor to report their knowledge of the occurrence of a member
143voting for another member, in their division of the House, to the Speaker of the House and to the
144Minority Leader. [10.] [See Rules 16 and 16A.]
145 [Amended Jan. 9, 1991; May 5, 1993; Feb. 11, 2009; Jan. 30, 2019.]
146 9A. There shall be established a Floor Division Committee for each of the four divisions of
147the House. The Speaker shall appoint a Floor Division chairperson for each of the four divisions.
148Said committee shall consist of the members assigned to the respective divisions.
149 In order to create a continuous flow of debate, each chairperson shall be responsible for
150reviewing the daily Calendar and providing advance notice to committee members in the
151respective divisions of all matters scheduled for consideration in the Orders of the Day. Said
152committee chairpersons shall provide information to members of their committees on pending
153legislation and other matters of business before the House.
154 In addition to the legislative duties, chairpersons shall oversee the physical appearance of the
155Chamber and the various areas under the jurisdiction of the House of Representatives. Said
156chairpersons shall be authorized to act as a committee and may meet at any time at the request of
157at least two chairpersons. Said chairpersons, as a committee, shall be authorized to meet with the 9 of 141
158appropriate agencies and historical commissions of the Commonwealth for the purpose of
159requesting expeditious appraisals and necessary repairs and renovations to the interior and
160exterior of the State House. The committee of chairpersons shall report directly to the Speaker
161the results of all consultations.
162 [Adopted Jan. 14, 1997.]
163 CLERK.
164 10. The Clerk shall keep the Journal of the House. The Clerk shall enter therein a record of
165each day's proceedings and, whenever practicable, submit it to the Speaker and the Minority
166Leader before the hour fixed for the next sitting, and shall cause the same to be available daily in
167a format to be determined by the Clerk; and provided further that a copy of said Journal shall
168also be made available to each member of the House. Any objection to the Journal shall be made
169before the House proceeds to the consideration of the Orders of the Day. [11.] (6.)
170 [Amended Jan. 12, 1981; Jan 11, 1985; Jan. 17, 1995; Jan. 9, 2003.]
171 10A. The Clerk shall be the official parliamentarian of the House of Representatives.
172 [Adopted Jan. 9, 1991.]
173 10B. The Clerk shall be the official keeper of records of the House of Representatives for
174legislative records that remain in the office of said Clerk at the end of each biennial session, and
175until such time as said records are transferred to the State Archives or destroyed in accordance
176with law.
177 [Adopted Jan. 29, 2015.] 10 of 141
178 11. Every question of order with the decision thereof shall be entered at large in the Journal,
179and shall be noted in an appendix, which shall also contain the rules of the House and of the two
180branches. [12.] (6.)
181 12. The Clerk shall prepare and make available on each day of formal session a Calendar of
182matters in order for consideration and such other memoranda as the House or the Speaker may
183direct. The Clerk shall prepare a Calendar on which shall appear any question on passage of a
184bill or resolve notwithstanding the objections of Their Excellency the Governor which may be
185considered forthwith at the direction of the House or Speaker.
186 When, in the determination of the Clerk, a volume of matters exists for the next legislative
187day, the Clerk shall be authorized to prepare and cause to be made available an advance calendar
188of the matters in order of consideration for the next legislative day and such other memoranda as
189the House or Speaker may direct. The Clerk may indicate on the advance calendar that the
190matters contained therein are subject to change.
191 The Clerk shall be authorized to dispense with preparing and making available a Calendar for
192designated formal sessions of the House only after two-thirds of the members present and voting
193consent thereto on a recorded yea and nay vote. Debate on this question shall be limited to fifteen
194minutes, no member shall speak more than three minutes, and such question shall not be subject
195to reconsideration.
196 The Clerk shall dispense with preparing and making available a Calendar for designated
197Informal Sessions of the House.
198 As soon as practicable whenever the Clerk prepares a Calendar or advance Calendar under
199this rule, they shall also cause a true copy thereof to be posted on the website of the General 11 of 141
200Court that is generally available to all members and their staff, and reasonably promptly
201thereafter the Clerk shall cause the members and their staff to be notified of the same by way of
202electronic mail. [13.] (7.)
203 [Amended Jan. 12, 1983; Jan. 11, 1985; Jan. 12, 1987; May 5, 1993; Jan. 17, 1995; Jan. 24,
2042001; Jan. 9, 2003; Jan. 26, 2005, Jan. 23, 2007; Jan. 30, 2019; Feb. 1, 2023.]
205 13. Any objection to the Calendar shall be made and disposed of before the House proceeds to
206the consideration of the Orders of the Day. [14.]
207 13A. The Clerk shall make available to all members electronically and, to the public via the
208website of the General Court, the text of all dockets and bills introduced and admitted for
209consideration in the House.
210[Adopted, Feb. 11, 2009; Jan. 30, 2019; July 7, 2021; Feb. 1, 2023.]
211 COUNSEL.
212 13B. (a) The House shall employ a full-time Counsel pursuant to section 51 of chapter 3 of
213the General Laws. The committee on Rules shall appoint a qualified person to act as Counsel at
214such compensation as the committee on Rules shall approve.
215Counsel shall serve a term of two years from the date of appointment, unless the Counsel sooner
216resigns, retires or is removed; provided, however, that the Counsel may only be removed: (i) for
217misfeasance, malfeasance or nonfeasance, as determined by agreement of the Equal Employment
218Opportunity Officer appointed pursuant to Rule 89 and the Director of Human Resources
219appointed pursuant to Rule 90 and approved by a majority vote of the committee on Rules; or (ii)
220by a majority roll call vote of the House. 12 of 141
221Counsel may employ such legal and other assistants as may be necessary in the discharge of
222Counsel’s duties, subject to the approval of the committee on Rules, and may expend with like
223approval such sums as may be necessary for the discharge of their duties.
224(b) Counsel shall be the chief legal officer of the House and shall perform all duties generally
225required of a counsel to an organization and specifically those required pursuant to any general
226or special law, rule, regulation, or order of the House. Counsel shall provide legal and legislative
227drafting services to all members regardless of party or seniority.
228 [Added Jan. 30, 2019.]
229 MEMBERS.
230 14. No member shall stand up, to the inconvenience of others, while a member is speaking; or
231be involved in disturbing conversation while another member is speaking in debate; or pass
232unnecessarily between the Speaker of the House and the member speaking; or stand in the
233passages, or in the area in front of the Chair; or stand at the Clerk's desk while a roll call is in
234progress. [16.] [Amended Jan. 12, 1987; Jan. 9, 1989; Jan. 26, 1999.]
235 14A. [Adopted Feb. 11, 2009; Omitted Jan. 29, 2015.]
236 15. When it appears to the Chair that the presence of a quorum is endangered, the Chair shall
237order the doors closed. If a quorum is doubted the Chair shall order the doors closed and
238thereafter no member shall enter or leave the House until an initial determination has been made
239as to the presence of a quorum or lack thereof; and thereafter, provided that no quorum is
240present, no member shall leave the House unless by permission of the Chair, but members shall
241be admitted, at any time. 13 of 141
242 Upon the doubting of a quorum and after ascertaining that a quorum is not present, the
243Speaker may order a recorded attendance roll call to be taken by use of the electronic roll call
244system.
245 Said roll call, if ordered, shall be taken at a time determined by the Speaker.
246 Members answering a quorum call shall vote "YES" on the roll call system. [17.] (11.)
247 [Amended Jan. 12, 1981; Feb. 22, 1982; Jan. 12, 1983; Jan. 12, 1987; Jan. 9, 1991.]
248 ETHICS.
249 16. There shall be appointed a committee on Ethics as authorized by Rule 17. The committee
250shall consist of 11 members, 7 of whom shall be appointed by the Speaker, 4 of whom shall be
251appointed by the Minority Leader.
252 A member appointed to the committee shall not be considered to be a member of the committee
253subsequent to the declaration of candidacy for any other state or federal elective office.
254 The committee shall investigate and evaluate, at the direction of the Speaker, by a sworn written
255complaint filed and delivered by a member, officer or employee to the chair, or by a majority
256vote of the members appointed to the Ethics committee, any matters relative to alleged violations
257of Rule 16A by a member, officer or employee.
258 Upon the receipt of said sworn written complaint, at the direction of the Speaker or by a
259majority vote of the members appointed to the Ethics committee, the committee shall notify any
260person named of the nature of the alleged violation and a list of prospective witnesses, and also
261shall notify said person of the final disposition and the recommendations, if any, of the
262committee. 14 of 141
263 Any member, officer, or employee of the House named relative to an alleged violation shall
264be afforded the opportunity to appear before the committee on Ethics with counsel.
265 All proceedings including the filing of the initial complaint shall be considered confidential
266information.
267 If the alleged violation received in the manner described above is deemed to have merit by a
268majority vote of the members appointed to the committee, the committee shall file a report with
269the Clerk of the House. Said report shall be a public document. The committee shall not disclose
270any allegation deemed to be frivolous or without merit.
271 If a majority appointed finds that any member, officer, or employee of the House has violated
272any provision of Rule 16A, a majority appointed may, in the case of a member, recommend a
273reprimand, censure, removal from position of authority, including leadership, chair or vice chair,
274or expulsion; and in the case of an officer or employee, a majority appointed may recommend a
275reprimand, suspension, or removal from employment.
276 Should such an alleged violation be filed with the committee regarding a member or members
277of the House Ethics committee, said member or members shall not participate in the committee
278deliberations on said alleged violation.
279 Any member, officer, or employee of the House may request in writing from the House
280committee on Ethics or from the Counsel to the House appointed pursuant to Rule 13B a
281confidential written advisory opinion on the requirements of chapters 268A and 268B of the
282General Laws as well as an opinion on any other general or special law, rule or regulation
283applicable to their official position or concerning any contemplated personal action which may 15 of 141
284conflict with their official position. The committee on Ethics or the Counsel to the House shall
285issue confidential written advisory opinions and clarification in response to said written request.
286 No member, officer or employee of the House shall be penalized in any manner for having
287acted within the guidelines of a written advisory opinion from the House committee on Ethics or
288from the Counsel to the House appointed pursuant to Rule 13B, provided that all pertinent facts
289are stated in the request for an advisory opinion.
290A written advisory opinion from the House committee on Ethics or from the Counsel to the
291House appointed pursuant to Rule 13B shall be a defense in any proceeding arising from said
292opinion or advice unless material facts were omitted or misstated by the person in the request of
293the opinion.
294 The chair of the Ethics committee may convene the committee at any time.
295 The chair shall also convene the committee at the written request of at least 5 members of the
296committee.
297 The Committee may, upon the written and signed report of two-thirds of the members of the
298committee, file a special report containing legislation without said legislation being founded
299upon petition which shall be referred under the provisions of Rule 24 and consistent with the
300provisions of Joint Rule 13, to the appropriate joint standing committee. Any special report
301containing legislation filed pursuant to this paragraph shall be germane to subject matters
302regularly considered by the committee. The committee shall not include in any such special
303report a bill that would have a fiscal impact as described in Rule 33. 16 of 141
304 Upon convening of the first annual session of the General Court and after the adoption of
305rules, all members, officers and employees of the House shall be provided with a current copy of
306the Code of Ethics contained in Rule 16A. [19.] (12A.)
307 [Amended Jan. 12, 1987; May 5, 1993; Jan. 17, 1995; Mar. 6, 1995; Jan. 14, 1997; Jan. 20,
3082011; Feb. 11, 2009; Jan. 29, 2015; Jan. 30, 2019; July 7, 2021.]
309 CODE OF ETHICS.
310 16A. (1.) While members, officers and employees should not be denied those opportunities
311available to all other citizens to acquire and retain private, economic and other interests;
312members, officers, and employees should exercise prudence in any and all such endeavors and
313make every reasonable effort to avoid transactions, activities, or obligations, which are in
314substantial conflict with or will substantially impair their independence of judgment.
315 (2.) No member, officer or employee shall solicit or accept any compensation or political
316contribution other than that provided for by law for the performance of official legislative duties.
317 (3.) No member, officer or employee shall serve as a legislative agent as defined in section 39
318of chapter 3 of the General Laws regarding any legislation before the General Court.
319 (4.) No member, officer or employee shall receive any compensation or permit any
320compensation to accrue to their beneficial interest by virtue of influence improperly exerted from
321their official position in the House.
322 (5.) No member, officer or employee shall accept employment or engage in any business or
323professional activity, which will require the disclosure of confidential information gained in the
324course of, and by reason of, their official position. 17 of 141
325 (6.) No member, officer or employee shall willfully and knowingly disclose or use
326confidential information gained in the course of their official position to further their own
327economic interest or that of any other person.
328 (7.) Except as provided in Rule 49, no member shall cast a vote for any other member, nor
329shall any officer or employee vote for any member, except that the Clerk or an assistant Clerk
330may record a vote for a member who votes late under the provisions of Rule 52, or is prohibited
331from voting from his desk due to a malfunction of the electronic roll call voting system; provided
332the Clerk's action shall not be construed as voting for said member.
333 (8.) No member shall use profane, insulting, or abusive language in the course of public
334debate in the House Chamber or in testimony before any committee of the General Court.
335 (9.) No member, officer or employee shall employ anyone from public funds who does not
336perform tasks which contribute substantially to the work of the House and which are
337commensurate with the compensation received. Unless their personnel record indicates
338otherwise, no officer or full-time employee of the House shall engage in any outside business
339activity during regular business hours, whether the House is in session or not, and all employees
340of the House are assumed to be full-time.
341 (10.) No member, officer or employee shall accept or solicit compensation for non-legislative
342services which is in excess of the usual and customary value of such services.
343 (11.) No member, officer or employee shall accept or solicit an honorarium for a speech,
344writing for publication, or other activity from any person, organization or enterprise having a
345direct interest in legislation or matters before any agency, authority, board or commission of the
346Commonwealth which is in excess of the usual and customary value of such services. 18 of 141
347 (12.) No member, officer or employee shall knowingly accept any gifts from any legislative
348or executive agent as prohibited by law. No member, officer or employee shall knowingly
349accept any gift from any person or entity having a direct interest in legislation before the General
350Court as prohibited by law. (For the purposes of this paragraph, the terms "gift" and "person"
351shall be the same as their definitions in section 1 of chapter 268B of the General Laws).
352 (13.) No member shall convert campaign funds to personal use in excess of reimbursements
353for legitimate and verifiable campaign expenditures. Members shall consider all proceeds from
354testimonial dinners and other fundraising activities as campaign funds.
355 ((14.) No member shall serve on any committee or vote on any question in which their private
356right is immediately concerned, distinct from the public interest. [19.]
357 (15.) No member, officer or employee shall violate the confidentiality of any proceeding
358before the Ethics committee. [19A.]
359 (16.) Members, officers and employees may utilize public resources to support charitable
360and community service activities consistent with the Conflict of Interest Law, G.L. c. 268A,
361pursuant to policies established by Committee on Human Resources and Employee Engagement
362pursuant to Rule 90(h)(2).
363 [Amended Jan. 12, 1981; May 5, 1993; Jan. 24, 2001; Feb. 11, 2009; Jan. 29, 2015; Jan. 30,
3642019; Jul. 7, 2021; Feb. 1, 2023.]
365 16B. The Committee on Human Resources and Employee Engagement shall develop and
366conduct an ethics law training program for every member, officer and employee of the House;
367provided further, that said training program shall include, without limitation, a review of the
368requirements and prohibitions of chapter 268A and chapter 268B of the General Laws, and the 19 of 141
369regulations of the State Ethics Commission, as they apply to legislators and legislative staff; and
370provided further, that said training program shall be offered virtually or in-person and shall be
371mandatory for all members, officers and employees.
372 [Adopted Jan. 9, 2003, Amended Feb. 11, 2009; Jan 20, 2011; Jul. 7, 2021.]
37316C. Bills involving lobbyists' reporting laws, and laws pertaining to the ethical conduct of
374public officials shall, after their first reading, be referred to the committee on Ethics, for report
375on their relation to the ethics laws of the Commonwealth. No new provisions shall be added to
376such measures by the committee, unless directly pertaining to ethics. [Adopted Feb. 11, 2009.]
377 COMMITTEES.
378 17. At the beginning of the first year of the two-year General Court, standing committees
379shall be appointed as follows:
380 A committee on Rules;
381 (to consist of 15 members).
382 A committee on Ways and Means;
383 (to consist of 35 members).
384 A committee on Bills in the Third Reading;
385 (to consist of 3 members).
386 A committee of each Floor Division;
387 (to consist of the members of each division).
388 A committee on Ethics; 20 of 141
389 (to consist of 11 members).
390 A committee on Human Resources and Employee Engagement;
391 (to consist of 13 members).
392 A committee on Post Audit and Oversight;
393 (to consist of 11 members).
394 A committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling;
395 (to consist of 11 members).
396 A committee on Global Warming and Climate Change;
397 (to consist of 11 members).
398 A committee on Federal Stimulus and Census Oversight;
399(to consist of 11 members).
400 A committee on Operations, Facilities and Security;
401(to consist of 11 members).
402 A committee on Intergovernmental Affairs;
403(to consist of 11 members).
404 Committee meetings, insofar as practicable, shall not be scheduled in conflict with formal
405sessions of the House of Representatives. [20.] (12, 12A, 12B.)
406 [Amended March 6, 1979; Sept. 16, 1981; Jan. 11, 1985; Jan. 12, 1987; May 5, 1993; Oct. 6,
4071993; May 23, 1996; Jan. 14, 1997; Jul. 17, 2003; Jan. 26, 2005, Feb. 11, 2009; Jan. 29, 2015;
408Jul. 7, 2021.] 21 of 141
409 17A. (a) For the purposes of this rule, the following terms shall, unless the context clearly
410requires otherwise, have the following meanings:
411 "Deliberation", a verbal exchange between a quorum of members of a committee attempting
412to arrive at a decision on any public business within its jurisdiction.
413 "Emergency", a sudden generally unexpected occurrence or set of circumstances demanding
414immediate action.
415 "Executive conference", any meeting or part of a meeting of a committee which is closed to
416certain persons for deliberation on certain matters.
417 "Executive session", any meeting or part of a meeting of a committee wherein the committee
418is voting on legislation and where public participation is limited to observance.
419 "Meeting", any corporal convening and deliberation of a committee for which a quorum is
420required in order to make a decision at which any public policy matter over which the committee
421has supervision, control, jurisdiction or advisory power is discussed or considered; provided,
422however, that "meeting" shall not include an on-site visitation or inspection of any project or
423program.
424 "Quorum", a simple majority of a committee unless otherwise defined by constitution, rule or
425law applicable to such committee; provided further, that a quorum shall be presumed to be
426present unless otherwise doubted.
427 (b) All meetings, except executive conferences, of House standing and special committees,
428shall be open to the public and any person shall be permitted to attend any meeting except as
429otherwise provided pursuant to this rule or Rule 7A. All meetings, except executive conferences,
430of House standing and special committees shall be conducted in-person with the option of remote 22 of 141
431participation available to both members of such committees and the public; provided, however,
432that the chair of such committees shall be physically present at the hearing location where in-
433person public testimony is offered. All House standing and special committees, in the conduct of
434their hearings, shall utilize, to the extent practicable, online platforms or systems that allow for
435synchronous, audio-visual communication between the chair of the committee and individuals
436offering testimony remotely. All hearings of House standing and special committees shall be
437publicly livestreamed on the website of the General Court and shall display and transmit, in real-
438time, the audio-visual attributes of public testimony offered remotely; provided further, that said
439livestream shall be archived on the website of the General Court for the duration of the
440legislative session. Members of House standing and special committees may participate
441remotely and shall have the same privileges, rights and responsibilities as if the member was
442physically present at the hearing location, and other members of the House may offer remote
443testimony before said committees of which they are not a member. The chair of any House
444standing or special committee conducting a hearing shall use best efforts to prioritize the
445testimony of those physically present at the hearing location and may, in their discretion, allow
446individuals participating in-person a greater amount of time to testify than those participating
447remotely. All notices of hearings shall include instructions on how to offer testimony both in-
448person and remotely.
449 No quorum of a committee shall meet in private for the purpose of deliberation except as
450provided pursuant to this rule.
451 No executive session shall be held until: (i) the committee has first convened in an open
452session for which notice has been given; (ii) the presiding officer has stated the authorized
453purpose of the executive session; (iii) a majority of the members of the committee present have 23 of 141
454voted to go into executive session and the vote of each member has been recorded on a roll call
455vote and entered into the minutes: and (iv) the presiding officer has stated before the executive
456session if the committee will reconvene after the executive session.
457 (c) Executive conferences shall be held only for the following purposes: (i) to discuss the
458reputation, character, physical condition or mental health rather than the professional
459competence of a member, officer or employee; (ii) to consider the discipline or dismissal of, or to
460hear complaints or charges brought against a member, officer or employee; (iii) to discuss
461strategy with respect to litigation if an executive session or other open meeting may have a
462detrimental effect on the legal position of the committee; or (iv) to consider the purchase,
463exchange, lease or value of real property, if such discussions may have a detrimental effect on
464the negotiating position of the Commonwealth or a person, firm or corporation.
465 A member, officer or employee subject to an executive conference pursuant to clause (i) or
466clause (ii) shall be notified in writing no less than 48 hours prior to the proposed executive
467conference; provided, however, that upon agreement of the parties involved, the notification
468requirements of clause (i) and clause (ii) may be waived. Upon request of the member, officer or
469employee subject to an executive conference pursuant to clause (i) or clause (ii) the executive
470conference shall be open to the public.
471 A member, officer or employee subject to an executive conference pursuant to clause (i) or
472clause (ii) shall have the right to: (a) be present at such executive conference during discussions
473or considerations which involve that member, officer or employee; (b) have counsel or a
474representative of their own choosing present and attending for the purpose of advising said
475member, officer or employee; provided, however, that said counsel or representative shall not 24 of 141
476actively participate in the executive conference; and (c) to speak on their own behalf to the
477committee assembled in executive conference.
478 (d) This rule shall not apply to any chance meeting or social meeting at which matters relating
479to official business are discussed so long as no final agreement is reached. No chance meeting or
480social meeting shall be used in circumvention of the spirit or requirements of this section to
481discuss or act upon a matter over which the committee has supervision, control, jurisdiction, or
482advisory power.
483 (e) Except pursuant to an emergency, a notice and agenda of every meeting of a committee
484subject to this rule shall be filed with the Clerk of the House, publicly posted by the Clerk on the
485bulletin board outside the Clerk's Office and in such other places as are designated in advance for
486such purpose by said Clerk, made available to all members electronically and made available to
487the public via the website of the General Court at least forty-eight hours, including Saturdays,
488but not Sundays and legal holidays, prior to the time of such meeting and a list of the bills,
489petitions, and resolutions to be considered for a vote or other action by the committee. The notice
490shall include the date, time and place of such meeting. Such filing and posting shall be the
491responsibility of the committee scheduling such meeting. If public testimony is being solicited,
492agendas may include an electronic mail address and physical mail address for the submission of
493testimony and the committee shall make reasonable efforts to ensure diversity among those from
494whom testimony is solicited. The notice and posting requirements shall not apply to executive
495conferences held pursuant to clause (i) or clause (ii) of part (c) of this rule unless the member,
496officer or employee subject to the executive conference requests that the executive conference be
497open to the public. 25 of 141
498 (f) A committee shall maintain accurate records of its meetings and hearings setting forth the
499date, time and place thereof, and recording any action taken at each meeting, hearing, executive
500conference or executive session. All votes requested to be taken in executive sessions shall be
501recorded roll call votes and shall become a part of the record of said executive sessions. The
502record of each meeting shall become a public record and be available to the public; provided,
503however, that the records of any executive conference shall remain confidential as long as
504publication may defeat the lawful purposes of the executive conference.
505 (g) Upon prior notification and approval of the chair, a meeting of a committee may be
506recorded by a person in attendance by means of a recorder or any other means of audio/visual
507reproduction; provided, however, that said recording shall not interfere with the conduct of the
508meeting. Executive conferences conducted pursuant to clause (i) or clause (11) of part (c) of this
509rule shall not be recorded unless upon the request of the member, officer or employee who is
510subject to said executive conference, and then only at such member's, officer's or employee's
511expense. Executive conferences conducted pursuant to clause (iii) or (iv) of part (c) of this rule
512may be recorded at the discretion of the chair.
513 (h) Copies of all redrafted bills that are to be voted on at an executive session by the House
514Ways and Means Committee shall be available to all members of the committee electronically in
515the form they will be considered no less than twenty-four hours prior to their consideration;
516provided, however, that said committee may vote on a bill that has not been available for said
517period of time by vote of a majority of the committee members present.
518 [Adopted Nov. 17, 1983; Amended Jan. 12, 1987; Jan. 9, 1991; May 5, 1993; Jan. 17, 1995;
519Jan. 14, 1997; Jan. 9, 2003, Jan. 23, 2007, Feb. 11, 2009; Jan. 30, 2019; Jul. 7, 2021; Feb. 1,
5202023.] 26 of 141
521 17B. Whenever any member of a House committee present at the committee meeting so
522requests, the vote to give any legislation a favorable or adverse report shall be a recorded vote of
523the full committee. Such votes shall be recorded on appropriate forms that show all votes for and
524against the particular committee action; provided, that votes may also be recorded in LAWS. The
525record of all such roll calls shall be kept in the offices of the committee and shall include the
526aggregate tally of members voting in the affirmative, members not voting or members reserving
527their rights, and the names of members voting in the negative on an individual bill, and shall be
528posted on the website of the General Court within 48 hours of the vote for public inspection.
529 No report of a House committee on any legislation shall be final until those members of the
530committee present and voting with the majority have been given the opportunity to sign such
531appropriate forms before the report is made to the House. No signature shall be valid unless the
532forms to which the signatures are affixed include the substantially complete text of the legislation
533being reported.
534 [Adopted Nov. 17, 1983; Amended Jan. 12, 1987, Amended Jan. 29, 2015; Jul. 7, 2021; Feb.
5351, 2023.]
536 17C. There shall be a committee on Human Resources and Employee Engagement on the part
537of the House consisting of thirteen members.
538 Said committee shall discharge its duties pursuant to the Rules, including Rule 16B and Rules
53988 through 100, and shall also be responsible for the allocation of office space as equitably as
540possible among the various members and joint and standing committees. The committee shall
541allocate space among the various committees on the part of the House taking into account the
542work load, duties and responsibilities and size of staff of each. 27 of 141
543 The Speaker may make temporary office assignments in accordance with the foregoing
544principles.
545 The committee on Human Resources and Employee Engagement may from time to time make
546changes in the assignment of office space for committees and the various staffs in accordance
547with the established standards.
548 Said committee shall establish the staffing levels and positions for each joint and standing
549committee of the House together with a classification plan for all employees of the House of
550Representatives.
551 For each person who is employed or is to be employed by a joint or standing committee on
552the part of the House, each committee chair shall nominate each such person and the House
553members of the committee by a majority vote shall vote on whether to approve each said
554nominee. The House members of the committee shall approve such persons whose character and
555qualifications are acceptable to the majority of the House members of the committee and are in
556accordance with the qualifications established by the Human Resources and Employee
557Engagement committee.
558 The House staff members of each committee shall be appointed solely on the basis of fitness
559to perform the duties of their respective positions, consistent with section 4 of chapter 151B of
560the General Laws. The committee staff shall not:
561 (1) engage in any work other than legislative business during business hours unless pursuant
562to the pro-bono service policy or charitable and community service activity policy established by
563the committee on Human Resources and Employee Engagement pursuant to Rule 90(h)(2); and
564 (2) be assigned any duties other than those pertaining to legislative business. 28 of 141
565 The committee shall meet on request of the chair or any 3 members of the committee. Any
566such meeting requested shall be convened on or within the fifth business day following such
567request. All such requests shall be in writing and forwarded to the chair and each member of the
568committee.
569 Funds shall be allocated from the budget to carry out the determination of the committee.
570 [Adopted Jan. 11, 1985; Amended Jan. 16, 1985; Jan. 12, 1987; Jan. 9, 1991; Feb. 11, 2009;
571Jan. 29, 2015; Jan. 30, 2019; July 7, 2021; Feb. 1, 2023.]
572 17D. [Omitted Jan. 26, 2005.]
573 17E. [Omitted Jan. 26, 2005.]
574 17F. [Omitted Jan. 26, 2005.]
575 17G. [Omitted Jul. 7, 2021.]
576 18. The Speaker shall appoint, and may recommend the removal of, the Speaker pro
577Tempore, the Majority Floor Leader, Assistant Majority Floor Leader and two Second Assistant
578Majority Floor Leaders. The Minority Leader shall appoint, and may recommend the removal of,
579the Assistant Minority Floor Leader, Second Assistant Minority Floor Leader, and two Third
580Assistant Minority Floor Leaders, Ranking minority member of Ways and Means, two Assistant
581Ranking minority members of the Ways and Means committee, Ranking minority member of the
582committee on Rules, Ranking minority member of the committee on Financial Services, Ranking
583minority member of the committee on Health Care Financing, Ranking minority member of the
584committee on the Judiciary, Ranking minority member of the committee on Bonding, Capital
585Expenditures, and State Assets, Ranking minority member of the committee on Public Safety 29 of 141
586and Homeland Security, Ranking minority member of the committee on Transportation and
587Ranking minority member of the committee on Economic Development and Emerging
588Technologies. The Minority Leader shall be that member of the minority party who is selected
589for that position by the members of their party.
590 Each of the foregoing appointments or removals shall be ratified by a majority vote of the
591respective party caucus. In the event that an appointment is rejected by such caucus another
592appointment shall be made by the person designated to make the initial appointment, which shall
593also be subject to ratification in the same manner.
594 The Speaker shall appoint, and may recommend the removal of, the chair of each standing
595committee. The Speaker shall appoint, and may recommend the removal of, the vice chair and
596assistant vice chair of the Ways and Means committee, the vice chair of the Post Audit and
597Oversight committee, the vice chair of the committee on Rules, the vice chair of the committee
598on Revenue, the vice chair of the committee on Financial Services, the vice chair of the
599committee on Health Care Financing, the vice chair of the committee on Bonding, Capital
600Expenditures, and State Assets, the vice chair of the committee on State Administration and
601Regulatory Oversight, and the vice chair of the committee on Economic Development and
602Emerging Technologies.
603 The majority party shall then vote to accept or reject each such appointment or
604recommendation for removal by a majority vote.
605 In the event that any such appointment is rejected by the caucus, the procedure of this rule
606shall be repeated until an appointment for the said position has been approved by the caucus. A
607vacancy in any position to which the provisions of this section apply shall be filled in the same
608manner as provided in this section for original appointment. 30 of 141
609No member shall receive more than one stipend pursuant to section 9B of chapter 3 of the
610General Laws.
611 The Speaker and the Minority Leader may, without a majority vote of their respective parties,
612remove a member appointed to a leadership position from said position pursuant to this rule if
613the member has been criminally indicted by a court of competent jurisdiction.
614 [Amended Jan. 16, 1979; Nov. 17, 1983; Jan. 11, 1985; Jan. 9, 1991; Jan. 14, 1997; Jan. 23,
6152007; Feb. 11, 2009; Jan 23, 2013; Jan. 29, 2015; Feb. 19, 2015; Jan. 30, 2019; Feb. 1, 2023.]
616 18A. There shall be 1 member of the minority party on all committees of conference and 1 on
617the committee on Bills in the Third Reading. On all other standing and joint committees, the
618percent of minority party membership shall be at least equal to the percent of minority party
619membership in the House of Representatives as of the first day of the session; provided, further,
620that where such percentage results in a fraction of a number, the fraction shall be rounded off to
621the nearest whole; provided, however, that the minority party shall under no circumstances have
622less than 4 members on the committee on Ethics, 4 on the committee on Human Resources and
623Employee Engagement , 3 on the committee on Rules and 7 on the committee on Ways and
624Means. In no case shall minority party representation be less than 2 members on all other
625standing and joint committees.
626 The Speaker and the Minority Leader shall appoint the members of their respective party
627caucuses to be assigned to each standing committee. The Speaker shall appoint the vice chair of
628each standing committee. The appointments, except those to which Rule 18 applies, shall be
629voted upon together and shall be subject to ratification by majority vote of the appropriate party
630caucus. 31 of 141
631No member shall be removed from a standing committee except upon the recommendation of the
632Speaker or Minority Leader, as the case may be, subject to the ratification by their respective
633caucuses; provided, however, that the Speaker and the Minority Leader may, without a majority
634vote of their respective parties, remove a member appointed to a standing committee pursuant to
635this rule if the member has been criminally indicted by a court of competent jurisdiction; and
636provided further, that if any vacancy occurs in a position to which Rule 18 does not apply,
637subsequent to the initial ratification, the Speaker or Minority Leader shall fill such vacancy.
638 The Speaker shall announce committee appointments of majority party members, and the
639member first named shall be chair, and the second named member shall be vice-chair. The
640Minority Leader shall announce committee appointments of minority party members. (13.)
641 [Adopted Jan. 11, 1985; Amended Jan. 12, 1987; Jan. 9, 1991; Jan. 14, 1997; Feb. 11, 2009;
642Jan. 30, 2019.]
643 18B. All votes on ratification by the caucus required by these rules shall be by written ballot
644and shall require a majority of those present and voting; provided, however, that if a motion to
645ratify the appointments by acclamation is made and seconded, no written ballot shall be required.
646[Adopted Jan. 11, 1985.]
647 18C. [Adopted, Jan. 11, 1985, Omitted Jan. 24, 2001.]
648 19. A majority and minority party caucus may be called by the Speaker or Minority Leader,
649respectively, or upon petition of 25 percent of the members of the respective party caucus. A
650caucus may entertain resolutions, motions, or other means of ascertaining the sense of the
651respective party members on any subject. (13B.)
652 [Adopted Nov. 17, 1983; Amended Jan. 11, 1985; Jan. 29, 2015.] 32 of 141
653 19A. The majority party and minority party shall establish caucus rules that shall dictate the
654procedures of each caucus.
655 19B. Any member caucus or group of members organized around a common legislative
656agenda that utilizes House resources, including staff time, shall register with the House
657Committee on Rules as a Legislative Member Organization, unless it is a party caucus. The chair
658of the House Committee on Rules shall notify the Clerk of the House of any Legislative Member
659Organization registering with the Committee and shall maintain a list of all Legislative Member
660Organizations.
661 Registration shall include the name of the Legislative Member Organization, its statement of
662purpose, identification of its members and officers, and a certification signed by its chair that any
663state resources used for the purposes of the Legislative Member Organization shall be not be
664used for any partisan political end.
665 A Legislative Member Organization may not include a non-legislator. Senators may belong
666to the Legislative Member Organization, but in order to use House resources at least one House
667member shall be an officer of the Legislative Member Organization. A Legislative Member
668Organization may, without limitation, sponsor informational or educational events, may invite
669outside speakers and groups to make presentations to the members of the Legislative Member
670Organization and others, and may distribute any report, analysis, or other research material
671prepared by others provided that the identity of the person or organization authoring the work is
672fully disclosed.
673 A member’s official stationery may list his or her membership in a Legislative Member
674Organization. 33 of 141
675 [Adopted Nov. 17, 1983; Amended Jan. 14, 1997; Jul. 7, 2021; Feb. 1, 2023.]
676 20. The committee on Ways and Means shall report in appropriation bills the total amount
677appropriated. The General Appropriation Bill shall be available to the members at least 7
678calendar days prior to consideration thereof by the House. [25.] (27A.)
679 [Amended Jan. 11, 1985; Mar. 24, 1986; Jan. 14, 1997; Jan. 26, 2005; Jan. 29, 2015.]
680 20A. (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of Rule 33A, amendments to the General
681Appropriation Bill shall be properly filed with the Clerk in an electronic format to be determined
682by the Clerk as directed by the Speaker; provided that the Clerk shall notify by electronic
683communication the primary sponsor of each amendment of the receipt of such amendment and
684the number assigned by said Clerk to the amendment; provided further, that the Clerk shall print
685each amendment so filed electronically and such printed copy shall be considered to be the
686official amendment for that bill. Amendments to said General Appropriation Bill shall be filed
687with the Clerk by 5 o’clock P.M. on the third business day subsequent to the bill being made
688available in a format to be determined by the Clerk as directed by the Speaker pursuant to Rule
68920B and release of said bill by said Clerk; provided, that if the release of said bill by said Clerk
690occurs before the hour of 2 o’clock P.M., then the same day in which said bill was released shall
691be considered the first business day. Otherwise, the day following the release shall be considered
692the first business day.
693 (b)(1) The Clerk, with the assistance of the committee on Ways and Means, shall categorize
694the subject-matter of the amendments and arrange such amendments for consideration
695sequentially by subject as appearing in the published version of the General Appropriation Bill,
696or the Clerk, with the assistance of the committee on Ways and Means, shall categorize the 34 of 141
697subject-matter of the amendments and arrange such subject matters for consideration as
698determined by the committee on Ways and Means. Debate on the General Appropriation Bill
699shall not commence until a date and time to be determined by the House which is subsequent to
700the designated time established for filing of amendments pursuant to subsection (a) of this rule.
701 (2) Before the main question on the General Appropriation Bill is placed before the House, an
702amendment may be withdrawn at the request of the primary sponsor of the amendment or
703postponed by the committee on Ways and Means; provided, that further consideration of any
704amendment so postponed shall take place immediately subsequent to consideration of the
705amendments within the particular subject-matter to which the postponed amendment was
706assigned according to the provisions of this subparagraph; provided, that if more than one
707amendment is so postponed, subsequent consideration of said amendments shall be in the order
708determined by the committee on Ways and Means; provided further, an amendment so postponed
709shall not be subsequently considered outside of its assigned subject-matter; and provided further,
710that perfecting or substitute amendments, including, but not limited to an amendment
711consolidating more than one amendment, may be submitted by the committee on Ways and
712Means during consideration of the subject category to which the amendment or amendments
713were assigned. Any amendment may be removed from a consolidated amendment by the
714primary sponsor of the amendment. Any such amendment so removed from a consolidated
715amendment shall be offered as an amendment to the General Appropriation Bill, to be acted upon
716in the first degree before action is taken on the consolidated amendment, except that any
717amendment so removed from the consolidated amendment may be moved by the committee on
718Ways and Means from one subject category to another subject category not yet disposed of in the
719General Appropriation Bill. 35 of 141
720 (3) A consolidated amendment to the General Appropriation Bill, offered by the committee on
721Ways and Means, shall contain a fiscal note indicating its total expenditures.
722 (4) Notwithstanding Rule 74, a consolidated amendment offered by the committee on Ways
723and Means, may not be divided.
724 (c) Except for consolidated amendments or perfecting amendments offered by the committee
725on Ways and Means, no proposition on a subject different from the amendment under
726consideration shall be admitted under color of a further amendment to the General Appropriation
727Bill. A consolidated amendment to the General Appropriation Bill, offered by the committee on
728Ways and Means, shall be a motion offering an amendment in the second degree.
729 (d) Any amendment to the General Appropriation Bill not complying with this rule shall be
730considered withdrawn; provided that, any such amendments shall be published as part of the
731amendment list published by the committee on Ways and Means.
732 [Adopted Jan. 24, 2001; Amended Jan. 9, 2003; Jan. 26, 2005; Jan. 23, 2007; Jan. 20, 2011;
733Jan. 29, 2015; Feb. 1, 2023.]
734 20B. When the General Appropriation Bill is reported by the committee on Ways and Means,
735it shall be made available to all members electronically and to the public via the website of the
736General Court in a format to be determined by the Speaker in consultation with the Clerk. The
737committee on Ways and Means shall provide the membership with an electronic copy of its
738proposed text of said General Appropriation Bill, and an executive summary which shall include
739a list of outside sections, and a short summary of each outside section prior to full House
740consideration of such bill. When the House considers said General Appropriation Bill, it shall be
741read a second time; provided further that amendments relative to enhancing or reducing revenue 36 of 141
742shall only be considered prior to the third reading of said bill to be in order, and that all other
743amendments to the General Appropriations Bill shall only be considered subsequent to the third
744reading of said bill.
745 [Adopted Jan. 9, 2003, Amended Jan. 23, 2007; Feb. 11, 2009; Feb. 1, 2023.]
746 21. Whenever the committee on Ways and Means reports an appropriation bill or capital
747outlay bill, it shall make available to the members a report which includes an explanation of any
748increase or decrease of five percent or more which results in an increase or decrease of one
749million dollars or more for any item for which the Governor has made a recommendation, and an
750explanation for the deletion of an item recommended by the Governor, and for the addition of an
751item for which the Governor has made no recommendation. [25A.] (27A.)
752 22. Bills and resolves when ordered to a third reading shall be referred forthwith to the
753committee on Bills in the Third Reading, which shall examine and correct them, for the purpose
754of avoiding repetitions and unconstitutional provisions, and insuring accuracy in the text and
755references, and consistency with the language of existing statutes; but any change in the sense or
756legal effect, or any material change in construction, shall be reported to the House as an
757amendment.
758 The committee on Bills in the Third Reading may consolidate into 1 bill any 2 or more related
759bills referred to it, whenever legislation may be simplified thereby.
760 Resolutions received from and adopted by the Senate or introduced or reported into the
761House, after they are read and before they are adopted, shall be referred to the committee on
762Bills in the Third Reading. 37 of 141
763 Amendments of bills, resolves and resolutions adopted by the Senate and sent to the House
764for concurrence, shall, subsequently to the procedure required by Rule 35 in respect to
765amendments, also be referred, in like manner, to the committee on Bills in the Third Reading.
766 When a bill, resolve or resolution has been so referred, no further action shall be taken until a
767report thereon has been made by the committee. Accompanying said report shall be a written
768explanation prepared by the committee defining any changes made in a bill, resolve or resolution
769so as to facilitate the proceedings of the House.
770 If a bill or resolve referred to the committee on Bills in the Third Reading requires a two-
771thirds vote because it contains an emergency preamble, or if it provides for the borrowing of
772money by the Commonwealth and comes within the provisions of Section 3 of Article LXII of
773the Amendments to the Constitution, or provides for the giving, loaning or pledging of the credit
774of the Commonwealth and comes within the provisions of Section 1 of Article LXII (as amended
775by Article LXXXIV) of the Amendments to the Constitution, or provides, upon recommendation
776of the Governor, for a special law relating to an individual city or town and comes within the
777provisions of clause (2) of Section 8 of Article LXXXIX of the Amendments to the Constitution
778or provides for environmental protection within the provisions of Article XLIX as amended by
779Article XCVII, the committee shall plainly indicate the fact on the outside of the bill or resolve,
780or on a wrapper or label attached thereto. [26.] (33.)
781 [Amended Jan. 12, 1983; Jan. 11, 1985; May 5, 1993; Jan. 29, 2015; Feb. 1, 2023.]
782 23. Bills and resolves prepared for final passage shall be certified by the Clerk of the House,
783after comparison, to be the same as the bills or resolves passed to be engrossed; and if found to
784be properly prepared, the Clerk shall so endorse on the envelope thereof; and the question on 38 of 141
785enactment or final passage or adopting an emergency preamble shall be taken thereon, without
786further reading, unless specifically ordered.
787 When a bill prepared for final passage contains an emergency preamble or when it provides
788for the borrowing of money by the Commonwealth and comes within the provisions of Section 3
789of Article LXII of the Amendments to the Constitution, or provides for the giving, loaning or
790pledging of the credit of the Commonwealth and comes within the provisions of Section 1 of
791Article LXII (as amended by Article LXXXIV) of the Amendments to the Constitution, or
792provides, upon recommendation of the Governor, for a special law relating to an individual city
793or town and comes within the provisions of clause (2) of Section 8 of Article LXXXIX of the
794Amendments to the Constitution, or provides for environmental protection within the provisions
795of Article XLIX as amended by Article XCVII, the Clerk shall plainly indicate the fact on the
796envelope thereof. [27.] (34.) [See Rule 40.]
797 [Amended Jan. 12, 1983; Jan. 29, 2015.]
798 23A. No member of the House, except the Speaker, Speaker pro Tempore, Majority Leader,
799Assistant Majority Leader, Second Assistant Majority Leader, Minority Leader, Assistant
800Minority Leader, Second Assistant Minority Leader, Third Assistant Minority Leader, Vice-
801Chairperson of the Committee on Ways and Means, Assistant Vice-Chairperson of the
802Committee on Ways and Means and committee chairs with respect to committee business, shall
803receive privileges or compensation for postage which is greater than seventy-five percent of the
804amount allowed as standard practice during the 186th biennial session of the General Court, as
805determined by the House Business Manager.
806 [Adopted Jan. 11, 1985; Amended Jan. 24, 2001; Jan. 26, 2005; Jan. 20, 2011; Feb. 1, 2023.] 39 of 141
807 24. (a) (1) Petitions, recommendations and reports of state officials, departments,
808commissions including legislative commissions, and boards, special reports including legislation
809initiated by the Committee on Ethics pursuant to rule 16, and reports of special committees and
810commissions including legislative commissions, shall be filed with the Clerk in a format to be
811determined by said Clerk, who shall, unless they are subject to other provisions of these rules or
812the rules of the two branches, refer them, with the approval of the Speaker, to the appropriate
813committees, subject to such change of reference as the House may make. The reading of all such
814documents may be dispensed with, but they shall be entered in the Journal of the same or the
815next legislative day after such reference except as provided in Joint Rule 13.
816 (2) All orders, including motions or orders proposed for joint adoption, resolutions and other
817papers intended for presentation, except those hereinbefore mentioned, shall be filed with the
818Clerk in a format to be determined by said Clerk, who shall, prior to the procedure required by
819other provisions of these rules or of the rules of the two branches, refer them to the committee on
820Rules.
821 (b) Resolutions for adoption by the House only or resolutions for joint adoption shall only be
822considered for adoption in the House if the resolution meets the criteria set forth in this rule.
823 (c) Resolutions shall consist of: (i) no more than 5 clauses beginning with the word
824“WHEREAS”, which shall contain statements of facts or opinions; and (ii) no more than 2
825clauses beginning with the word “RESOLVED”.
826 (d) Resolutions shall recognize, honor, commend, celebrate or commemorate a momentous
827achievement, special occasion or significant event or date; provided, however, that the following
828resolutions shall not be considered for adoption: 40 of 141
829 (i) resolutions recognizing, honoring, commending, celebrating or commemorating the
830birthday of a person under the age of 80;
831 (ii) resolutions recognizing, honoring, commending, celebrating or commemorating a
832wedding anniversary of a married couple of less than 50 years,
833 (iii) resolutions recognizing, honoring, commending, celebrating or commemorating an
834anniversary of an organization of less than 20 years;
835 (iv) resolutions recognizing, honoring, commending, celebrating or commemorating a class
836reunion;
837 (v) resolutions recognizing, honoring, commending, celebrating or commemorating a for-
838profit organization;
839 (iv) resolutions proclaiming certain days, weeks or months;
840 (vii) resolutions that includes a statement of policy or ideology.
841 (e) Suspension of subsections (b) through (d) of this rule shall require unanimous consent of
842the members present.
843 (3) Petitions and other papers so filed which are subject to the provisions of Joint Rule 7A,
8447B, or 9 shall be referred by the Clerk to the committee on Rules. Petitions and other papers so
845filed, which are subject to the provisions of the second paragraph of Joint Rule 12, shall, prior to
846the procedure required by said rule, be referred by the Clerk to the committee on Rules. The
847reading of all such papers may be dispensed with, but they shall be entered in the Journal of the
848same or the next legislative day after such reference. 41 of 141
849 (4) Matters which have been placed on file during the preceding year may be taken from the
850files by the Clerk upon request of any member or member-elect; and matters so taken from the
851files shall be referred or otherwise disposed of as provided above.
852 (5) Recommendations and special reports of state officials, departments, commissions and
853boards, reports of special committees and commissions, bills and resolves accompanying
854petitions, recommendations and reports, and resolutions shall be made available under the
855direction of the Clerk, who may cause to be made available, with the approval of the Speaker,
856any other documents filed as herein provided.
857 (6) All such legislation and reports filed with the Clerk shall be submitted in a format
858prescribed by said Clerk. Said documents shall contain the name or names of the primary
859sponsors and a list of the names of all petitioners praying for the legislation. Additional names
860may be added to the list of the petitioners; provided, however, that, such additional names shall
861be submitted in a format to be determined by the Clerk.
862 (7) Any petition so submitted that is a refile of a measure submitted in a previous session shall
863include, in the appropriate space provided, the session year for which the measure was filed and
864the House or Senate bill number or docket number assigned to such measure in such previous
865session.
866 (8) Debate upon the suspension of this rule shall be limited to 10 minutes, 3 minutes for each
867member, and the Speaker shall recognize the member presenting the order, resolution or petition
868first; provided, however, that suspension of this rule shall require unanimous consent of the
869members present. Any order, except such order that would amend the Rules of the House,
870resolution or petition referred to the committee on Rules after the question of suspension of this
871rule has been negatived, or any order, resolution or petition filed after the beginning of the 42 of 141
872session and referred to the committee on Rules, shall not be discharged from said committee
873except by unanimous consent of the House. Motions to discharge the committee on Rules shall
874be subject to the provisions of paragraph 2 of Rule 28. [28.] (20.) [See Rules 36 and 85.]
875 [Amended April 27, 1981; Jan. 9, 1989; Jan. 9, 1991; Jan. 26, 2005; Feb. 11, 2009; Jan. 29,
8762015; Jan. 30, 2019; Jul. 7, 2021; Feb. 1, 2023.]
877 25. Every petition for legislation shall be accompanied by a bill or resolve embodying the
878legislation prayed for. [29.] [See Joint Rule 12.]
879 26. When the object of an application can be secured without a special act under existing
880laws, or, without detriment to the public interests, by a general law, the committee to which the
881matter is referred shall report such general law or ought not to pass, as the case may be. The
882committee may report a special law on matters referred to it upon (1) a petition filed or approved
883by the voters of a city or town, or the mayor and city council, or other legislative body, of a city,
884or the town meeting of a town, with respect to a law relating to that city or town; (2) a
885recommendation by the Governor; or (3) matters relating to erecting and constituting
886metropolitan or regional entities, embracing any two or more cities and towns, or established
887with other than existing city or town boundaries, for any general or special public purpose or
888purposes. [30.] (16.) [See Joint Rule 7.]
889 [Amended Feb. 11, 2009.]
890 27. With the exception of matters referred to the committee on Rules under the provisions of
891paragraph (3) of Rule 24, committees shall report on all matters referred to them. The committee
892on Ways and Means shall report the General Appropriation Bill not later than the second
893Wednesday of May; and provided further that said committee shall make available to the 43 of 141
894members all data compiled for justification of budgetary recommendations in all appropriation
895bills. [33.]
896 [Amended April 18, 1979; Jan. 14, 1997; Jan. 29, 2015.]
897 27A. [Omitted Jan. 23, 2007.]
898 28. (1) Motions directing the committee on Ways and Means to report certain matters to the
899House, or motions discharging said committees from further consideration of certain matters,
900shall not be considered until the expiration of seven calendar days and shall require a majority
901vote of the members present and voting for adoption. Committees so directed to report shall file
902a report with the Clerk within 4 legislative days. The committee on Ways and Means may not be
903directed to report or be discharged from further consideration of any appropriation or capital
904outlay measure.
905 (2) The committee on Rules, except as provided in Rule 24, and the committee on Bills in the
906Third Reading shall not be discharged from consideration of any measure or be directed to report
907on any measure within 10 calendar days of its reference without the unanimous consent of the
908House, or after such 10 day period except by a vote of a majority of the members present and
909voting thereon.
910 (3) Matters discharged under the provisions of this rule shall be placed in the Orders of the
911Day for the next sitting. Petitions discharged under the provisions of this rule shall be considered
912as favorably reported and the bill, resolve, resolution or order accompanying such petitions shall
913be placed in the Orders of the Day for the next sitting.
914 (4) During the last week of the session, the provisions of paragraphs (1) and (3) of this rule
915shall be inoperative. 44 of 141
916 (5) A second motion to discharge a matter from a committee or a second motion to direct a
917committee to report a matter shall not be entertained until the first such motion has been disposed
918of.
919 (6) As an alternative procedure to that provided under the provisions of this rule, the members
920of the House may, by filing a petition signed by a majority of the members elected to the House,
921discharge the House committee on Ways and Means, the House committee on Bills in the Third
922Reading, and the House committee on Rules from further consideration of a legislative matter.
923Seven days following the filing of the petition with the House Clerk, the committee shall be
924discharged from further consideration of the legislative matter specified in the petition and the
925House Clerk shall place the matter in the Orders of the Day for the next calendar day that the
926House is meeting.
927 (7) For the purpose of this rule, matters not appearing on the Calendar which are not before
928any committee shall be deemed to be before the Rules committee. Notwithstanding the previous
929sentence, a bill which has been engrossed by the House and Senate shall be placed before the
930House for enactment. Any member may request to the House that a matter engrossed in the
931House and Senate, returned for final passage by the engrossing division, and reviewed and
932released by the Committee on Bills in Third Reading be placed before the House for enactment.
933The Speaker shall, in response to such a request of a member, put the matter before the House at
934the conclusion of the matter then pending.
935 (8) This rule shall not be suspended unless by unanimous consent of the members present.
936(27C, 32A.)
937 [Amended Jan. 12, 1981; April 27, 1981; Jan. 12, 1983; Nov. 17, 1983; Jan. 11, 1985; Jan. 9,
9381989; Jan. 9, 1991; Jan. 24, 2001; Jan. 9, 2003; Jan. 26, 2005, Jan. 23, 2007; Jan. 29, 2015.] 45 of 141
939 28A. The committee on Bills in the Third Reading shall report on a legislative matter not later
940than 45 days following the day the matter was referred to it. The Clerk shall indicate on the
941Calendar entry of every matter before the committee on Bills in the Third Reading the date that
942said matter was referred to said committee.
943 [Adopted Jan. 11, 1985; Amended Jan. 9, 2003; Jan. 29, 2015.]
944 REGULAR COURSE OF PROCEEDINGS.
945 Petitions.
946 29. The member presenting a petition shall endorse their name thereon; and the reading
947thereof shall be dispensed with, unless specially ordered. [37.] (18.)
948 [Amended Jan. 11, 1985; Jan. 30, 2019.]
949Motions Contemplating Legislation, etc.
950 30. All motions contemplating legislation shall be founded upon petition, except as follows:
951 The committee on Ways and Means may originate and report appropriation bills as provided
952in Rule 20. Messages from the Governor shall, unless otherwise ordered, be referred to the
953appropriate committee, which may report by bill or otherwise thereon. A similar disposition
954shall, unless otherwise ordered, be made of reports by state officers and committees authorized to
955report to the Legislature, and similar action may be had thereon.
956 Messages from the Governor returning appropriation bills, or parts of appropriation bills, with
957objections or reductions of sections or items thereof, shall be reconsidered subsequent to a report
958of the committee on Ways and Means. Messages or recommendations from the Governor shall
959be filed with the Clerk in a format to be determined by the Clerk. [40.] (19.) 46 of 141
960 [Amended Jan. 24, 2001.]
961 Bills and Resolves.
962 31. Bills shall be drafted in a format approved by the Counsel to the House and submitted in a
963format to be determined by the Clerk. Bills amending existing laws shall not provide for striking
964words from, or inserting words in, such laws, unless such course is best calculated to show
965clearly the subject and nature of the amendment. No repealed law, and no part of any repealed
966law, shall be re-enacted merely by reference. [42.] (17.)
967 [Amended Jan. 9, 2003; Jan. 26, 2005; Jan. 29, 2015.]
968 32. If a committee to which a bill is referred reports that the same ought not to pass, the
969question shall be "Shall this bill be rejected?". If the question on rejection is negatived, the bill, if
970it has been read but once, shall be placed in the Orders of the Day for the next sitting for a
971second reading without question; otherwise it shall be placed in the Orders of the Day for the
972next sitting, pending the question on ordering to a third reading, or to engrossment, as the case
973may be. [43.] (30.)
974 [Amended Jan. 30, 2019.]
975 32A. [Omitted Jan. 26, 2005.]
976 33. Bills involving an expenditure of public money or grant of public property, or otherwise
977affecting the state finances, unless the subject matter has been acted upon by the joint committee
978on Ways and Means, shall, after their first reading, be referred to the committee on Ways and
979Means, for report on their relation to the finances of the Commonwealth. 47 of 141
980 New provisions shall not be added to such bills by the committee on Ways and Means, unless
981directly connected with the financial features thereof.
982 Orders reported in the House or received from the Senate involving the expenditure of public
983money for special committees, shall, before the question is taken on the adoption thereof, be
984referred to the committee on Ways and Means, whose duty it shall be to report on their relation
985to the finances of the Commonwealth.
986 Every such bill involving a capital expenditure for new projects, or an appropriation for
987repairs, or any legislation, the cost of which, in the opinion of the committee, exceeds the sum of
988one hundred thousand dollars when reported into the House by the committee on Ways and
989Means, shall be accompanied by a fiscal note indicating the amount of public money which will
990be required to be expended to carry out the provisions of the proposed legislation, together with
991an estimate of the cost of operation and maintenance for the first year if a new project is
992involved. [44.] (27.)
993 [Amended April 18, 1979; Jan. 12, 1981; Jul. 17, 2003; Jan. 26, 2005.]
994 33A. Copies of all bills shall be available, in a format to be determined by the Speaker in
995consultation with the Clerk, to all members of the House and the public electronically via the
996website of the General Court; provided, however, that any bill or resolve to be considered by the
997House at a formal session shall be available to all members electronically and to the public via
998the website of the General Court no later than 12:00 P.M. the day prior to consideration thereof
999by the House in a formal session; provided further that, to the extent practicable, a summary of
1000any bill containing meaningful policy changes to be considered by the House in a formal session
1001shall be made available by the chair of the committee reporting the bill, to all members of the 48 of 141
1002House prior to the commencement of roll calls for the formal session in which the bill will be
1003considered.
1004 All amendments offered by members to any legislative matter in the House shall be submitted
1005in a format to be determined by the Clerk in consultation with the Speaker; provided, however,
1006that an amendment to any bill or resolve to be considered by the House at a formal session shall
1007be filed by 5:00 P.M. on the day the bill or resolve is made available to the members pursuant to
1008the first paragraph of this rule. Amendments shall be considered by the House chronologically as
1009submitted to the Clerk, except for an amendment in the second degree; provided that all
1010amendments shall be drafted in proper form acceptable to the Clerk; and provided further that the
1011Clerk shall print each amendment so filed and such printed copy shall be considered to be the
1012official amendment for that bill and there shall be available to the members a duplicate copy of
1013each amendment. (33A.)
1014 When the House considers any bill or resolve, other than the General Appropriations Bill, it
1015shall be read a second time and, subsequent to the consideration of any amendments
1016recommended by a committee or committees, it shall forthwith be considered by the House, the
1017question being on ordering it to a third reading, without any other amendments. A bill or resolve
1018so ordered to a third reading shall be immediately referred to the committee on Bills in the Third
1019Reading and, upon being released by said committee, it shall be read a third time and shall then
1020be open to amendments, the main question being on passing the bill or resolve to be engrossed.
1021Except for consolidated amendments or perfecting amendments offered by the committee on
1022Ways and Means, no proposition on a subject different from the amendment under consideration
1023shall be admitted under color of a further amendment to any bill or resolve. A consolidated 49 of 141
1024amendment to any bill or resolve, offered by the committee on Ways and Means, shall be a
1025motion offering an amendment in the second degree.
1026 [Adopted Nov. 17, 1983; Amended Nov. 28, 1984; Jan. 12, 1987; Jan. 9, 1991; Jan. 17,
10271995l; Jan. 9, 2003; Jan. 26, 2005, Jan. 23, 2007; Jan. 29, 2015; Jul. 7, 2021; Feb. 1, 2023.]
1028 33B. [Omitted Jan. 26, 2005.]
1029 33C. [Omitted Jan. 26, 2005.]
1030 33D. [Omitted Jan. 26, 2005.]
1031 33E. No consolidated amendment offered by the committee on Ways and Means shall be
1032considered by the House until the expiration of at least 30 minutes after the consolidated
1033amendment shall have been first filed with the Clerk and made available to the members. This
1034rule shall not be suspended unless by unanimous consent of the members present.
1035 [Added Feb. 4, 2010; Amended Jan. 29, 2015.]
1036 33F. No consolidated amendment shall be adopted except by a roll call vote.
1037 [Added Feb. 2, 2017.]
1038 34. Bills from the Senate, after their first reading, shall be referred to a committee of the
1039House. [45.] (26.)
1040 [Amended Jan. 26, 1999.]
1041 35. Amendments proposed by the Senate, and sent back to the House for concurrence, shall
1042be referred to the committee on Bills in Third Reading, provided that the journal shall reflect the 50 of 141
1043referral; and provided further that subsequent to a report from said committee, the amendments
1044shall be considered forthwith. [46.] (36.)
1045 [Amended April 18, 1979; Jan. 12, 1981; Jan. 26, 2005, Jan. 23, 2007; Jan. 23, 2013.]
1046 36. No bill shall be proposed or introduced unless received from the Senate, reported by a
1047committee, or moved as an amendment to the report of a committee. [47.] (36.)
1048 37. Bills, resolves and other papers that have been, or, under the rules or usage of the House,
1049are to be made available in a format to be determined by the Speaker in consultation with the
1050Clerk, shall be read by their titles only, unless the full reading is requested by vote of a majority
1051of those members present and voting.
1052 [Amended Jan. 9, 2003, Amended, Jan. 23, 2007.] [48.] (29.)
1053 38. When a bill, resolve, order, petition or memorial has been finally rejected or disposed of
1054by the House, no measure substantially the same shall be introduced by any committee or
1055member during the same session. This rule shall not be suspended unless by unanimous consent
1056of the members present. [49.] (54.)
1057 39. No bill shall be passed to be engrossed without having been read on three separate
1058legislative days. [51.] (28.)
1059 [Amended Jan. 11, 1985.]
1060 40. No engrossed bill shall be amended, except by striking out the enacting clause. A motion
1061to strike out the enacting clause of a bill shall be received when the bill is before the House for
1062enactment. If the bill contains an emergency preamble, a motion to suspend this rule may be
1063received before the adoption of the emergency preamble and, if suspended, the amendment may 51 of 141
1064contain a new emergency preamble. This rule shall not apply to a bill or resolve returned by the
1065Governor with a recommendation of amendment in accordance with the provisions of Article
1066LVI of the Amendments to the Constitution; nor shall it apply to amendments of engrossed bills
1067proposed by the Senate and sent to the House for concurrence, which amendments shall be
1068subject to the provisions of Rule 35, provided, however, that an affirmative vote on a motion to
1069suspend this rule shall be required in order to offer an amendment to such an engrossed bill when
1070the question before the House is on adoption of an emergency preamble, re-enactment or
1071enactment, as the case may be. [53.] (49.)
1072 [Amended, Jan. 23, 2007; Jan. 20, 2011; Jan. 23, 2013; Jan. 29, 2015.]
1073 41. Bills received from the Senate and bills reported favorably by committees, when not
1074referred to another standing committee of the House, shall, prior to being placed in the Orders of
1075the Day, be referred to the committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling. Resolutions received
1076from and adopted by the Senate, or reported in the House by committees, shall, if proposed for
1077joint adoption, be referred to said committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling. [56.] (26.)
1078 [Amended Jan. 14, 1997; Jan. 26, 1999.]
1079 42. Reports of committees, not by bill or resolve, including orders if proposed for joint
1080adoption, after they are received from the Senate, or made in the House, as the case may be,
1081shall, unless subject to the provisions of any other House or joint rules, be referred to the
1082committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling; provided that the report of a committee asking to
1083be discharged from further consideration of a subject, and recommending that it be referred or
1084recommitted to another committee, or a report of a committee recommending that a matter be
1085placed on file, shall be immediately considered. Reports of committees on proposals for 52 of 141
1086amendments to the Constitution shall be dealt with in accordance with the provisions of Joint
1087Rule 23. [57.] (36.)
1088 [Amended Jan. 14, 1997; Jan. 29, 2015.]
1089 42A. The Clerk shall, prior to 3 o'clock P.M., on the day preceding a session, make available
1090by electronic communication or other means, a list of all reports of the committee on Steering,
1091Policy and Scheduling, asking to be discharged from further consideration of subjects, and
1092recommending that the subjects be referred to other committees.
1093 [Adopted Jan. 26, 2005; Amended Jan. 29, 2015.]
1094 43. Bills ordered to a third reading shall be placed in the Orders of the Day for the next day
1095for such reading. [58.] (32.)
1096Special Rules Affecting the Course of Proceedings.
1097 44. The Speaker may designate when an informal session of the House shall be held provided
1098said Speaker gives notice of such informal session at a prior session of the House. The Speaker
1099may, in cases of emergency, cancel a session or declare any session of the House to be an
1100informal session. At an informal session the House shall only consider reports of committees,
1101papers from the Senate, bills for enactment or resolves for final passage, bills containing
1102emergency preambles and the matters in the Orders of the Day. Motions to reconsider moved at
1103such informal session shall be placed in the Orders of the Day for the succeeding day, and no
1104new business shall be entertained, except by unanimous consent.
1105 Formal debate, or the taking of the sense of the House by yeas and nays shall not be
1106conducted during such informal session. 53 of 141
1107 Upon the receipt of a petition signed by at least a majority of the members elected to the
1108House, so requesting, the Speaker shall, when the House is meeting in informal session under the
1109provisions of Joint Rule 12A, designate a formal session, to be held within seven days of said
1110receipt, for the purpose of considering the question of passage of a bill, notwithstanding the
1111objections of the Governor, returned pursuant to Article 2, Section 1, Chapter1, Part 2 of the
1112Massachusetts Constitution. This rule shall not be suspended unless by unanimous consent of the
1113members present. [59.] (5A.)
1114 [Amended Jan. 11, 1985; Jan. 12, 1987; Jan. 17, 1995; Jan. 14, 1997; Jan. 24, 2001; Jan. 9,
11152003; Feb. 11, 2009.]
1116 45. After entering upon the consideration of the Orders of the Day, the House shall proceed
1117with them in regular course as follows: Matters not giving rise to a motion or debate shall first be
1118disposed of in the order in which they stand in the Calendar; after which the matters that were
1119passed over shall be considered in like order and disposed. The provisions of this paragraph shall
1120not be suspended unless by unanimous consent of the members present.
1121 Notwithstanding the provisions of this rule, during consideration of the Orders of the Day, the
1122committee on Ways and Means and the committee on Bills in the Third Reading may present
1123matters for consideration of the House after approval of two-thirds of the members present and
1124voting, without debate. [59.] (37.) [See Rule 47.]
1125 [Amended Jan. 12, 1981; Jan. 12, 1983; Feb. 11, 2009.]
1126 46. When the House does not finish the consideration of the Orders of the Day, those which
1127had not been acted upon shall be the Orders of the Day for the next and each succeeding day
1128until disposed of, and shall be entered in the Calendar, without change in their order, to precede 54 of 141
1129matters added under Rule 7A; provided, however, that all other matters shall be listed in
1130numerical order by Calendar item.
1131 The unfinished business in which the House was engaged at the time of adjournment shall
1132have the preference in the Orders of the Day for the next day. [60.] (35.)
1133 [Amended Jan. 12, 1987; Jan. 26, 1999.]
1134 47. No matter which has been duly placed in the Orders of the Day shall be discharged
1135therefrom, or considered out of the regular course. [61.] (38.) [See Rule 45.]
1136Voting.
1137 48. Members desiring to be excused from voting shall make application to that effect before
1138the division of the House or the taking of the yeas and nays is begun. Such application may be
1139accompanied by a brief statement of reasons by the member. The Clerk shall, prior to the first
1140roll call of the sitting, announce the name of any member who has informed the Clerk to not call
1141their name or lock their voting station. The Clerk shall also announce prior to any subsequent
1142roll call of the sitting the name of any member who had informed said Clerk not to call their
1143name or lock their voting station since the taking of the immediately preceding roll call.
1144A member absent from the House for a formal session period of a day or longer shall notify the
1145Clerk in writing of the intended absence. A member absent during a formal session for an
1146extended period or for the remainder of the session shall notify the Clerk in person. The Clerk
1147shall provide a written notice to any such absent member.
1148The Clerk shall disable the voting station of any such member notifying the Clerk of an absence
1149pursuant to this Rule. The Clerk shall also disable the voting station of any member failing to
1150answer the first non-quorum roll call of a legislative sitting; provided, however, that the Clerk 55 of 141
1151shall reactivate the voting station upon receiving notification of the member's return to the House
1152Chamber. ([64.] (57.)
1153 [Amended Feb. 11, 2009; Jan. 30, 2019.]
1154 49. If the presence of a quorum is doubted, a count of the House shall be made. When a yea
1155and nay vote is taken, the members, with the exception of the Speaker, shall vote only from their
1156seats. A member who has been appointed by the Speaker to perform the duties of the Chair, or a
1157person who has been elected Speaker pro Tempore, may designate some member or a court
1158officer to cast a vote for said member on any vote taken on the electronic voting system while
1159such member is presiding. Said designated member performing the duties of the Chair, or
1160Speaker pro Tempore, may, if the Speaker is in the State House, cast a vote for the Speaker. The
1161Speaker shall state the pending question before opening the system for voting.
1162 The Speaker may direct the Clerk to cast a vote for a member who is in the House Chamber,
1163but who is unable to vote due to a malfunction of their voting station or inability to open their
1164voting station.
1165 Except in the case of a vote to ascertain the presence of a quorum, if a member is prevented
1166from voting personally using the electronic voting system because of physical disability, said
1167member shall, if present in the State House, be excused from so voting and the Speaker shall
1168assign a court officer to cast said member's vote so long as said physical disability continues;
1169provided that the Speaker shall announce the action of the Chair to the membership prior to
1170assigning a court officer to cast the member's vote and provided further that the Speaker shall
1171announce the action to the membership the first time a vote is cast for that member on each
1172successive day. 56 of 141
1173 A member serving on active reserve military duty may participate remotely in a formal
1174session, subject to the requirements and limitations of federal law and regulation, including, but
1175not limited to, United States Department of Defense Directive 1344.10. A member serving on
1176active reserve military shall notify the Clerk of such service as soon as practicable.
1177 A member diagnosed with a serious medical condition may, upon submission of a request for
1178an accommodation to participate remotely to Counsel appointed pursuant to Rule 13B,
1179accompanied by documentation from said member’s medical provider that an accommodation is
1180necessary, may participate remotely in a formal session. Upon receipt and approval of a request
1181for accommodation to participate remotely Counsel shall notify the Clerk that the member filing
1182the request has been authorized to participate remotely. Other than the notification provided to
1183the Clerk, Counsel shall maintain any request for accommodation pursuant to this rule as
1184confidential.
1185 A member authorized to participate remotely in a formal session pursuant to this Rule shall
1186have the same privileges, rights and responsibilities as if the member were physically present in
1187the House Chamber, including without limitation, the right, privilege and responsibility to cast
1188votes on all questions or other matters brought to a vote and the ability to take the oath required
1189pursuant to Part the Second, Chapter VI, Article I of the Constitution of the Commonwealth.
1190 The Journal of the House for any formal session of the House where a member is
1191participating remotely in a formal session pursuant to this Rule shall not specify which members
1192participated remotely. [65.]
1193 [Amended April 18, 1979; Jan. 12, 1987; Jan. 9, 1991; Jan. 9, 2003; Jan. 20, 2011; Feb. 11,
11942009; Jan. 30, 2019; Feb. 1, 2023.] 57 of 141
1195 50. When a question is put, the sense of the House shall be taken by the voices of the
1196members, and the Speaker shall first announce the vote as it appears to the Speaker by the sound.
1197If the Speaker is unable to decide by the sound of the voices, or if the announcement made
1198thereupon is doubted by a member rising in their place for that purpose, the Speaker shall order a
1199division of the number voting in the affirmative and in the negative, without further debate upon
1200the question. [66.] (55.)
1201 [Amended Jan. 11, 1985; Feb. 11, 2009; Jan. 30, 2019.]
1202 51. When a return by division of the members voting in the affirmative and in the negative is
1203ordered, the members for or against the question, when called on by the Speaker, shall rise in
1204their places, and stand until they are counted. If, upon the taking of such a vote, the presence of a
1205quorum is doubted, a count of the House shall be had, and if a quorum is present the vote shall
1206stand. [67.]
1207 52. The sense of the House shall be taken by yeas and nays whenever required by ten percent
1208of the members elected. The Speaker shall, after waiting up to an interval of twelve minutes,
1209state the pending question and, after opening the electronic voting system, instruct the members
1210to vote for not less than two minutes and no more than twenty-two minutes, the Speaker shall
1211close said system and cause totals to be displayed and a record made of how each member
1212present voted; provided, that if at any time during said voting period any standing, joint or
1213conference committee is meeting in public or executive sessions, the Speaker shall leave the
1214electronic voting machine open for not less than 5 minutes. 58 of 141
1215 Any member desiring to be recorded as being "present" when a yea and nay vote is taken on
1216the electronic roll call system shall so notify the Clerk in person after said vote is ordered and
1217before the vote is announced.
1218 In the event the electronic voting system is not in operating order, the roll of the House shall
1219be called in alphabetical order; provided, however, that no member shall be allowed to vote or to
1220answer "present" who was not on the floor before the vote is declared; provided, however, that a
1221member, who was in the State House on a previous roll call, may be recorded by reporting to the
1222Clerk within five minutes after such vote is closed, unless objection is made thereto and it is
1223seconded; and provided further that the presiding officer shall not, for said purpose, interrupt the
1224member who is speaking on the floor; provided, however, that such request may be announced to
1225the House subsequent to the five minutes. The Speaker shall not entertain any requests beyond
1226said five-minute period. Once the voting has begun it shall not be interrupted except for the
1227purpose of questioning the validity of a member's vote before the result is announced. Except as
1228heretofore provided, any member who shall vote or attempt to vote for another member or any
1229person not a member who votes or attempts to vote for a member, or any member or other person
1230who willfully tampers with or attempts to impair or destroy in any manner whatsoever the voting
1231equipment used by the House, or change the records thereon shall be punished in such manner as
1232the House determines; and provided further, that such a violation shall be reported to the Ethics
1233Committee. [68.] (56, 57.)
1234 Upon completion of the tally by the Clerk and the announcement of the vote by the Speaker,
1235the results of all roll calls conducted shall be conspicuously posted on the website of the General
1236Court. 59 of 141
1237 [Amended Jan. 12, 1983; Jan. 11, 1985; Jan. 12, 1987; Jan. 9, 1991; Jan. 24, 2001; Jan. 9,
12382003; Jan. 26, 2005; Feb. 11, 2009; Jan 20, 2011; Jul. 7, 2021; Feb. 1, 2023.]
1239 53. The call for yeas and nays shall be decided without debate. If the yeas and nays have been
1240ordered before the question is put, the proceedings under Rules 50 and 51 relative to verification
1241of the vote by the voices of the members or by a return of divisions shall be omitted; if not, they
1242may be called for in lieu of a return by divisions when the Speaker's announcement is doubted by
1243a member rising in their place, and, if then ordered, the proceedings under Rules 50 and 51 shall
1244be omitted. [69.] (52.)
1245 [Amended Jan. 26, 1999; Jan. 30, 2019.]
1246 Reconsideration.
1247 54. No motion to reconsider a vote shall be entertained unless it is made on the same day on
1248which the vote was taken, or before the Orders of the Day have been taken up on the next day
1249thereafter on which a quorum is present. If reconsideration is moved on the same day, the motion
1250shall be placed first in the Orders of the Day for the succeeding day; but, if it is moved on the
1251succeeding day, the motion shall be considered forthwith except that if said motion is moved on
1252a day on which an informal session has been designated, it shall be placed in the Orders of the
1253Day for the succeeding day. If reconsideration is moved after July first of the second annual
1254session and thereafter, on any main question, it shall be considered forthwith. This rule shall not
1255prevent the reconsideration of a vote on a subsidiary, incidental or dependent question at any
1256time when the main question to which it relates is under consideration; and provided, further,
1257that a motion to reconsider a vote on any subsidiary, incidental or dependent question shall not
1258remove the main subject under consideration from before the House, but shall be considered at 60 of 141
1259the time when it is made. This rule shall not be suspended unless by unanimous consent of the
1260members present. [70.] (53.)
1261 [Amended Jan. 12, 1981, Jan. 23, 2007.]
1262 55. When a motion for reconsideration is decided, that decision shall not be reconsidered, and
1263no question shall be twice reconsidered; nor shall any vote be reconsidered upon any of the
1264following motions:
1265 to recess,
1266 to adjourn,
1267 on sustaining a ruling of the Chair,
1268 to close debate at a specified time,
1269 to postpone if voted in the negative,
1270 to discharge or direct a committee to report,
1271 to commit or recommit,
1272 for second or subsequent legislative days,
1273 for the previous question, or
1274 for suspension of rules.
1275 This rule shall not be suspended unless by unanimous consent of the members present. [71.]
1276(53.)
1277 [Amended Jan. 12, 1981; Jan. 12, 1983; Jan. 9, 1991.] 61 of 141
1278 56. Debate on motions to reconsider shall be limited to fifteen minutes, and no member shall
1279occupy more than three minutes, but on a motion to reconsider a vote upon any subsidiary or
1280incidental question, debate shall be limited to ten minutes, and no member shall occupy more
1281than three minutes.
1282 If the House has voted to close debate on any question, a motion to reconsider said question
1283shall be decided without debate. [72.] (52.)
1284 [Amended Jan. 12, 1981; Jan. 12, 1987.]
1285 RULES OF DEBATE.
1286 57. Every member, when about to speak, shall rise and respectfully address the Speaker and
1287shall confine themselves to the question under debate. [73.] (39.)
1288 [Amended Jan. 11, 1985; Feb. 1, 2023.]
1289 58. Every member while speaking shall avoid personalities; and shall sit down when finished.
1290No member shall speak out of their place without leave of the Speaker. [73.] (39.)
1291 When two or more members rise at the same time, the Speaker shall name the member
1292entitled to the floor, preferring one who rises in their place to one who does not. [74.] (40.)
1293 [Amended Jan. 11, 1985; Jan. 30, 2019.]
1294 59. If a member repeatedly violates any of the rules of the House, or disrupts the orderly
1295procedure of the House, the Speaker, after warning the member of such violations, shall call the
1296member to order, and order that member to take their seat. A member so called to order shall lose
1297the right to speak on the pending subject-matter but shall not be debarred from voting. A member 62 of 141
1298so called to order shall remain seated until the House begins consideration of another subject-
1299matter or unless the Speaker earlier returns to the member their rights to the floor.
1300 If a member so called to order refuses to immediately take their seat, the Speaker shall
1301immediately name that member, who shall be escorted from the Chamber under escort of the
1302Sergeant-at-Arms. The matter shall thereupon, on motion, be referred to a special committee of
1303three to be appointed by the Speaker. Said special committee shall make a report to the House of
1304its recommendations, which report shall be read and accepted.
1305 Having been named, a member shall not be allowed to resume their seat until said member
1306has complied with the recommendations of the committee as accepted by the House.
1307 If, after a member is seated or named, the action of the Speaker is appealed, the House shall
1308decide the case by a majority vote of the members present and voting, but if there is no
1309immediate appeal, the decision of the Speaker shall be conclusive.
1310 [Amended Jan. 12, 1981; Jan. 11, 1985; Feb. 11, 2009; Jan. 30, 2019.]
1311 60. No member shall interrupt another while speaking except by rising to a point of order, to a
1312question of personal privilege, to doubt the presence of a quorum, or to ask the person speaking
1313to yield.
1314 Members may rise to explain matters personal to them by leave of the presiding officer, but
1315shall not discuss pending questions in such explanations.
1316 Questions of personal privilege shall be limited to questions affecting the rights, reputation,
1317and conduct of the member in their representative capacities.
1318 Members may rise to ask questions of parliamentary inquiry concerning the pending matter
1319by leave of the presiding officer, but shall not debate the pending questions. [75.] (42.) 63 of 141
1320 [Amended Jan. 12, 1981; Feb. 11, 2009; Jan. 30, 2019.]
1321 61. No member shall speak more than once to the prevention of those who have not spoken
1322and desire to speak on the same question.
1323 This prohibition shall not apply to those members designated by the committee or committees
1324reporting the bill.
1325 No member shall occupy more than thirty minutes at a time while speaking on any question
1326where debate is unlimited.
1327 Unless the operation of another rule provides to the contrary (such as previous question,
1328limitation of debate, etc.), no member shall be prohibited from speaking more than once on any
1329question when no other member who has not spoken is seeking recognition by the Chair. [76.]
1330(41.)
1331 Motions.
1332 62. Every motion shall be reduced to writing, if the Speaker so directs. [77.] (44.)
1333 63. A motion need not be seconded, except an appeal from the decision of the Chair, and may
1334be withdrawn by the mover if no objection is made. [78.] (44.)
1335 [Amended Jan. 12, 1981.]
1336 Limit of Debate.
1337 64. A motion to recess or adjourn shall always be first in order, and shall be decided without
1338debate; and on the motions to close debate at a specified time, to postpone to a time certain, to
1339commit or recommit, not exceeding ten minutes shall be allowed for debate, and no member 64 of 141
1340shall speak more than three minutes. On the motion to discharge any committee, or on a motion
1341directing any committee to report matters before it, not exceeding fifteen minutes shall be
1342allowed for debate, and no member shall speak more than three minutes.
1343 If the main motion is undebatable, any subsidiary or incidental motion made relating to it
1344shall also be decided without debate. [79.] (52.) [See Rules 56 and 83.]
1345 [Amended Jan. 12, 1981.]
1346 64A. Debate on the question on adoption of orders for second and subsequent legislative days
1347shall be limited to ten minutes, and no member shall speak more than three minutes. After
1348entering into a second or subsequent legislative day, the House shall immediately proceed to
1349consideration of engrossed bills, reports of committees, papers from the Senate or the Orders of
1350the Day. This rule shall not be suspended unless by unanimous consent of the members present.
1351 [Adopted Jan. 12, 1983.]
1352 65. When a question is before the House, until it is disposed of, the Speaker shall receive no
1353motion that does not relate to the same, except the motion to recess or adjourn or some other
1354motion that has precedence either by express rule of the House, or because it is privileged in its
1355nature; and the Speaker shall receive no motion relating to the same, except,—
1356 for the previous question, . . . . .
1357 to close debate at a specified time, . . . . .
1358 to postpone to a time certain, . . . . .
1359 to commit (or recommit), . . . . .
1360 to amend, . . . . . . . See Rules 66, 67 and 68 65 of 141
1361 See Rules 64, 69 and 70
1362 See Rules 64 and 70
1363 See Rules 64 and 71
1364 See Rules 72, 73, 74 and 75
1365 — which several motions shall have precedence in the order in which they are arranged in
1366this rule. [80.] (46.)
1367 [Amended Jan. 11, 1985.]
1368 Previous Question.
1369 66. Any member may call for the previous question on the main question.
1370 The previous question shall be put in the following form: "Shall the main question be now
1371put?" and all debate on the main question shall be suspended until the previous question is
1372decided.
1373 The adoption of the previous question shall require the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the
1374members present and voting and shall put an end to all debate, and bring the House to direct vote
1375upon pending amendments, if any, in their regular order, and then upon the main question.
1376 A motion to reconsider the vote on any of the pending amendments shall be decided without
1377debate. [81.]
1378 [Amended Jan. 12, 1981.]
1379 67. Any member may call for the previous question on any pending amendment. 66 of 141
1380 The previous question shall be put in the following form: "Shall the question on adoption of
1381the amendment be now put?" and all debate shall be suspended until the previous question is
1382decided.
1383 The adoption of the previous question on a pending amendment shall require the affirmative
1384vote of two-thirds of the members present and voting and shall put an end to all debate and bring
1385the House to a direct vote upon the pending amendment.
1386 A motion to reconsider the vote on the pending amendment shall be decided without debate.
1387 [Amended Jan. 12, 1981.]
1388 68. The previous question shall be decided without debate.
1389 Motion to Close Debate at a Specified Time.
1390 69. Debate may be closed at any time not less than thirty minutes from the adoption of a
1391motion to that effect. This rule shall not be suspended unless by unanimous consent of the
1392members present. [85.] (47.)
1393 Motion to Postpone to a Time Certain.
1394 70. When a motion is made to postpone to a time certain, and different times are proposed,
1395the question shall first be taken on the most remote time; and the time shall be determined before
1396the question is put on postponement, which may then be rejected if the House sees fit. [87.] (51.)
1397Motion to Commit.
1398 71. When a motion is made to commit, and different committees are proposed, the question
1399shall be taken in the following order: 67 of 141
1400 a standing committee of the House,
1401 a select committee of the House,
1402 a joint standing committee,
1403 a joint selected committee;
1404and a subject may be recommitted to the same committee or to another committee at the pleasure
1405of the House. [88.] (48.)
1406 Motion to Amend.
1407 72. A motion to amend an amendment is a motion offering an amendment in the second
1408degree and may be received; a motion to amend an amendment in the second degree is a motion
1409offering an amendment in the third degree and shall not be allowed. This rule shall not be
1410suspended unless by unanimous consent of the members present. [89.]
1411 [Amended Jan. 12, 1983; Feb. 1, 2023.]
1412 73. No motion or proposition on a subject different from that under consideration shall be
1413admitted under color of amendment. This rule shall not be suspended unless by unanimous
1414consent of the members present. [90.] (50.)
1415 [Amended Jan. 12, 1987.]
1416 73A. No motion to amend a report from the committee on Ways and Means or a report from
1417the committee on Bills in the Third Reading, when such an amendment contains an expenditure
1418of public money or an increase or decrease in taxes, shall be considered unless a brief
1419explanation of the amendment is stated. 68 of 141
1420 [Adopted Jan. 17, 1995; Amended Jan. 26, 1999.]
1421 74. A question containing two or more propositions capable of division shall be divided
1422whenever desired by any member, if the question includes points so distinct and separate that,
1423one of them being taken away, the other will stand as a complete proposition. The motion to
1424strike out and insert shall be considered as one proposition and therefore indivisible. The
1425question on ordering a bill or resolve to a third reading, or to be engrossed, or to be enacted, or
1426similar main motions shall be considered as indivisible under this rule. This rule shall not be
1427suspended unless by unanimous consent of the members present. [91.] (45.)
1428 [Amended Jan. 12, 1983.]
1429 75. In filling blanks, the largest sum and longest time shall be put first. [92.] (51.) [See Rule
143070.]
1431 Declaration of Recess.
1432 76. The Speaker may declare a recess of 15 minutes duration, or less.
1433 [Amended Jan. 9, 1991; Jan. 29, 2015.]
1434 Appeal.
1435 77. No appeal from the decision of the Speaker shall be entertained unless it is seconded; and
1436no other business shall be in order until the question on the appeal has been disposed of. Debate
1437shall be limited to 15 minutes on the question of sustaining a ruling by the Chair, and no member
1438shall occupy more than three minutes. [94.] (43A.) [See Rule 2.]
1439 [Amended Jan. 9, 1989; Jan. 29, 2015.] 69 of 141
1440 Resolves.
1441 78. Such of these rules as are applicable to bills, whether of the House or of the Senate, shall
1442apply likewise to such resolves as require the concurrence of the Senate and approval by the
1443Governor in order to become law and have force as such. [95.]
1444Seats.
1445 79. (1) The desk on the right of the Speaker shall be assigned to the use of the Clerk and such
1446persons as they may employ to assist said Clerk, and that on the left to the use of the chair and
1447vice-chair of the committee on Bills in the Third Reading.
1448 (2) The Speaker shall assign members to vacant seats. The seat assigned to any member, other
1449than seats assigned under paragraph (1) of this rule, shall be their seat for the year and for such
1450additional years as said member may elect so long as service in the House remains continuous.
1451An exchange of seats may be made with the approval of the Speaker. [98.]
1452 [Amended Jan. 11, 1985; May 5, 1993; Jan. 30, 2019.]
1453 Privilege of the Floor.
1454 80. The following persons shall be entitled to admission to the House of Representatives,
1455during the session thereof, to stand in an area designated by the Speaker in the rear of the
1456Chamber, unless otherwise invited by said Speaker to occupy seats not numbered:
1457 (1) The Governor and the Lieutenant-Governor, members of the Executive Council, Secretary
1458of the Commonwealth, Treasurer and Receiver-General, Auditor of the Commonwealth,
1459Attorney-General, Librarian and Assistant Librarian;
1460 (2) The members of the Senate; 70 of 141
1461 (3) Authorized employees of the House and persons in the exercise of an official duty directly
1462connected with the business of the House; or
1463 (4) Contestants for seats in the House, whose papers are in the hands of a special committee
1464of the House, may be admitted, while their cases are pending, to seats to be assigned by the
1465Speaker.
1466 No other person shall be admitted to the floor during the session, except upon the permission
1467of the Speaker.
1468 No legislative agent or counsel may be admitted to the floor of the House Chamber during a
1469session unless that part of the session is ceremonial in nature in which no other legislative
1470business is conducted.
1471 The legislative reporters shall be entitled to the privileges of the reporters' galleries.
1472 This rule shall not be suspended unless by unanimous consent of the members present. [99.] (60,
147361.)
1474 [Amended Jan. 9, 1991, Jan. 23, 2007; Jan. 30, 2019.]
1475 Representatives' Chamber and Adjoining Rooms.
1476 81. (a) Use of the Representatives' Chamber members' corridor or adjoining rooms shall be
1477for official business or educational purposes only and shall be subject to the approval of the
1478Speaker or the committee on Rules. The provisions of this paragraph shall not apply if the
1479purpose of admittance is to attend a meeting in an adjoining room to which members of the
1480general public are allowed to attend. 71 of 141
1481 (b) No legislative agent or counsel shall be admitted to the members' corridor or adjoining
1482rooms. No other person shall be admitted to the members' corridor or adjoining rooms, except
1483persons entitled to the privileges of the floor of the House unless upon written invitation of a
1484member bearing the name of the member and the person the member invites. Upon entering, the
1485invitation shall be given to the court officer assigned to the area. The provisions of this paragraph
1486shall not apply if the purpose of admittance is to attend a meeting in an adjoining room to which
1487members of the general public are allowed to attend.
1488 (c) No person shall be admitted to the north gallery of the House except upon a card of the
1489Speaker.
1490 (d) Subject to the approval and direction of the committee on Rules during the session and of
1491the Speaker after prorogation, the use of the reporters' galleries of the House Chamber shall be
1492under the control of the organization of legislative reporters known as the Massachusetts State
1493House Press Association and the State House Broadcasters Association.
1494 (e) Every legislative reporter desiring admission to the reporters' galleries shall state in
1495writing that they are not the agent or representative of any person or corporation interested in
1496legislation before the General Court, and will not act as representative of any such person or
1497corporation while retaining a place in the galleries; but nothing herein contained shall prevent
1498such legislative reporter from engaging in other employment, provided such other employment is
1499specifically approved by the committee on Rules and reported to the House.
1500 (f) All formal and informal sessions of the House of Representatives shall be open to both
1501commercial and public radio and television, except designated times during such sessions, as
1502determined by the House, reserved for the consideration of non-controversial business which
1503does not give rise to debate. The manner and conditions of such broadcasts shall be established 72 of 141
1504by the Speaker. Television, radio or web-broadcasts may be prohibited on any given day by the
1505Speaker.
1506 All formal and informal sessions shall be broadcast live on House television and livestreamed
1507on the General Court website. Audio or video recordings of prior formal and informal sessions
1508for the current biennial session shall be made available to the public on the General Court
1509website.
1510 The Speaker may arrange for a limited number of remote connections at a location outside of
1511the Representatives' Chamber for commercial and public radio and television to obtain audio and
1512visual feeds of formal sessions being recorded or streamed by the House. Video or audio
1513obtained from such feed shall be used only for reporting purposes. Access to the connections
1514provided shall be on a first-come-first serve basis; provided, however, that commercial and
1515public radio and television acquiring access shall be required to share the audio or video feeds
1516with other any other commercial and public radio and television station seeking access. The
1517manner and conditions of access shall be established by the Speaker with the approval of the
1518House. Access may be prohibited by the Speaker with the approval of the House.
1519 Clauses (a) through (e) of this rule shall not be suspended unless by unanimous consent of the
1520members present. [100.] (59.)
1521 [Amended April 18, 1979; Jan. 12, 1983; Jan. 12, 1987; Jan. 9, 1991; Jan. 26, 1999, Jan. 23,
15222007; Jan. 30, 2019; Jul. 7, 2021.]
1523 Quorum.
1524 82. Eighty-one members present shall constitute a quorum for the organization of the House
1525and the transaction of business. [See amendments to the Constitution, Art. XXXIII.] 73 of 141
1526 In the event that a quorum is not present, the presiding officer shall compel the attendance of
1527a quorum. During the absence of a quorum, no other business may be transacted or motions
1528entertained except a declaration of adjournment or a recess by the Speaker. [105.]
1529 [Amended Jan. 12, 1981; Jan. 14, 1997.]
1530 Debate on Motions for Suspension of Rules.
1531 83. The question of suspension of House Rules 45, 47, 56, 61, 64, 66, 67, 68, 69, 77 and 83
1532shall be decided without debate. Debate upon the motion for the suspension of any other House
1533rule, unless otherwise indicated, or any joint rule shall be limited to fifteen minutes and no
1534member shall occupy more than three minutes. This rule shall not be suspended unless by
1535unanimous consent of the members present. [102.] (52.)
1536 [Amended Jan. 12, 1981; Jan. 9, 1989.]
1537 84. Unless otherwise indicated, nothing in the House rules or joint rules shall be suspended,
1538altered or repealed unless two-thirds of the members present and voting consent thereto. This
1539rule shall not be suspended unless by unanimous consent of the members present. [103.] (63.)
1540 [Amended Jan. 12, 1981.]
1541 84A. The Clerk may, due to technical limitations or upon exigent circumstances, elect to
1542waive any requirement relative to the electronic availability and posting on the website of the
1543General Court of any bills, resolves, summaries or other documents contained herein; provided,
1544however, that if the Clerk so waives any such requirement he shall make paper copies of the
1545documents available to all members and the public within the limitation established for the 74 of 141
1546electronic availability and posting on the website of the General Court of any bills, resolves,
1547summaries or other documents contained herein.
1548 [Adopted Feb. 11, 2009.]
1549 Reference to Committee on Rules.
1550 85. All motions or orders authorizing committees of the House to travel or to employ
1551stenographers, all propositions involving special investigations by committees of the House, all
1552resolutions presented for adoption by the House only, and all motions and orders except those
1553which relate to the procedure of the House or are privileged in their nature or are authorized by
1554Rule 65, shall be referred without debate to the committee on Rules, which shall report thereon,
1555recommending what action should be taken. The committee shall not recommend suspension of
1556Joint Rule 9, unless evidence satisfactory to the committee is produced that the petitioners have
1557previously given notice, by public advertisement or otherwise, equivalent to that required by
1558Chapter 3 of the General Laws. [104.] (13A.)
1559 [Amended Jan. 29, 2015; Feb. 1, 2023.]
1560 85A. The House Business Manager, with the approval of the Counsel appointed pursuant to
1561Rule 13B, shall provide that outside, independent audits of House financial accounts be
1562conducted for each fiscal year upon receipt of the fiscal year end appropriation activity with
1563balance report from the comptroller of the Commonwealth. The audit shall be conducted in
1564accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America and the
1565standards applicable to financial audits contained in Government Auditing Standards, issued by
1566the Comptroller General of the United States. The House Business Manager shall provide the
1567independent auditor with requested documents for such audit. A copy of such audit shall be filed 75 of 141
1568with the Clerk of the House and said copies shall be made available to the members and the
1569general public upon request. The procurement of an independent auditor pursuant to this rule
1570shall not be subject to rule 87.
1571 [Adopted Jan. 11, 1985, Amended Jan. 20, 2011; Jan. 30, 2019.]
1572 Parliamentary Practice.
1573 86. The rules of parliamentary practice shall govern the House in all cases to which they are
1574applicable, and in which they are not inconsistent with these rules or the joint rules of the two
1575branches. (62.)
1576 Procurement.
1577 87. (a) All procurements for goods or services shall be completed by the House Business
1578Manager.
1579 (b) All procurements for goods or services shall, to the extent practicable, be made pursuant
1580to a statewide procurement contract established by the operational services division.
1581 (c) Upon certification by the House Business Manager that a necessary procurement cannot
1582be made using a statewide procurement contract established by the operational services division,
1583the House Business Manager may procure the required goods or services pursuant to the
1584following:
1585 (i) for a procurement of a supply or service in an amount of less than $10,000, the House
1586Business Manager shall use sound business practices;
1587 (ii) for a procurement of a supply or service in an amount of $10,000, but less than $100,000,
1588the House Business Manager shall seek written or oral quotations from no fewer than 3 persons 76 of 141
1589customarily providing such supply or service. The House Business Manager shall record the
1590names and addresses of all persons from whom quotations were sought, the names and addresses
1591of all persons submitting quotations and the date and amount of each quotation. The House
1592Business Manager shall transmit all quotes to House Counsel with the House Business
1593Manager’s recommendation as to what quotation offers the needed quality of supply or service at
1594the best value for the House. House Counsel shall review the quotations to ensure compliance
1595with this rule. Upon completion of the review by the House Counsel, the House Business
1596Manager shall award the contract to the responsible person whose quotation offers the needed
1597quality of supply or service and which represents the best value for the House;
1598 (iii) for a procurement of a supply or service in an amount exceeding $100,000, the House
1599Business Manager shall seek proposals through a competitive bid process established by House
1600Counsel; provided, however, that House Counsel shall file the competitive bid process with the
1601Clerk of the House no later than March 31st of the first year of the session.
1602 (d) Notwithstanding subsections (a) through (c), all procurements for legal consulting
1603services and legal resources shall be handled exclusively by Counsel in compliance with the
1604provisions of this rule.
1605 (e) The House Business Manager shall maintain a file on each contract not executed using a
1606statewide procurement contract established by the operational services division and in excess of
1607$10,000 and shall include in such file a copy of all documents constituting the agreement for
1608goods and services and all documents evidencing compliance with this rule. The House Business
1609Manager shall make the file available for inspection within said office by members of the House
1610for at least 3 years from the date of final payment under the contract; provided, however, that the
1611Business Manager, in consultation with Counsel, shall redact from said file any information 77 of 141
1612which (i) is legally privileged; (ii) is proprietary; (iii) is related to individual members or House
1613personnel; or (iv) is otherwise protected by state or federal law.
1614 (f) Whenever the time required to comply with a requirement of this rule would endanger the
1615health, safety or convenience of the members, staff or visitors to the House of Representatives,
1616the House Business Manager may make an emergency procurement without satisfying the
1617requirements of this rule; provided, however, that both the House Business Manager and Counsel
1618certify in writing: (i) that an emergency exists and explain the nature thereof; (ii) that said
1619emergency procurement is limited to only supplies or services necessary to meet the emergency;
1620(iii) that said emergency procurement conforms to the requirements of this rule to the extent
1621practicable under the circumstances; and (iv) shall include each contractor's name, the amount
1622and the type of each contract, the supplies or services provided under each contract, and (vii) the
1623basis for determining the need for an emergency procurement. Such certification shall be filed
1624with the Clerk of the House prior to an emergency procurement. [Adopted Jan. 20, 2011,
1625Amended Jan. 23, 2013; Jan. 29, 2015; Feb. 19, 2015; Jan. 30, 2019; Jul. 7, 2021; Feb. 1, 2023.]
1626 Professional Standards and Conduct.
1627 88. (a) As used in Rules 88 to 100, inclusive, the following terms shall, unless the context
1628clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:-
1629"Authorized party", a party authorized to receive a complaint of harassment or retaliation
1630pursuant to Rule 93.
1631"Counsel", Legal Counsel to the House appointed pursuant to Rule 13B.
1632"Director", the Director of Human Resources appointed pursuant to Rule 90.
1633"Discriminatory harassment", verbal or physical conduct that: 78 of 141
1634 (1) demeans, stereotypes, or shows hostility or aversion toward an individual or group because
1635of the individual's race, color, religion, national origin, sex, ancestry, sexual orientation, age,
1636disability status, genetic information, gender identity, active military personnel status,
1637transgender status or membership in any other protected class and;
1638 (2) (i) has the purpose or effect of creating an intimidating, hostile, humiliating or offensive
1639working environment;
1640 (ii) has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with a member, officer, intern or
1641employee's work performance or official duties; or
1642 (iii) otherwise adversely affects a member, officer, intern or employee's employment
1643opportunities or ability to fulfill their official duties or conduct business before the House.
1644"EEO Officer", the Equal Employment Opportunity Officer appointed pursuant to Rule 89.
1645"Harassment", discriminatory harassment or sexual harassment engaged in by a member, officer,
1646intern or employee of the House or by a third party.
1647"Sexual harassment", sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and verbal or physical conduct
1648of a sexual nature when:
1649 (1) submission to or rejection of such advances, requests or conduct is made either explicitly or
1650implicitly a term or condition of employment or as a basis for employment decisions, or as a
1651term, condition or basis for the support of certain policy objectives, political aspirations or
1652business before the House; or
1653 (2) such advances, requests or conduct have the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering
1654with a member, officer, intern or employee's work performance or official duties by creating an
1655intimidating, hostile, humiliating or sexually offensive work environment. 79 of 141
1656Under this definition, direct or implied requests for sexual favors in exchange for actual or
1657promised (i) employment benefits such as favorable reviews, salary increases, promotions,
1658increased benefits or continued employment or (ii) support for certain policy objectives, political
1659aspirations or business before the House, shall constitute sexual harassment.
1660The definition of sexual harassment is broad and may include other sexually oriented conduct,
1661whether or not it is intended to violate this Rule, that is unwelcome and has the effect of creating
1662a workplace environment that is hostile, offensive, intimidating or humiliating to a member,
1663officer, intern or employee of the same or different gender, or those who do not identify as
1664gender binary.
1665"Supervisor", a member, officer or employee having direct authority or oversight over one or
1666more employees.
1667"Third party", any person visiting the House of Representatives, or conducting official business
1668or work with any member, officer or employee of the House.
1669(b) The House is committed to providing fair and equal opportunity for employment and
1670advancement to all employees and applicants.
1671It is our policy and practice to assign, promote and compensate employees on the basis of
1672qualifications, merit, and competence. Employment practices shall not be influenced nor
1673affected by virtue of an applicant's or employee's race, color, religion, national origin, sex,
1674ancestry, sexual orientation, age, disability status, genetic information, gender identity, active
1675military personnel status, transgender status or membership in any other protected class.
1676This policy governs all aspects of recruiting, hiring, training, on-the-job treatment, promotion,
1677transfer, discharge and all other terms and conditions of employment. 80 of 141
1678Without limiting the applicability of the foregoing, the House is committed to creating and
1679maintaining a work environment in which all members, officers, interns and employees of the
1680House, and all third parties, are treated with respect and free from any form of harassment,
1681including harassment based on an individual's membership in any protected class. To that end,
1682the House will not tolerate harassment of any kind by any member, officer, intern, employee or
1683third party in the workplace or otherwise in connection with the official duties or employment
1684responsibilities of a member, officer, third party, intern or employee. Any individual who
1685believes that they may have been the object of harassment, or any individual who witnesses
1686something they think may be harassment, is strongly encouraged to report that information to an
1687authorized party.
1688The House shall promote the safety and respectful treatment of all members, officers, interns and
1689employees of the House, and all third parties, by establishing uniform procedures for making and
1690receiving complaints of harassment and initiating, conducting and concluding investigations into
1691complaints of harassment.
1692A violation of this policy will subject the member, officer, employee or intern to discipline
1693pursuant to Rule 95 and Rule 96.
1694(c) (1) Discriminatory harassment may include, but is not limited to, the following conduct:
1695(i) epithets, slurs, insults or negative stereotyping related to the protected classes;
1696(ii) acts or jokes that are hostile or demeaning with regard to the protected classes;
1697(iii) threatening, intimidating or hostile acts that relate to the protected classes;
1698(iv) displays of written or graphic material that demean, ridicule or show hostility toward an
1699individual or group because of membership in a protected class, including material circulated or 81 of 141
1700displayed in the workplace, including District Offices, such as on an employee's desk or
1701workspace, or on House equipment or bulletin boards, including but not limited to House-issued
1702computers, laptops and personal device assistants;
1703(v) verbal or non-verbal innuendo, and micro-aggressions; and
1704(vi) other conduct that falls within the definition of discriminatory harassment set forth above.
1705(2) Sexual harassment includes, but is not limited to, the following conduct:
1706(i) gender-based bullying, including bullying based on transgender or non-gender binary status;
1707(ii) attempts to coerce an unwilling person into a sexual relationship;
1708(iii) repeatedly subjecting a person to unwelcome sexual or romantic attention;
1709(iv) punishing a person's refusal to comply with a request for sexual conduct; and
1710(v) conditioning a benefit on submitting to sexual advances.
1711(3) Conduct that, if unwelcome, and depending upon the totality of the circumstances, including
1712the severity of the conduct and its pervasiveness, may constitute sexual harassment includes, but
1713is not limited to, the following:
1714(i) unwelcome sexual advances, flirtations or propositions, whether they involve physical
1715touching or not;
1716(ii) sexual "kidding," epithets, jokes, written or oral references to sexual conduct;
1717(iii) gossip regarding one's sex life;
1718(iv) comment on a person's body or an individual's sexual activity, deficiencies, or prowess;
1719(v) displaying sexually suggestive objects, pictures, posters or cartoons; 82 of 141
1720(vi) unwelcome leering or staring at a person;
1721(vii) sexual gestures and suggestive or insulting sounds, such as whistling or comments with
1722sexual content or meaning;
1723(viii) uninvited physical contact, such as touching, hugging, purposely brushing against the body,
1724patting or pinching;
1725(ix) indecent exposure;
1726(x) inquiries into one's sexual experiences;
1727(xi) discussion of one's sexual activities;
1728(xii) sexual emails; and
1729(xiii) sexting, or sexual messages or images posted on social media, for example, texts, instant
1730messages, Facebook posts, tweets, Snapchat, Instagram or blog entries.
1731(d) No member, officer or employee of the House shall retaliate, including against a member,
1732officer, intern, or employee of the House who has complained about harassment or participated
1733in an investigation into an allegation of harassment or retaliation. Any person who believes that
1734they may have been the subject of retaliation for having complained of harassment or retaliation,
1735or for having participated in an investigation related to an allegation of harassment or retaliation,
1736is strongly encouraged to report that information to an authorized party.
1737 [Added Mar. 15, 2018; Jan. 30, 2019; Feb. 1, 2023.]
1738 89. (a) The House shall employ a full-time Equal Employment Opportunity Officer. The
1739committee on Rules shall appoint a qualified person with expertise in harassment prevention, 83 of 141
1740conduct of investigations, and identifying barriers to equal employment opportunity to act as the
1741EEO Officer at such compensation as the committee on Rules shall approve.
1742The EEO Officer shall serve a term of two years from the date of appointment, unless the EEO
1743Officer sooner resigns, retires or is removed; provided, however, that the EEO Officer may only
1744be removed: (i) for misfeasance, malfeasance or nonfeasance, as determined by agreement of
1745Counsel and the Director, and approved by a majority vote of the committee on Rules; or (ii) by
1746a majority roll call vote of the House.
1747The EEO Officer may employ such assistants as may be necessary in the discharge of the EEO
1748Officer's duties, subject to the approval of the committee on Rules, and may expend with like
1749approval such sums as may be necessary for the discharge of their duties.
1750(b) The EEO Officer shall receive, review and investigate all complaints alleging a violation of
1751Rule 88, the House Anti-Harassment Policy, or the House Equal Employment Policy, including,
1752but not limited to complaints alleging harassment or retaliation. Complaints shall be received,
1753reviewed and investigated pursuant to Rules 93 to 96, inclusive.
1754The EEO Officer shall develop and implement written policies and procedures for receiving,
1755investigating, resolving and maintaining records of complaints against members, officers, interns
1756or employees of the House, or against third parties, made in accordance with Rules 93 to 98,
1757inclusive.
1758(c) (1) The EEO Officer, in conjunction with the committee on Human Resources and Employee
1759Engagement and the Director, shall provide for training of members. Training shall include,
1760without limitation, instruction on: (i) House equal employment policies, including the complaint
1761and investigation process; (ii) workplace harassment specifically, including techniques for 84 of 141
1762bystander intervention and other best practices; (iii) prohibition on retaliation; (iv) best
1763management practices; (v) professionalism and respect; and (vi) practices for monitoring the
1764workplace for issues and identifying risk factors. Each member shall make a signed, written
1765acknowledgement of the member's completion of the training, which shall be retained by the
1766EEO Officer.
1767 (2) The EEO Officer, in conjunction with the committee on Human Resources and Employee
1768Engagement and the Director, shall provide for annual training for all appointed officers and
1769employees. Training shall include, without limitation, instruction on (i) House equal employment
1770policies, including the complaint and investigation process; (ii) workplace harassment
1771specifically, including techniques for bystander intervention and other best practices; (iii)
1772prohibition on retaliation; and (iv) professionalism and respect.
1773Separate trainings shall be held for those appointed officers and employees who are supervisors
1774and those appointed officers and employees who are not supervisors. The content of the training
1775shall be tailored appropriately to the recipients. Supervisors shall be specifically trained on best
1776management practices.
1777Each appointed officer and employee shall make a signed, written acknowledgement of their
1778completion of the training, which shall be retained by the EEO Officer, who shall provide a copy
1779to the Director to be maintained in their personnel file.
1780 (3) The EEO Officer shall provide for appropriate additional training to members, officers or
1781employees at any time that the EEO Officer deems necessary or appropriate, including upon the
1782request of a member, officer or employee. 85 of 141
1783 (4) The EEO Officer, in conjunction with the Director, shall provide for training for interns
1784during the intern orientation process. The training shall include without limitation, instruction
1785on: (i) House equal employment policies, including the complaint and investigation process; (ii)
1786workplace harassment specifically, including techniques for bystander intervention and other
1787best practices; (iii) prohibition on retaliation; and (iv) professionalism and respect. Each intern
1788shall make a signed, written acknowledgement of the intern's completion of the training, which
1789shall be retained by the EEO Officer, who shall provide a copy to the Director to be maintained
1790in the Director's records.
1791(d) The EEO Officer shall develop practices and procedures for auditing House offices, including
1792random audits, to ensure the maintenance of best practices. Audits may include interviews and
1793in-office observation. All members, officers, interns and employees shall comply with a request
1794from the EEO Officer to conduct an audit.
1795 [Adopted Mar. 15, 2018; Amended Jul. 7, 2021.]
1796 90. (a) The House shall employ a full-time Director of Human Resources. The committee on
1797Rules shall appoint a qualified person to act as the Director at such compensation as the
1798committee on Rules shall approve.
1799The Director shall serve a term of two years from the date of appointment, unless the Director
1800sooner resigns, retires or is removed; provided, however, that the Director may only be removed:
1801(i) for misfeasance, malfeasance or nonfeasance, as determined by agreement of the EEO Officer
1802and Counsel and approved by a majority vote of the committee on Rules; or (ii) by a majority
1803roll call vote of the House. 86 of 141
1804 (b) The Director may employ such assistants as may be necessary in the discharge of the
1805Director's duties, subject to the approval of the committee on Rules, and may expend with like
1806approval such sums as may be necessary for the discharge of their duties.
1807 (c) The Director shall develop and oversee standardized practices and procedures, which shall
1808apply to all applications for employment. The practices and procedures shall include, but shall
1809not be limited to: (i) a standard application for employment; (ii) mandatory background and
1810reference checks, the results of which shall be reported by the Director to the applicant's
1811prospective appointing authority; and (iii) a standard offer letter for each position within the
1812House.
1813 (d) The Director shall develop and oversee standardized practices and procedures, which shall
1814apply to all employees and appointed officers of the House. These practices and procedures shall
1815include or address, without limitation: (i) regular meetings between the Director, the EEO
1816Officer and employees who are supervisors, including an initial meeting within 14 days of the
1817employee assuming such a role; (ii) guidelines for conducting employee performance reviews;
1818(iii) a program of progressive discipline; and (iv) separations from employment including exit
1819interviews for terminated employees.
1820 (e) The Director shall develop employee classifications, which shall include written job
1821descriptions, salary ranges and schedules. The classifications shall be published in the employee
1822and supervisor handbooks. The Director may develop a seniority system on which employee
1823salaries may be based. A seniority system shall be published in the employee handbook.
1824 (f) The Director shall develop practices and procedures for receiving, investigating and
1825resolving personnel complaints unrelated to Rule 88, the House Anti-Harassment Policy, or the
1826House Equal Employment Policy. 87 of 141
1827 (g) The Director shall annually publish: (i) an Employee Handbook; and (ii) an Intern
1828Handbook. Each handbook shall be developed with the advice and approval of the EEO Officer
1829and Counsel, and shall be submitted to the committee on Human Resources and Employee
1830Engagement for review and approval at least 14 days prior to publication.
1831The handbooks shall be available as follows:
1832(i) the Director shall post both handbooks on the human resources web portal;
1833(ii) the Director shall email an electronic copy of the Employee Handbook to each employee
1834within 10 days of its publication and require that each employee sign a written acknowledgement
1835of receipt and return such acknowledgement to the Director within 5 days;
1836(iii) the Director shall email an electronic copy of the Employee Handbook to each new
1837employee within 5 days of the employee's start date and require that the employee sign a written
1838acknowledgement of receipt and return such acknowledgement to the Director within 5 days;
1839 (iv) the committee on Human Resources and Employee Engagement shall provide an Intern
1840Handbook to each intern on the first day of their internship. Upon receipt of the Intern
1841Handbook the intern shall sign a written acknowledgement of receipt that day, which shall be
1842maintained by the committee, with a copy sent to the Director;
1843(vi) hard copies of each handbook shall be available in the offices of the Director, the EEO
1844Officer, Counsel and the Clerk;
1845(vi) the Director shall cause electronic copies of each handbook to be downloaded onto the
1846desktop of each House computer; and
1847(vii) in formats accessible to all members, officers and employees. 88 of 141
1848(h) (1) The Committee on Human Resources and Employee Engagement, in consultation with
1849the Director, shall develop policies to address individuals who provide services to the House in a
1850volunteer capacity or otherwise without receiving compensation
1851(2) The Committee on Human Resources and Employee Engagement, in consultation with the
1852Director and subject to the approval of Counsel, shall develop policies pro-bono service and
1853charitable and community service activities by members, officers and employees of the House.
1854 [Added Mar. 15. 2018; Amended Jan. 30, 2019; Jul. 7, 2021.]
1855 91. The Director shall, in consultation with the EEO Officer, create and maintain an internal
1856web portal for members, officers and employees. The web portal shall provide relevant
1857information on human resource policies and procedures, including, without limitation, the Rules
1858of the House, each handbook published by the Director, explanations of complaint and
1859investigation procedures, contact information for the Director, the EEO Officer and Counsel,
1860training opportunities and schedules and the directory of committee staff required pursuant to
1861Rule 92.
1862 [Added Mar. 15, 2018; Amended Jul. 7, 2021; Feb. 1, 2023.]
1863 92. (a) The House shall employ a full-time Director of Employee Engagement. The
1864committee on Human Resources and Employee Engagement shall appoint a qualified person to
1865act as the Director of Employee Engagement at such compensation as the committee on Human
1866Resources and Employee Engagement shall approve.
1867 (b) The Director of Employee Engagement shall, in consultation with the Director of Human
1868Resources: (i) develop methods for enhancing the skills and professional development of
1869employees including skills for providing constituent services and engaging with, and ensuring 89 of 141
1870the privacy of, members of the public who visit the State House; (ii) explore and develop
1871partnerships with national trade organizations to maximize the opportunities for professional
1872development available to employees; and (iv) engage employees in roundtable discussions on
1873issues of importance or concern.
1874 (c) The Director of Employee Engagement shall assist the committee on Human Resources
1875and Employee Engagement with duties as may be assigned by the committee or the Director of
1876Human Resources.
1877(d) The Director of Employee Engagement shall prepare and publish on the house intranet a
1878directory of committee staff.
1879 [Added Mar. 15, 2018; Amended Jul. 7, 2021.]
1880 93. (a) (1) A member who believes that they have been the object of harassment or
1881retaliation, who witnesses harassment or retaliation, or who becomes aware of harassment or
1882retaliation may make a complaint, either orally or in writing with the EEO Officer, Counsel, or
1883the Director. Upon receipt of a complaint pursuant to this subsection, a recipient other than the
1884EEO Officer shall forthwith provide a detailed account of the complaint to the EEO Officer for
1885assessment pursuant to Rule 94.
1886 (2) An appointed officer, employee or intern of the House who believes that they have been
1887the object of harassment or retaliation, who witnesses harassment or retaliation, or who becomes
1888aware of harassment or retaliation may make a complaint, either orally or in writing, to any of
1889the officer's, employee's or intern's supervisors, the Director, the EEO Officer or Counsel. Upon
1890receipt of a complaint pursuant to this subsection, a recipient other than the EEO Officer shall 90 of 141
1891forthwith provide a detailed account of the complaint to the EEO Officer for assessment pursuant
1892to Rule 94.
1893 (3) A third party who believes that they have been the object of harassment, or who witnesses
1894harassment or retaliation may make a complaint, either orally or in writing, with the EEO
1895Officer. Upon receipt of a complaint pursuant to this subsection, the EEO Officer shall assess
1896the complaint pursuant to Rule 94.
1897 (b) The EEO Officer shall provide guidance for authorized parties who may receive
1898complaints under subsection (a), both in the form of the training referenced in Rule 89 and
1899otherwise. The guidance shall instruct authorized parties on the proper way to receive
1900complaints and to advise complainants on issues including, but not limited to, confidentiality,
1901prohibition on retaliation and the availability of additional resources and avenues for action for
1902the complainant, including possible criminal action where appropriate.
1903 (c) If a complaint, made pursuant to subsection (a), is against the EEO Officer or an employee
1904appointed by the EEO Officer, the recipient of the complaint shall notify Counsel, who shall, in
1905consultation with the Director, investigate the complaint pursuant to Rules 94 to 96, inclusive.
1906 (d) If, based on the nature and circumstances of the complaint, the EEO Officer believes that
1907they cannot objectively assess or investigate a complaint made pursuant to subsection (a) the
1908EEO Officer shall refer the matter to Counsel who shall assume responsibility for the assessment
1909or investigation or refer the complaint to outside counsel for investigation. The EEO Officer
1910shall consult with Counsel to establish guidelines used to identify matters that should be referred
1911to Counsel or outside counsel pursuant to this subsection.
1912 [Added Mar. 15, 2018; Amended Jan. 30, 2019.] 91 of 141
1913 94. (a)(1) All complaints alleging harassment or retaliation by or against a member, officer,
1914intern or employee of the House, or by or against a third party, received by any member, officer
1915or employee of the House, shall be immediately referred to the EEO Officer for assessment.
1916(2) Upon receiving a complaint alleging harassment or retaliation by or against a member, officer
1917or employee of the House, or by or against a third party, the EEO Officer shall promptly
1918undertake an assessment to determine whether the complaint is plausible and requires
1919investigation. Such assessment shall be completed within two weeks from the date of receiving a
1920complaint.
1921Upon a determination by the EEO Officer that a complaint is plausible and requires
1922investigation, the EEO Officer shall commence an investigation of the complaint.
1923Upon a determination by the EEO Officer that a complaint is not plausible and does not require
1924investigation, the EEO Officer shall submit a report to Counsel and the Director describing the
1925complaint and the EEO Officer's basis for determining that the complaint lacked plausibility and
1926did not require investigation. If either Counsel or the Director objects to the EEO Officer's
1927determination, the EEO Officer shall commence an investigation of the complaint.
1928(b) The EEO Officer shall assess complaints and conduct investigations pursuant to written
1929policies and procedures, which shall be established by the EEO Officer pursuant to Rule 98 and
1930published on the human resources web portal. The policies and procedures shall ensure that all
1931assessments, investigations and reports are confidential to the fullest extent practicable under the
1932circumstances and shall include, without limitation, the following: trauma-informed techniques;
1933mechanisms for investigating complaints made by witnesses or third parties; standards for
1934collecting and maintaining evidence; consideration of interim measures; and methods to tailor 92 of 141
1935each investigation to the specific needs of the complainant and particular circumstances of the
1936complaint.
1937(c) The EEO Officer shall complete investigations within 90 days; provided, that the EEO
1938Officer may extend the investigation in extraordinary circumstances. The EEO Officer shall
1939regularly, but no less frequently than every 2 weeks, update the complainant on the status of the
1940investigation. If the EEO Officer believes that interim measures are warranted to protect
1941complainants during the investigation, then the EEO shall recommend such measures to the
1942appropriate supervisory individual or body.
1943(d) Upon the conclusion of an investigation, the EEO Officer shall prepare a report summarizing
1944the complaint, the EEO Officer's investigation, findings and recommendations, if any, for
1945disciplinary, remedial or preventative action, or any combination thereof.
1946 [Added Mar. 15, 2018.]
1947 95. (a) (1) If after completion of an investigation pursuant to Rule 94, the EEO Officer
1948determines that a member has violated Rule 88, the EEO Officer shall recommend disciplinary,
1949remedial or preventative action, or any combination thereof, as is appropriate and proportional
1950under the circumstances, subject to the limitations set forth in paragraphs (2) and (3).
1951(2) Where the EEO Officer's action recommended pursuant to paragraph (1) does not include
1952reprimand, censure, removal from position as a chair or other position of authority, or expulsion,
1953prior to imposing such action the EEO Officer shall notify the member of the action and provide
1954the member with a copy of the EEO Officer's report. The member may, within 10 days of
1955receiving notice, request in writing that the Speaker and Minority Leader appoint a special
1956committee pursuant to Rule 96 to review the findings and recommendations of the EEO Officer. 93 of 141
1957Upon receipt of said request, the Speaker and Minority Leader shall convene a special committee
1958pursuant to Rule 96.
1959If the member fails to request the appointment of a special committee pursuant to Rule 96 within
196010 days, the EEO Officer shall implement the recommended action.
1961(3) If the action recommended pursuant to subsection (a) includes reprimand, censure, removal
1962from position as a chair or other position of authority, or expulsion, the EEO Officer shall
1963request that the Speaker and Minority Leader convene a special committee pursuant to Rule 96
1964to review the findings and recommendations of the EEO Officer. Upon receipt of said request
1965from the EEO Officer, the Speaker and Minority Leader shall appoint a special committee
1966pursuant to Rule 96.
1967(4) Upon the request for a special committee made by the EEO Officer or a member pursuant to
1968this subsection, the EEO Officer shall provide the Speaker and Minority Leader with a copy of
1969the EEO Officer's report.
1970(b) (1) If after completion of an investigation pursuant to Rule 94 the EEO Officer concludes that
1971an appointed officer, intern or employee has violated Rule 88, the EEO Officer shall notify the
1972appointing authority for the appointed officer, intern or employee and recommend and
1973implement remedial, preventative or disciplinary action, or any combination thereof, as is
1974appropriate and proportional under the circumstances, subject to the limitations set forth in
1975paragraph (2). Notwithstanding Rule 97, the appointing authority may inform any other
1976supervisors of the appointed officer, intern or employee of the remedial, preventative or
1977disciplinary action if the appointing authority believes that sharing such information is necessary
1978for maintaining proper supervision of the appointed officer, intern or employee. 94 of 141
1979(2) If after completion of an investigation pursuant to Rule 94 the EEO Officer concludes that an
1980appointed officer, intern or employee has violated Rule 88 and the EEO Officer's action
1981recommended pursuant to paragraph (1) includes termination of employment or internship, the
1982EEO Officer shall forward the recommendation, with all supporting documentation, to Counsel
1983for review and approval. Counsel shall have two business days to review the EEO Officer's
1984recommendation. If Counsel approves the recommendation, Counsel shall notify the EEO
1985Officer and the Director and the Director shall immediately terminate the individual's
1986employment or internship. If Counsel rejects the EEO Officer's recommendation, he shall notify
1987the EEO Officer and the Speaker and the Speaker shall determine the action to be implemented.
1988 [Added Mar. 15, 2018.]
1989 96. (a) Upon receipt of a request pursuant to Rule 95, the Speaker and Minority Leader shall
1990confidentially convene a Special Committee on Professional Conduct, which shall consist of 7
1991members, 5 of whom shall be appointed by the Speaker and 2 of whom shall be appointed by the
1992Minority Leader. To the extent practicable, membership on the special committee shall be
1993apportioned in a way that takes into account the nature of the complaint and the commitment of
1994the House to providing fair and equal opportunity in employment. The Speaker shall appoint a
1995member to serve as chair. No member who has declared their candidacy for any other local,
1996state or federal office shall be appointed to a special committee. Upon appointment of members
1997to the committee, the Speaker and Minority Leader shall notify the EEO Officer and the member
1998who is the subject of the complaint of the identity of the members appointed. The existence of
1999the committee and the identity of the members appointed to the committee shall otherwise
2000remain confidential. 95 of 141
2001(b) The EEO Officer shall provide the members of the special committee with all records
2002relevant to the investigation. The special committee shall review all records and may further
2003investigate, to the extent that it is necessary to resolve the complaint. The special committee
2004may summon witnesses, administer oaths, take testimony and compel the production of books,
2005papers, documents and other evidence in connection with its review.
2006(c) In the case of a special committee convened under this section upon the request for a review
2007by a member pursuant to paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of Rule 95, the committee shall
2008determine whether the EEO Officer's intended action is proportional and appropriate under the
2009circumstances. If a majority of the committee so finds, it shall order that the action
2010recommended by EEO Officer be implemented, along with any additional disciplinary, remedial
2011or preventative action, or any combination thereof, the committee determines to be proportional
2012and appropriate under the circumstances, subject to the limitations set forth in subsection (d). If
2013a majority of the committee finds that the intended action was not proportional or appropriate
2014under the circumstances, it may make a new recommendation for disciplinary, remedial or
2015preventative action, or any combination thereof, subject to the limitations set forth in said
2016subsection (d). All determinations of the committee pursuant to this subsection shall be final.
2017(d) (1) If a majority of the committee finds that a member has violated Rule 88, it may take any
2018disciplinary, remedial or preventative action, or any combination thereof, as it determines to be
2019proportional and appropriate under the circumstances; provided, however, that if the committee
2020determines that reprimand, censure, removal from position as a chair or other position of
2021authority, or expulsion is proportional and appropriate under the circumstances, it shall file a
2022report with the Clerk recommending that the House vote to implement the disciplinary action. 96 of 141
2023(2) Upon the filing of a report pursuant to paragraph (1), the Clerk shall promptly: (i) make the
2024report available to all members electronically; (ii) cause the report to be posted on the website of
2025the General Court; and (iii) place the matter in first position in the Orders of the Day for the next
2026calendar day that the House is meeting; provided, however, that no business shall be conducted
2027on that calendar day or any day thereafter until the question of acceptance or rejection of the
2028special committee's recommendation for discipline is decided by a majority of the members
2029voting and present by a recorded roll call vote. If a majority of the members vote to accept the
2030recommendation for discipline, the member shall be disciplined in the manner so recommended.
2031Unless a majority of the members vote to accept the report, the member shall not be disciplined.
2032(3) All findings and determinations of the committee, including instances where the special
2033committee does not file a report with the Clerk pursuant to paragraph (1), shall be reported to the
2034EEO Officer and shall be final. The EEO Officer shall maintain confidential records of such
2035findings and determinations, except that a report filed pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be public.
2036(e) The committee may consult with Counsel, the EEO Officer or the Director in discharging its
2037duties pursuant to Rules 88 to 97, inclusive.
2038 [Added Mar. 15, 2018; Amended Jan. 30, 2019.]
2039 97. (a) Any information obtained by a member or employee in their official capacity and
2040relating to a complaint or investigation of harassment pursuant to Rules 93 to 96, inclusive, and
2041any records of such information shall be confidential to the fullest extent possible.
2042Confidentiality shall be specifically subject to subsections (b), (c), (d) and (e).
2043(b) (1) The EEO Officer, in reviewing a complaint and conducting an investigation, shall keep
2044the complaint confidential and shall not disclose the identity of the complainant or the person 97 of 141
2045against whom the complaint is made or any other details of the complaint with any member or
2046employee; provided, however, that the EEO Officer may share information to the extent
2047necessary to interview witnesses or parties to the investigation or to consult with Counsel if the
2048EEO Officer determines that such consultation is required in connection with the investigation.
2049(2) In the case of a complaint against a staff person, the EEO Officer shall maintain
2050confidentiality throughout their investigation and implement all remedial actions and discipline
2051short of termination confidentially, without sharing the identity of the complainant or the person
2052against whom the complaint is made or any other details of the complaint with any member or
2053employee; provided, however, that the EEO Officer may share information to the extent
2054necessary to implement any remedial actions or discipline or to consult with Counsel if the EEO
2055Officer determines that such consultation is required in connection with the investigation. This
2056paragraph shall not limit the EEO Officer's ability to transmit the resolution of a complaint,
2057including any discipline resulting therefrom, to the Director for inclusion in the employee's
2058personnel file.
2059(3) In the case of a complaint against a staff person, where the EEO Officer recommends
2060termination, the EEO Officer shall share information with Counsel for review. If Counsel and
2061the EEO Officer disagree as to whether termination is the appropriate discipline, confidentiality
2062shall only be expanded to the extent needed to inform the Office of the Speaker and reach a
2063resolution.
2064(4) In the case of a complaint against a member, the EEO officer shall maintain confidentiality
2065throughout their investigation by: (i) not disclosing information to any member or employee who
2066is not a witness or party to the investigation, except to consult with Counsel if the EEO Officer
2067determines that such consultation is required in connection with the investigation; and (ii) 98 of 141
2068confidentially recommending all remedial actions short of reprimand, censure, removal from
2069position as a chair or other position of authority, or expulsion of a member. This paragraph shall
2070not limit the EEO Officer's ability to: (i) share their report with the Office of the Speaker and the
2071Minority Leader upon the request for a special committee pursuant to Rule 95; and (ii) share any
2072records relevant to the investigation with the special committee convened pursuant to Rule 96;
2073provided, that when sharing their report with the Office of the Speaker and the Minority Leader,
2074the EEO Officer may use pseudonyms, redaction and other methods the EEO Officer considers
2075appropriate to address the needs of a complainant or the circumstances of a complaint.
2076(c) (1) The establishment of a special committee pursuant to Rule 96 shall be completely
2077confidential, except that the Speaker and Minority Leader shall disclose the names of their
2078respective appointments to the EEO Officer. The EEO Officer shall maintain a confidential
2079record of the membership of each special committee that is convened.
2080(2) All proceedings of a special committee convened pursuant to Rule 96 shall be confidential
2081and members of the committee shall not share any information about the complaint and
2082investigation for which the committee was convened with any other member or employee,
2083including their own appointed staff; provided, however, that the committee may consult with
2084Counsel if the chair of the committee determines that such consultation is required in connection
2085with the investigation.
2086(3) A special committee convened pursuant to Rule 96 shall implement all actions short of
2087reprimand, censure, removal from position as a chair or other position of authority, or expulsion
2088of a member confidentially, except that the special committee shall submit a final report to the
2089EEO Officer and may consult with Counsel if the chair of the committee determines that such
2090consultation is required in connection with their recommended action. The committee's 99 of 141
2091recommendation, if any, for reprimand, censure, removal from position as a chair or other
2092position of authority, or expulsion of a member, shall be a public document; provided, however,
2093that the committee may use pseudonyms to conceal the identity of the complainant if the
2094circumstances of the complaint so warrant.
2095(d) All authorized parties shall keep complaints confidential, except to share the complaint with
2096the EEO Officer.
2097(e) Nothing in this Rule shall limit the ability of the EEO Officer to share information with a
2098complainant, to the extent appropriate, in order to properly conclude the complaint or
2099investigation process.
2100 [Added Mar. 15, 2018; Amended Jan. 30, 2019.]
2101 98. The EEO Officer and the Director shall establish all policies, procedures and guidelines
2102required by Rules 88 to 97, inclusive, and may develop supplemental policies, procedures and
2103guidelines necessary to implement or enforce Rules 88 to 97, inclusive; provided, that no policy,
2104procedure or guideline shall take effect without the prior review and written approval of Counsel
2105and the committee on Human Resources and Employee Engagement. Where appropriate, these
2106policies, procedures and guidelines shall be included in the handbooks.
2107The EEO Officer and the Director may consult with each other, Counsel, and the committee on
2108Human Resources and Employee Engagement to carry out the requirements of Rules 88 to 97,
2109inclusive.
2110 [Added Mar. 15, 2018; Amended Jul. 7, 2021.]
2111 99. In the event of a vacancy in the office of EEO Officer appointed pursuant to Rule 89,
2112Counsel may, notwithstanding House Rule 87 and utilizing sound business practices, procure the 100 of 141
2113services of an Equal Employment Opportunity Officer, hereinafter the Contract EEO Officer, to
2114perform the duties of the EEO Officer established in Rules 88 to 100, inclusive, during said
2115vacancy as required.
2116Notwithstanding Rules 88 to 100, inclusive, all complaints alleging a violation of Rule 88, the
2117House Policy Prohibiting Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation, or the House Equal
2118Employment Policy, including, but not limited to complaints alleging harassment or retaliation
2119shall be referred to the Contract EEO Officer for review and, if necessary, investigation pursuant
2120to Rules 88 through 100.
2121Counsel shall consult with the Chair of the House Committee on Rules prior to executing a
2122contract for services pursuant to this Rule.
2123 [Added March 15, 2018; Amended Jul. 7, 2021.]
2124 100. (a) No member, officer or employee shall execute any agreement to settle any legal
2125claim or potential legal claim by any current or former member, officer or employee unless said
2126agreement is executed pursuant to this rule.
2127(b) No member, officer or employee shall execute any agreement to settle any legal claim or
2128potential legal claim brought by any current or former member, officer or employee without the
2129approval of Counsel, the Director and the EEO Officer. Counsel, the Director and the EEO
2130Officer shall each independently review the claim or potential legal claim brought by any current
2131or former member, officer or employee and confirm that the claim or potential claim does not
2132relate to sexual harassment or retaliation based on a claim of sexual harassment. Counsel, the
2133Director and the EEO Officer shall not approve any settlement of a legal claim or potential legal
2134claim brought by any current or former member, officer or employee pursuant to this subsection 101 of 141
2135if Counsel, the Director or the EEO Officer reasonably believes such legal claim or potential
2136legal claim relates to sexual harassment or retaliation based on a claim of sexual harassment.
2137(c) No member, officer or employee shall execute any agreement to settle any legal claim or
2138potential legal claim of sexual harassment, or retaliation based on a legal claim or potential legal
2139claim of sexual harassment, by any current or former member, officer or employee unless said
2140agreement is executed pursuant to this subsection.
2141No member, officer or employee shall execute any agreement to settle a legal claim or potential
2142legal claim of sexual harassment, or retaliation based on a legal claim or potential legal claim of
2143sexual harassment, by any current or former member, officer or employee unless:
21441. the request to negotiate said agreement was initiated, in writing, by the person filing or eligible
2145to file the legal claim or potential legal claim or a person legally authorized to represent that
2146person;
21472. the person filing the legal claim or eligible to file the legal claim is given 15 days to review
2148and consider the agreement;
21493. the duration of any non-disclosure or non-disparagement provision of the agreement to settle
2150the legal claim or potential legal claim is for a finite period of time as agreed to by the parties;
21514. the agreement to settle the legal claim or potential legal claim specifically provides that no
2152provision of the agreement, including any non-disclosure or non-disparagement provision of the
2153agreement, shall preclude any party from participating in an investigation by Counsel, the
2154Director, the EEO Officer, a Committee on Professional Conduct or any law enforcement
2155agency; and
21565. the agreement is approved in writing by Counsel, the Director and the EEO Officer. 102 of 141
2157(d) In the case of an agreement to settle any legal claim or potential legal claim of sexual
2158harassment pursuant to this Rule by a member, the Speaker and Minority Leader shall appoint a
2159Special Committee on Professional Conduct pursuant to Rule 96 to determine if the member
2160shall be required to personally reimburse the House for all or part of the settlement amount.
2161Upon a determination by the Special Committee that the member shall be required to personally
2162reimburse the House for all or part of the settlement amount, it shall determine the amount to be
2163reimbursed and immediately notify the member of that amount
2164(e) Upon request of the party described in paragraph numbered 1 above or the complainant,
2165Counsel shall waive any non-disclosure or non-disparagement provision of any agreement
2166executed prior to the effective date of this Rule by the House and any current or former member,
2167officer or employee, to allow said current or former member, officer or employee to report or
2168discuss a claim of sexual harassment or retaliation based on sexual harassment.
2169 [Added Mar. 15, 2018; Amended Jan. 30, 2019; Jul. 7, 2021.]
2170 101. Notwithstanding Rule 7C, the Speaker may, upon recommendation of a majority of the
2171committee on Rules, activate remote rules for the operation of the House of Representatives as
2172provided within this rule:
2173 Remote Rules for the Operation of the House of Representatives
2174 Remote Rule 1. As used in Remote Rules 1 through 16, inclusive, the following terms shall
2175have the following meanings:-
2176“Clerk”, the Clerk of the House of Representatives.
2177“Formal session”, a formal session of the House. 103 of 141
2178“House”, the House of Representatives.
2179“House Chamber”, the House Chamber within the Massachusetts State House in Boston or the
2180location to which the House at its previous formal or informal session adjourned to meet.
2181“Member”, a member of the House of Representatives.
2182“Monitor”, one of the members appointed by the Speaker pursuant to Standing Rule 8.
2183“Participating remotely” or “remotely present”, participating by telephone, teleconference, video
2184conference or other means.
2185 “Present”, a member either physically present in the House Chamber for a formal session or
2186remotely present, and participating in a formal session.
2187“Quorum”, eighty-one members present for a formal session.
2188 “Speaker”, the Speaker of the House or the member presiding at the formal session of the House
2189after being appointed by the Speaker to perform the duties of the Chair pursuant to Standing Rule
21905.
2191 “Standing rules”, House Rules 1 through 100, inclusive.
2192 Remote Rule 2. (a)(1) , The House may assemble in a formal session with members
2193participating remotely. Members participating remotely in a formal session may vote on any
2194question or other matter before the House. Members participating remotely in a formal session
2195shall be considered present and in attendance at the formal session for all purposes, including for
2196purposes of determining a quorum pursuant to Article XXXIII of the Amendments to the
2197Constitution of the Commonwealth or any standing rules and for purposes of appearing before 104 of 141
2198the Governor and council pursuant to Part the Second, Chapter VI, Article I of the Constitution
2199of the Commonwealth.
2200 (2) A member participating remotely in a formal session shall have the same privileges, rights
2201and responsibilities as if the member were physically present in the House Chamber, including
2202without limitation, the right, privilege and responsibility to cast votes on all questions or other
2203matters brought to a vote and the ability to the take the oath required pursuant to Part the Second,
2204Chapter VI, Article I of the Constitution of the Commonwealth.
2205(3) At the commencement of a formal session, the Speaker shall take the Chair at the hour to
2206which the House stands adjourned, call the House to order and immediately order a quorum roll
2207call.
2208(4)(i) The House shall not be called to order before the hour of 10:00 A.M. nor meet beyond the
2209hour of midnight unless by unanimous consent of the members present.
2210 (ii) All votes taken on the enactment of any bill or resolve during any formal session where
2211members are participating remotely shall be by roll call vote.
2212(5) The Clerk shall prepare a Journal for the House for any formal session of the House held
2213remotely. The Journal for the House may reflect that the formal session was convened pursuant
2214to remote rules, but shall not deviate in any substantive manner from the Journal of the House
2215required to be prepared by the Clerk pursuant to Standing Rule 10. The Journal of the House for
2216any formal session of the House held during the state of emergency within the House shall not
2217specify which members participated remotely.
2218(b)(1) The Speaker shall preside from within the House Chamber over any formal session of the
2219House where any member is participating remotely. The Minority Leader, Chair of the 105 of 141
2220committee on Ways and Means, Ranking Minority Member of the committee on Ways and
2221Means, the House Chair and Ranking Minority Member of the joint committee from which any
2222bill being debated at the formal session has been reported, or their designees, and the division
2223monitors may also be physically present. All other members are strongly encouraged to
2224participate remotely in a formal session.
2225 (2) Officers and employees essential to the conduct of the formal session may be present in the
2226House Chamber during a formal session with the express authorization of the Speaker in
2227consultation with the Minority Leader. The Speaker and Minority Leader may have two
2228employees from their office present in the House Chamber during a formal session. No other
2229officer or employee shall be physically present in the House Chamber unless deemed essential to
2230the conduct of the formal session by the Speaker. [Amended Feb. 1, 2023.]
2231 (3) All members, officers and employees physically present in the House Chamber during a
2232formal session shall, at the direction of the Speaker, undertake any mitigation measures ordered
2233by the Speaker. Court Officers shall strictly enforce mitigation measures directed by the Speaker
2234by and between members, officers and employees in and around the House Chamber. Any
2235member, officer or employee in violation of the mitigation measures ordered by the Speaker
2236shall be removed from the House Chamber.
2237 Remote Rule 3. (a) A member participating remotely may make any motion authorized
2238pursuant to the standing rules, raise a point of order, raise a point of personal privilege, or raise a
2239point of parliamentary inquiry. Members participating remotely shall notify their division
2240monitor of their desire to make a motion, raise a point of order, raise a point of personal privilege
2241or raise a point of parliamentary inquiry. The division monitor shall immediately notify the
2242Speaker who shall recognize the member seeking to make a motion, raise a point of order, raise a 106 of 141
2243point of personal privilege or raise a point of parliamentary inquiry. No member shall interrupt
2244another member while that member is speaking, including to request that the member speaking
2245yield, except for the reasons authorized herein.
2246 (b) A vote on any motion made pursuant to subsection (a) shall be conducted by voice vote as
2247prescribed by subsection (b) of Remote Rule 5, unless the Constitution or the standing rules
2248specifically require a roll call vote.
2249 (c) A motion made by a member participating remotely may be made and submitted by the
2250division monitor for the floor division of the House wherein the seat assigned to said member
2251pursuant to Standing Rule 79 is located.
2252 Remote Rule 4. (a) A member participating remotely wishing to speak on any question before
2253the House shall notify the monitor for the floor division of the House wherein the seat assigned
2254to said member pursuant to Standing Rule 79 is located as follows:
2255(i) A member wishing to speak on a bill, resolve or the General Appropriation Bill, or an
2256amendment thereto, shall notify their floor division monitor no later than 10:00 A.M. on the day
2257that the bill, resolve, General Appropriation Bill, or amendment thereto, is scheduled to be
2258considered by the House. Said notification shall include: (1) the number of the bill, resolve
2259General Appropriation Bill, or amendment thereto, that the member wishes to speak to; and (2)
2260whether the member wishes to speak in favor of or in opposition to the bill, resolve, General
2261Appropriation Bill, or amendment thereto.
2262(ii) A member wishing to speak on a consolidated amendment shall notify their floor division
2263monitor no later than 45 minutes after the consolidated amendment shall have been first filed
2264with the Clerk and made available electronically to the members. Said notification shall include: 107 of 141
2265(1) the number or letter of the consolidated amendment the member wishes to speak to; and (2)
2266whether the member wishes to speak in favor of or in opposition to the consolidated amendment.
2267(iii) A member wishing to speak on a conference committee report filed pursuant to Joint Rule
226811B shall notify their floor division monitor no later than 10:00 A.M. on the day the conference
2269committee report is scheduled to be considered by the House. Said notification shall include: (1)
2270the bill number of the conference committee report; and (2) whether the member wishes to speak
2271in favor of, or in opposition to the report. The provisions of this paragraph shall be inoperative if
2272the conference committee report is filed later than 8:00 P.M. on the day preceding its
2273consideration by the House.
2274 (b) The monitor for each division shall prepare a list of members of their division notifying the
2275monitor of said member’s desire to speak in favor of a question before the House and a list of
2276members of their division notifying the monitor of said member’s desire to speak in opposition
2277to a question before the House. Each list shall be arranged in order of the time the monitor
2278received the notification with the notification received the earliest being first.
2279(c) Upon completion of the lists required pursuant to subsection (b), the monitors for each
2280division shall transmit the lists to the Speaker and the Minority Leader. The Speaker shall
2281combine the lists received from each of the division monitors and, in consultation with the
2282Minority Leader, shall prepare a consolidated list of members notifying their monitor of the
2283member’s desire to speak in favor of a question before the House and a consolidated list of
2284members of their division notifying the monitor of said member’s desire to speak in opposition
2285to a question before the House. 108 of 141
2286(d) The Speaker shall distribute the lists compiled pursuant to subsection (c) to all members
2287electronically prior to the commencement of the formal session. The Speaker shall distribute the
2288list compiled pursuant to subsection (a)(ii) as soon as practicable upon completion.
2289(e) The consolidated lists prepared by the Speaker pursuant to subsection (c) and distributed to
2290the membership pursuant to subsection (d) shall be the order in which members are recognized
2291during the debate of the respective question. In recognizing members from said lists, the Speaker
2292shall, to the extent practicable, alternate between members wishing to speak in favor of the
2293question and members wishing to speak in opposition to the question.
2294 (f) A member participating remotely may, in lieu of speaking on a bill, resolve, amendment,
2295consolidated amendment or a conference committee report, submit written remarks in favor of,
2296or in opposition to, any bill, resolve, amendment, consolidated amendment or conference
2297committee report to the Clerk before the adjournment of the formal session in which said bill,
2298resolve, amendment, consolidated amendment or conference committee report was considered by
2299the House. Said remarks shall be transmitted to the Clerk electronically in a format prescribed by
2300the Clerk. The Clerk shall include any remarks submitted by a member participating remotely
2301pursuant to this section in the Journal of the House required to be kept by the Clerk pursuant to
2302Standing Rule 10 and Remote Rule 2.
2303 Remote Rule 5. (a) Notwithstanding Standing Rules 50 through 52, inclusive, during a formal
2304session where members are participating remotely a vote on any question shall be by either a
2305voice vote of the members present and voting pursuant to subsection (b) or a roll call vote of the
2306members present and voting pursuant to subsection (c). Any question that would require a
2307standing vote under the standing rules shall be decided by a voice vote of the members present
2308and voting pursuant to subsection (b). 109 of 141
2309 (b) When a question is put, the sense of the House shall be taken by the voices of the members,
2310and the Speaker shall first announce the vote as it appears to the Speaker by the sound. If the
2311Speaker is unable to decide by the sound of the voices, or if the announcement made thereupon is
2312doubted by a member, the Speaker shall order the division monitors to ascertain the number of
2313members within in their division voting in the affirmative and the number of members within in
2314their division voting in the negative, without further debate upon the question. The division
2315monitors shall report the total vote of their division count to the Speaker. After receiving the
2316reports of the total vote counts from each of the division monitors, the Speaker shall tally said
2317votes and then announce the vote.
2318(c) The sense of the House shall be taken by yeas and nays whenever required by 10 percent of
2319the members elected or when required pursuant to the Constitution of the Commonwealth. The
2320Speaker shall state the pending question and shall order the division monitors to commence the
2321roll call of the members. The division monitors shall call the roll of the members assigned to said
2322division in alphabetical order. The division monitors shall record the votes of each member on a
2323form prescribed by the Clerk. Upon completion of the roll call, the division monitors shall sign
2324the form upon which the roll call for their division was recorded and submit the completed form
2325to the Clerk. The Clerk shall tally the votes of the members of each division and shall enter the
2326votes into the electronic roll call machine. Upon completion of the tally and the entry of the votes
2327into the electronic roll call machine, the Clerk shall notify the Speaker that the vote has been
2328completed. Upon instruction from the Speaker, the Clerk shall display the tally of the vote on the
23292 monitors in the House Chamber. The Speaker shall then announce the vote.
2330 (d) If a member doubts the presence of a quorum, the Speaker shall order the division monitors
2331to ascertain the number of members within in their divisions who are present. Any member 110 of 141
2332confirmed by the division monitor to be participating remotely shall be considered present. The
2333division monitors shall report the total number of members present to the Speaker. After
2334receiving the reports of the total number of members present from each of the division monitors,
2335the Speaker shall tally the numbers and then announce the number of members present. If, after
2336tallying the numbers from each of the division monitors a quorum is not present, the Speaker
2337shall order a roll call vote pursuant to subsection (c).
2338 (e) The call for yeas and nays shall be decided without debate. If the yeas and nays have been
2339ordered before the question is put, the proceedings under subsection (b) shall be omitted.
2340(f) Except as heretofore provided, any member who shall vote or attempt to vote for another
2341member or any person not a member who votes or attempts to vote for a member, or any member
2342or other person who willfully tampers with or attempts to impair or destroy in any manner
2343whatsoever the voting equipment used by the House, or change the records thereon shall be
2344punished in such manner as the House determines; and provided further, that such a violation
2345shall be reported to the committee on Ethics.
2346 Remote Rule 6. No consolidated amendment to any bill offered by the committee on Ways
2347and Means shall be considered by the House until the expiration of at least 30 minutes after the
2348consolidated amendment shall have been first filed with the Clerk and made available
2349electronically to the members. This rule shall not be suspended unless by unanimous consent of
2350the members present.
2351 Remote Rule 7. No consolidated amendment to any bill offered by the committee on Ways
2352and Means shall be adopted except by a roll call vote. 111 of 141
2353 Remote Rule 8. Notwithstanding any standing rule to the contrary, with the approval of the
2354Speaker, a member, officer or employee may take photographs and videos of, and in, the House
2355Chamber provided said photographs or videos are to facilitate the remote participation in the
2356formal session by a member.
2357 Remote Rule 9. (a) Notwithstanding any standing rule to the contrary, unless authorized
2358pursuant to subsection (b) or subsection (c), no member participating in a formal session shall be
2359recognized more than once on any question before the House without unanimous consent or on
2360any question before the House for more than 10 minutes without unanimous consent.
2361(b) The following members may, notwithstanding subsection (a), be recognized more than once
2362on any question before the House: (1) the Minority Leader; (2) the member carrying the report of
2363the committee; (3) and the Ranking Minority Member of the committee reporting the bill.
2364(c) Notwithstanding subsection (a), after all members have been recognized pursuant to Remote
2365Rule 4, a member who is the primary sponsor of a bill, resolve or an amendment, or a designee
2366of said member, may, in addition to being recognized pursuant to Remote Rule 4, be recognized
2367for purposes of providing rebuttal or further explanation. If a member who is the primary sponsor
2368of a bill, resolve or amendment or their designee is recognized pursuant to this subsection a
2369member from the opposite political party designated by the member carrying the report of the
2370committee or the Ranking Minority Member of the committee reporting the bill may also be
2371recognized in addition to being recognized pursuant to Remote Rule 4. No member shall be
2372recognized pursuant to this subsection for more than 5 minutes without unanimous consent.
2373 Remote Rule 10. Notwithstanding any standing rule to the contrary, any formal session where
2374members are participating remotely shall be livestreamed on the General Court website. Audio or 112 of 141
2375video recordings of all such sessions shall be made available to the public on the General Court
2376website. All House sessions conducted by electronic means shall be broadcast on House
2377television.
2378 Remote Rule 11. Notwithstanding any standing rule to the contrary, no technical failure that
2379breaks the remote connection of a member or members of the House of Representatives
2380participating remotely in a formal session shall invalidate any action taken by the House of
2381Representatives.
2382 Remote Rule 12. Notwithstanding Standing Rule 49, members participating remotely may
2383vote in a quorum roll call.
2384 Remote Rule 13. Except as otherwise indicated, Remote Rules 1 through 16, inclusive, shall
2385not be suspended unless by a 2/3 vote of the members present and voting. Debate upon a motion
2386for the suspension of Remote Rules 1 through 16, inclusive, shall be limited to 15 minutes and
2387no member shall speak for more than 3 minutes.
2388 Remote Rule 14. The provisions of any standing or remote rules pertaining to procedures of
2389the House may be suspended and alternative procedures may be used if said alternative methods
2390are approved by a 2/3 majority of the committee on Rules and approved, in writing, by the
2391Speaker and the Minority Leader. The Clerk shall enter any such approvals in the House Journal
2392for the formal session required to be kept by the Clerk pursuant to Standing Rule 10.
2393 Remote Rule 15. Except to the extent that they conflict with Remote Rules 1 through 16,
2394inclusive, the standing rules shall remain in full force and effect. 113 of 141
2395 Remote Rule 16. Remote Rules 1 through 16, inclusive, shall remain activated for no longer
2396than 30 days after being activated by the Speaker; provided, that the House of Representative
2397shall not operate under remote rules beyond 30 days without the adoption of an Order by a
2398majority of the House.
2399 [Emergency remote rule historical notes: See House document numbered 4690 of the 191st
2400General Court; also see House documents numbered 59 and 3929 of the 192nd General Court;
2401Added to Rules Jul. 7, 2021; Amended Feb. 1, 2023.]
House of Representatives, February 1, 2023.
A D O P T E D
, Clerk 114 of 141
193nd GENERAL COURT (2023-2024 SESSION).
INDEX TO THE HOUSE RULES
[The figures refer to the numbers of the Rules.]
Adjourn, motion to, 55, 64, 65, 82.
Adjournment at hour of midnight, unless by unanimous consent, 1A.
Admission to the floor, 80.
Advance Calendar, 12.
Advertising, Joint Rule 9, 85.
Advisory opinions of the Ethics Committee, 16.
AMENDMENTS:
amendment to amendment, etc., 72.
bill may be moved as, 36.
committee changes, twenty-four hours, 33A.
consolidated, 20A, 33E.
engrossed bill not to be amended, except, 40.
from Senate, sent back for concurrence, 22, 35, 40.
in filling blanks, largest sum, etc., 75.
motions to amend, 65, 72 to 75. 115 of 141
not to be admitted of a different subject, 73.
of rules, 84.
striking out enacting clause, 40.
submission to Clerk, 33A.
to be reduced to writing, 62.
to be referred to committee on Bills in the Third Reading, 22.
to be reported by committee on Bills in the Third Reading, 22.
to General Appropriation Bill, 20A.
when previous question is in order, 66, 67.
when question is divided, 74.
Appeals from the decision of the Speaker, 2, 55, 59, 77.
Appropriation bill, general, available seven days prior to debate, 20.
Appropriation bill, general, procedures for consideration, 20A, 20B.
Appropriation bill, general, time for reporting, 27.
Appropriation bills, explanations, 20B, 21.
Appropriation bills returned by the Governor, 30. 116 of 141
Attire, dress in proper and appropriate for all sessions, 2.
Audio/visual reproduction of
committee meetings, 17A.
House Chamber, 2.
Auditing of House accounts, 85A.
Ballot or acclamation ratification in caucus, 18B.
BILLS:
1. Preliminary.
accompanying petitions, 24.
availability electronically and on General Court website, of, 13A, 20B (GAB).
for special legislation, not to be reported if object is attainable by
general or existing laws, 26.
how to be drafted, 31.
how to be introduced, 36.
motions contemplating legislation, etc., to be founded upon petition
or upon bill or resolve, 30. 117 of 141
summaries of to be made available prior to roll call, 33A
to be deposited with Clerk, 24.
to be read by titles only, unless, etc., 37.
2. As reported by committees.
copies, twenty-four hour availability, 17A, 33A.
general rather than special, 26.
restriction or regulation of reports, 17, 17B, 26, 33A, 38.
3. Before the second reading.
from the Senate, or from committees, 7A, 41.
if opposed, question on rejection, etc.; otherwise, second reading,
32, 41.
involving expenditures of public money, referred to committee on
Ways and Means, 33.
involving policy changes, availability, 33A.
referred to committee, etc., 34.
4. Before the third reading.
duties and powers of committee on Bills in the Third Reading, 22, 118 of 141
79(1).
referred to said committee, 22.
placed in Orders of the Day, 43.
5. After the third reading.
not to be engrossed unless read on three several days, 39.
6. After engrossment.
certified by Clerk for final passage, 23.
not to be amended, except, 40.
returned by Governor with recommendations of amendment, 40.
7. Provisions applicable at several stages.
arrangement of matters in Orders of the Day, 12, 46.
consideration of matters in Orders of the Day, 45.
final disposition precludes renewal of subject, 38.
matters not to be discharged from Orders of the Day, 47.
motion to strike out enacting clause, when receivable, 40.
provisions respecting bills also applicable to resolves, 78.
Bills in the Third Reading, committee on, 17, 18A, 22, 28, 28A, 35, 45, 79(1). 119 of 141
floor amendments, 73A.
motion to discharge or report, 28, 55, 64.
time for reporting, 28A.
written explanation of changes, 22.
Blanks, filling of, 75.
Business Manager of the House
financial account audits, 85A.
procurement of goods and services, 87.
Calendar, 12, 13, 28A, 45, 46, 47.
Calendar, dispense with printing of, 12.
Capital outlay bills, 20, 21.
Caucuses and caucus groups, 17C, 18, 18A, 18B, 19, 19A, 19B.
Chairpersons and ranking members, appointment, etc.
nomination and caucus approval, 18, 18A.
removal of if criminally indicted, 18., 18A. 120 of 141
Chaplain, may be appointed by Speaker, 7.
Charitable and community service, 16A, 17C, 90.
Charts, displays, posters and visual aids, regulate use, 2.
CLERK, 7A, 10, 10A, 11, 12, 13A, 14, 16A, 17A, 17C, 20, 23, 24, 28, 30, 33B, 42A, 48, 79(1),
84, 85A, 87A.
amendments, submission to, 33A.
announce members not voting prior to roll calls, 48.
availability of bills, etc., by the, 7D, 10, 12, 17A, 20, 20A, 20B, 21, 24(5), 33A, 37, 42A, 84A,
85A.
cast votes for members due to malfunction of voting station, 49.
certifying bills for final passage, 23.
disable voting station of certain absent members, 48.
keeper of records, 10B.
Website of the General Court, internet posting, 12, 13A, 17A, 20B.
Code of Ethics, 16A, 16B.
Commit, motion to, 64, 65, 71.
COMMITTEES:
Audio/visual reproduction of meetings of, 17A. 121 of 141
bill summaries to be made available prior to roll calls, 33A.
chairpersons of, ratification, 18.
conference, minority member, 18A.
duty of committee on Ways and Means, 20, 20A, 21, 27, 28, 30, 33.
hearings and House sessions, scheduling, 7B, 7D, 17.
Human Services and Employee Engagement committee, 16A, 16B, 17, 17C, 18A.
members of, ratification, 18A.
motions to discharge, etc., 28, 55, 64.
no member to serve where their private right, etc., 16A(14).
office space, 17C.
on Bills in the Third Reading, 17, 18A, 22, 28, 28A, 45, 79(1).
on each Floor Division, 9A, 17.
on Ethics, 16, 16A.
on Rules, 7B, 7C, 7D, 17, 85.
on Steering, Policy and Scheduling, 7A, 7D, 17, 41, 42, 42A.
open meetings, 17A.
ought not to pass reports on bills, question on rejection, 32. 122 of 141
ranking members of, appointment, etc., 18.
records of to be maintained, 17A.
records of to be published in LAWS and on website, 17B.
remote participation in, 17A.
reports, 17B.
reports on local matters, 7A.
staff directory, 91, 92.
staffing, 17C.
standing, to be appointed, 17.
Testimony solicitation, 17A
time for reporting appropriation bill, 27.
to be appointed by Speaker and Minority Leader, 18.
to discharge or direct to report, 7A, 28, 42A, 55, 64.
to make report on all matters, except, 27.
to report adversely in certain cases, 26, 32, 85.
Travel, propositions for, to committee on Rules, 85.
voting, 16A, 17B. 123 of 141
Voting in House Chamber, period of time if committees are meeting, 52.
Community and charitable service, 16A, 17C, 90.
Conduct, standards of, 88 to 100.
Consolidated amendments, 20A, 33E, 33F.
Constitution, proposals for amendment, 42.
COUNSEL TO THE HOUSE
Appointment, duties, removal and service of, 13B.
Audits of House financial accounts, 85A.
Procurement of goods and services, 87.
Standards of conduct responsibilities, 88 to 91, 93, 94 to 100.
Credit, pledging of, 22, 23, 17A.
DEBATE, RULES OF, 57 to 61, 64.
during informal sessions, prohibit, 44.
matters to be disposed of without debate, 45, 47, 48, 50, 53, 56, 61,
64, 66 to 69, 77, 83.
motions for suspension of rules, 83. 124 of 141
motions to be decided without debate, 64, 83.
motions to close debate, 55, 64, 65, 69.
motions to commit or recommit, 64.
motions to discharge or direct committee to report, 64.
motions to postpone to a time certain, 55, 64, 70.
motions to reconsider, 56.
second, etc., legislative days, 55, 64A.
Speaker may speak to points of order, etc., 2.
thirty minute limit, 61, 77.
yielding, 60.
Disabled members, voting by, 49.
Discharge of a committee, 7A, 24(6), 28, 55, 64.
Discharge reports, 7A, 42, 42A.
Discharges from Orders of the Day, 47.
Discrimination complaints, 99.
Displays, charts, posters and visual aids, regulate use, 2.
Division of a question, 74. 125 of 141
Dockets, 13A, 24(7),
Elections, to fill vacancies, 6.
Electronic devices, 2.
Electronic mail and Legislative Web Page, 7D, 12, 17A, 42A.
Electronic voting system, 15, 49, 52.
Emergency preamble, 22, 23, 40.
Emergency Remote Rules, 101 (Historical note: see House document numbered 4690 of the
191st General Court, and House documents numbered 59 and 3929 of the 192nd General Court).
Employee Engagement Officer, 92
Employees,
committee staff directory, 91.
charitable and community service, 16A.
classification plan, 17C(b).
partnerships with national trade organizations, 92.
training opportunities and professional development, 91, 92.
Enacting clause, when motion to strike out, receivable, 40.
Engrossed bills, 23, 28(6), 40.
Equal employment complaints, 99. 126 of 141
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Officer, 13B, 89 to 100.
Ethics,16, 16A
advisory opinions, 16.
training, 16B.
Ethics, code of, 16A.
Ethics committee, 16, 16C, 17, 52.
bills pertaining to certain subjects referred to after first reading, 16C.
candidacy for state or federal office, 16.
create committee bills, 16, 24(1).
voting violations, referred to, 52.
Excused from voting, time for application for, 48.
Executive conference, 17A.
Executive session, 17A.
Federal Stimulus and Census Oversight committee, 17.
Files, taking of matters from, 24.
Final passage, to be certified by Clerk, 23. 127 of 141
Financial accounts, auditing, 85A.
Fiscal note, (on bills) 33. (on consolidated amendments) 20A.
Floor leaders, 18.
Formal session to consider veto, petition for, 44.
Formal sessions, dress code and cellular telephones, 2.
General appropriation bill, 20, 20A, 27.
General bill rather than special, 26.
Global Warming and Climate Change, committee on, 17.
GOVERNOR:
messages from, to be referred, unless, 30.
messages setting terms of de-authorizing or authorizing bonds and notes, 17A.
messages or recommendations from, to be filed in a format determined by the Clerk, 30.
return of appropriation bills by, 30.
return of bills and resolves by, 40.
Session to consider vetoes of, 44.
Harassment policies, complaints, etc., 88-100 128 of 141
Home rule matters, reports on to be considered, 7A.
House Chamber, photography or video recording, 2.
Hours of meetings, 1A.
Human Resources and Employee Engagement, committee on, 16A, 16B, 17, 17C, 18A, 89, 90,
92, 98.
Human Resources Director, 13B, 88, 90, 92, 94.
Informal sessions, 12, 44, 54, 81.
Investigations, propositions involving special, by committees, to be
referred to committee on Rules, 85.
Journal, 10, 11, 24.
Leadership positions, removal upon indictment, 18.
Legal Counsel of the House, advisory opinions by, 16.
Legal counsel representation at executive conferences, 17A.
Legislative days, second or subsequent, 55, 64A.
Legislative or executive agents or counsels, 16A, 80, 81. 129 of 141
Legislative web page or Internet, 13A, 17A, 20B, 81, 84A.
Loan bills, 22, 23.
Local matters, reports on to be considered and to be filed in paper and electronic form, 7A.
Majority Leader, etc., Acting Speaker, 5.
Majority leaders, 18.
Meetings
definition of, 17A.
regulating hours of, 1A.
MEMBERS, 14, 15.
about to speak, to rise and address the Speaker, etc., 57.
attire of, 2.
desiring to be excused from voting, etc., 48.
first named, to be chair of committee, etc., appointment, 18A.
journal, 10.
may request an enactment, 28(6).
may request the taking of matters from the files, 24. 130 of 141
medical concerns, remote voting, 49.
military obligations, remote voting 49.
monitors, regulating voting, 9.
naming or seating, 59.
not to interrupt another, etc., 60.
not to speak more than once, etc., 61.
not to stand at Clerk's desk during roll call, 14.
not to stand up, etc., 14.
not to serve on committee where their private right, etc., 16A(14).
not to vote for other members, 16A.
not to vote where their private right, etc., 16A(14).
notify Clerk of absences, 48.
number of, on each standing committee, 17.
photography during session, 2.
privilege of the floor, 80. See Voting.
ranking members, appointment, etc., 18.
ratification and removal, 18. 131 of 141
remote voting, 49.
seats, 79.
Speaker, recognition of members, 58.
stipends, prohibit more than one, 18.
to deposit petition, etc., with the Clerk, 24.
to endorse name on certain papers, 29.
video recording during session, 2.
voting, recording within five minutes, 52.
Messages from the Governor
to be filed in a format determined by the Clerk, 30
to be referred, etc., 30.
MINORITY LEADER:
to call a caucus, 19.
to nominate Assistant Minority Floor Leader, etc., 18.
to nominate committee members, 18A.
Minority party, caucus rules, 19A.
Minority party, percentage of committee membership, 18A. 132 of 141
Mobile devices, 2.
Monitors, 8, 9.
Motions, 62 to 75, 83, 85.
to be reduced to writing, 62.
Naming of members, 59.
Notice to parties, 85.
Office space, 17C.
Open meetings, 17A.
Operations, Facilities and Security committee, 17.
Order. See Questions of Order.
Orders:
filing of, 24.
involving expenditures for special committees, 33.
once rejected or disposed of, not to be renewed, 38.
providing that information be transmitted to the House, 85. 133 of 141
reported by committees, 42.
Orders of the Day, 12, 13, 28, 41 to 47.
Parliamentarian, 10A.
Parliamentary inquiry, 60.
Personal privilege, 60.
PETITIONS, 24, 25, 29, 30.
final disposition precludes renewal, 38.
Petitions and other papers, availability, 12, 20, 20A, 24, 33A.
Petition for formal session to consider veto, 44.
Petitions to discharge a committee, 28(6).
Photographs, taking of during session, 2.
Placed on file, 24(4), 42.
Pledging credit, bills providing for, 22, 23, 17A.
Points of order, 2, 11, 60, 77.
Political subdivisions, 17A.
Postage, regulating, 23A. 134 of 141
Post Audit and Oversight, committee on, 17.
Posters, charts, displays and visual aids, regulate use, 2.
Postpone to a time certain, motion to, 55, 64, 65, 70.
"Present", recording of members as being, 52.
Previous question, 55, 65 to 68.
Privilege of the floor, 80.
Procurements, 85A, 87.
Question of order, 2, 11, 60, 77.
Quorum, 1, 15, 17A, 49, 51, 82.
Radio, television broadcasting and web-broadcasting and access of sessions, 81.
Ratification in caucus, by ballot or acclamation, 18B.
Reading of papers, 24, 29, 37.
Recess, 55, 64, 65, 76, 82.
Recommendations and reports of state officials, etc., to be referred,
etc., 24, 30. 135 of 141
Recommit, motion to, 42, 64, 65, 71.
Reconsideration, 54, 55, 56.
Records, Clerk official keeper of, 10B.
Redrafted bills to be voted on by Ways and Means, availability, 17A.
Rejected bills, 32, 38, 41.
Remote participation,
Committee meetings, 17A.
House sessions, 49.
Repealed laws not to be re-enacted by reference, 31.
Reporters' gallery, 80, 81.
Reports of committees, 17B, 26, 27, 41, 42. See Bills.
Representatives' Chamber and adjoining rooms, 80, 81.
Resolutions, 22, 24(2), 41, 85.
Roll calls, availability on website, 52.
Rules, observance, suspension or transgression of, 8, 9, 24, 55, 83,
84, 86.
Rules, committee on, 7B, 7C, 7D, 17, 24(2,3), 27, 28, 81, 85. 136 of 141
motion to discharge, 24, 28.
Rules, violations of, 59.
Rulings of the Chair, 2, 55, 77.
Schedule, House sessions, 7A, 7B, 7D, 44.
Seating of a member, 59.
Seats, 79.
Second, etc., legislative days, 55, 64A.
SENATE, papers from, 22, 34, 35, 36, 41, 42.
Sessions
informal, 44, 54.
radio, television and web broadcasting of, 81.
regulating hours of, 1A.
Sessions and committees, scheduling, 7A, 7B, 7D, 44.
SPEAKER, 1 to 7.
adjourn or recess, 2, 82.
appeal of decisions, 77. 137 of 141
Calendar of House, 12.
casting of vote for, 49
committee scheduling, 7D.
consultation with Clerk, bill format and availability, 33A.
consultation with Clerk, budget amendment format, 20A.
consultation with Clerk, budget availability format, 20B.
decorum and order, 2.
income, earned and unearned, 4B.
may declare a recess, 76.
may direct motion to be reduced to writing, 62.
may invite visitors to seats on the floor, 80.
remote rules activation, 101.
shall assign seats, 79.
to appoint monitors, 8.
to approve reference of petitions, etc., and printing of certain
documents, 24.
to call a caucus, 19. 138 of 141
to declare informal sessions, 44.
to name member entitled to floor, 58.
to nominate committee members, 18A.
to nominate Majority Leader, etc., 18.
Speaker pro Tempore, 4A, 5, 18, 23A, 49.
Special bills reported by committee, 26.
Standing committees, staffing, 17C.
State Ethics Commission, 16B.
State finances, 33.
Steering, Policy and Scheduling, committee on, 7A, 42A.
Stenographers, employment of, by committees, 85.
Stipends, prohibit more than one, 18.
Strike out and insert, motion to, 74.
Strike out enacting clause, 40.
Summaries of bills, availability prior to roll calls, 33A.
SUSPENSION OF RULES, 55, 83, 84.
limit of debate on motion for, 83. 139 of 141
Tampering with electronic voting system, 52.
Tape recordings, committees, 17A.
Television, radio and web broadcasting of all sessions and access, 81.
Third Reading, Bills in the, committee on, 17, 18A, 22, 28, 43, 45, 79(1).
motions to discharge or report, 28, 55, 64.
time for reporting, 28A.
Title, bills to be read by title only, 37.
Travel, orders authorizing committees to, referred to committee on Rules, 85.
Undebatable matters and motions, 64. See Debate, Rules of.
Unfinished business, 46.
Vacancies, filling of, 5, 6, 7.
Veto of bill or resolve, printing of Calendar, 12.
Veto, petition for formal session to consider, 44.
Videos/audio 140 of 141
radio and television access, 81.
recording of during session, 2.
reproduction of committee meetings, 17A
Violations of rules and questions of conduct, 16, 52 (voting), 59.
Visual aids, charts, displays and posters, regulate use, 2.
Votes, roll calls made available on website, 52.
VOTING, 3, 4, 9, 16A, 48 to 53.
Warning a member, 59.
Ways and Means, committee on, 17, 17A, 20, 20A, 21, 27, 28, 30, 33, 45.
consolidated amendments, 20A, 33E.
Floor amendments, 73A.
Motions directing, to report, etc., 28, 55, 64.
Redrafts of, availability, 17A.
Web-broadcasting, 81.
Website availability of bills and notices, 13A, 17A, 20B, 84A. 141 of 141
Yeas and nays, 33F, 48 to 53.
Yeas and nays, during informal sessions, prohibition, 44.
Yielding floor in debate, 60.