Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H2025 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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1	1	1 of 62
2	2	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 28 FILED ON: 1/31/2023
3	3	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2025
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	House of Representatives, January 31, 2023.
6	6	_______________
7	7	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
8	8	(2023-2024)
9	9	_______________
10	10	1 Ordered, “Committees.
11	11	21. 1. Joint standing committees shall be appointed at the beginning of the biennial session as
12	12	3follows:-
13	13	4A committee on Advanced Information Technology, the Internet and Cybersecurity;
14	14	5A committee on Agriculture;
15	15	6A committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets
16	16	7A committee on Cannabis Policy;
17	17	8A committee on Children, Families and Persons With Disabilities;
18	18	9A committee on Community Development and Small Businesses; 2 of 62
19	19	10A committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure;
20	20	11A committee on Emergency Preparedness and Management;
21	21	12A committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies;
22	22	13A committee on Education;
23	23	14A committee on Elder Affairs;
24	24	15A committee on Election Laws;
25	25	16A committee on Environment and Natural Resources;
26	26	17A committee on Financial Services;
27	27	18A committee on Health Care Financing;
28	28	19A committee on Higher Education;
29	29	20A committee on Housing;
30	30	21A committee on the Judiciary;
31	31	22A committee on Labor and Workforce Development;
32	32	23A committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery;
33	33	24A committee on Municipalities and Regional Government;
34	34	25A committee on Public Health;
35	35	26A committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security; 3 of 62
36	36	27A committee on Public Service;
37	37	28A committee on Racial Equity, Civil Rights and Inclusion;
38	38	29A committee on Revenue;
39	39	30A committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight;
40	40	31A committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy;
41	41	32A committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development;
42	42	33A committee on Transportation; and
43	43	34A committee on Veterans Affairs.
44	44	35Each to consist of 6 members of the Senate, and 11 on the part of the House except the
45	45	36committees on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets, Economic Development and
46	46	37Emerging Technologies, Public Safety and Homeland Security, Mental Health, Substance Use
47	47	38and Recovery, Health Care Financing and Transportation which shall consist of 7 members of
48	48	39the Senate and 13 of the House.
49	49	40Within 4 weeks of the appointment of joint standing committees in the first annual session of the
50	50	41General Court, each joint standing committee shall adopt rules of procedure regarding its
51	51	42conduct. Said rules of procedure, together with any amendments, shall be filed with the Clerk of
52	52	43the Senate and the Clerk of the House and shall be available to the public and members of the
53	53	44General Court on the official website for the General Court. 4 of 62
54	54	45Except as provided by Joint Rule 1E, each matter shall be referred only to 1 joint committee for
55	55	46consideration and all reports of matters by joint committees shall be made to the House or the
56	56	47Senate, under Joint Rule 4, not to another joint committee. The committee to which a matter is
57	57	48initially referred may discharge the matter to another committee with jurisdiction over the matter.
58	58	49Matters referred by either the Senate or the House to its committee on Ways and Means shall be
59	59	50considered by the respective committees of the 2 branches, acting as a joint committee, when, in
60	60	51the judgment of the chairs of the respective committees of the 2 branches, the interests of
61	61	52legislation or the expedition of business will be better served by such joint consideration. Matters
62	62	53may also be referred to the committees on Ways and Means, of the 2 branches, as a joint
63	63	54committee.
64	64	55The committees on Rules, together with the presiding officers of the 2 branches, acting
65	65	56concurrently, may consider and suggest such measures as shall, in their judgment, tend to
66	66	57facilitate the business of the session and a majority vote of the 2 branches shall be required to
67	67	58approve such recommendations.
68	68	59In order to assist the House and the Senate in their: (1) consideration and enactment of new
69	69	60legislation and modifications of existing laws, when either are deemed to be appropriate; (2)
70	70	61evaluation of the effectiveness and administration of laws and programs previously enacted; and
71	71	62(3) appraisal of the conditions and circumstances which may indicate the desirability of enacting
72	72	63new legislation, the various joint committees shall have the following oversight responsibilities:
73	73	64(i) each joint committee shall review and study, on a continuing basis, the implementation,
74	74	65administration, execution and effectiveness of those laws, or parts of law, the subject matter of
75	75	66which is within the jurisdiction of that committee, the administrative regulations adopted to 5 of 62
76	76	67implement those laws, and those state agencies or entities having responsibilities for the
77	77	68administration and execution of such laws;
78	78	69(ii) in carrying out these review and study activities, each committee shall determine whether
79	79	70such laws, administrative regulations and programs under those laws are being implemented in
80	80	71accordance with the intent of the General Court and whether such laws, administrative
81	81	72regulations and programs should be continued, curtailed or eliminated;
82	82	73(iii) each committee shall also review and study any conditions and circumstances which may
83	83	74indicate the necessity or desirability of enacting new legislation within the jurisdiction of that
84	84	75committee, regardless of whether any matter has been introduced on that subject, and shall, on a
85	85	76continuing basis, undertake research on matters within the jurisdiction of that committee.
86	86	77Committees shall coordinate oversight activities, under the direction of the presiding officers of
87	87	78both branches, to achieve the maximum objectives of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii).
88	88	79Each committee may, upon completion of its oversight hearings, report to the General Court the
89	89	80results of its findings and recommendations together with accompanying corrective legislation, if
90	90	81any, by filing the same with the Clerk of the House of Representatives or the Clerk of the Senate.
91	91	82Copies of such reports shall be, whenever practicable, made available to all members
92	92	83electronically and to the public via the Internet. The disposition of said reports shall be
93	93	84determined by the Clerks with the approval of the Speaker and the President.
94	94	85The Senate and House chairs of a joint committee may appoint subcommittees to investigate and
95	95	86study any matter referred to said subcommittee. Any subcommittee so established shall be co-
96	96	87chaired by a majority member of the Senate and a majority member of the House who are
97	97	88members of the joint standing committee appointing the subcommittee. The composition of the 6 of 62
98	98	89subcommittee shall be proportional to the composition of the appointing joint committee;
99	99	90provided, however, that not less than 10 per cent of the subcommittee’s members shall be from
100	100	91the minority party. Chairs of subcommittees shall not be considered chairs under section 9B of
101	101	92chapter 3 of the General Laws. A subcommittee may, upon completion of an investigation and
102	102	93study, report the results of the investigation and study together with legislation, if any, by filing
103	103	94the same with the Senate and House chairs of the appointing joint committee.
104	104	95Temporary employees of the general court assigned to a joint committee who are students at an
105	105	96accredited education institution or employees or grantees of other non-profit organizations under
106	106	97section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code may receive compensation from such
107	107	98organization, according to that organization's regular program of providing such compensation
108	108	99for temporary governmental or public service employment. A temporary employee's Senate or
109	109	100House supervisor shall establish the employee's total compensation, shall verify that the sum of
110	110	101the employee's state compensation, if any, and that any outside compensation the employee is to
111	111	102receive under this rule would not exceed this total compensation, and shall file the written terms
112	112	103of the employee's compensation with the Senate or House Human Resources Office, where it
113	113	104shall be available for public inspection. The temporary employee shall sign a confidentiality and
114	114	105ethics agreement provided by the Senate Personnel Office or House Human Resources Office.
115	115	106The Senate and House Offices of Human Resources shall publish an employee handbook for
116	116	107joint employees of both branches of the general court. The handbook shall be developed with
117	117	108the advice and approval of both the Counsel to the Senate and the Counsel to the House. The
118	118	109handbook shall address access by joint employees to the human resource related services and
119	119	110programs of each branch of the general court. Joint employees shall complete any training 7 of 62
120	120	111required by either branch of the general court, as may be agreed upon by the Senate and House
121	121	112Offices of Human Resources.
122	122	113[Amended Jan. 6, 18 82; Jan. 5, 18 83; Jan. 7, 18 84; Jan. 8 and 26, 1885; Jan. 8, 18 86; Jan. 12,
123	123	11418 87; Jan. 9, 18 88; Jan. 28, 18 89; Jan. 8, 18 90; Feb. 2, 18 91; Jan. 11 and Feb. 10, 18 92; Feb.
124	124	1157, 18 93; Jan. 8. 1894; Jan. 7, 18 95; Jan. 7, 18 96; Jan. 11, 18 97; Jan. 10, 18 98; Jan. 9, 18 99;
125	125	116Jan. 22 and 29, 1901; Jan. 6, 19 02; Jan. 9, 19 03; Jan. 8, 19 04; Jan. 6, 19 05; Jan. 4, 19 07; Jan.
126	126	1175, 19 10; Jan. 4, 19 11; Jan. 1, 19 13; Jan. 12, 19 14; Jan. 2, 19 18; Jan. 1 and 8 and Feb. 21,
127	127	1181919; Jan. 7, 19 20; Jan. 5, 19 21; April 17 and 30, 1925; Jan. 5, 19 27; Jan. 7, 19 31; Jan. 6, 19
128	128	11937; Jan. 4, 19 39; Jan. 1, 19 41; Jan. 3, 19 45; Jan. 2, 19 46; Jan. 6, 19 47; Feb. 1, 19 49; Jan. 7,
129	129	12019 53; Jan. 7, 19 59; Jan. 30, 19 61; Jan. 7, 19 63; Jan. 12, 19 65; Feb. 24, 19 65; Mar. 10, 19 66;
130	130	121Jan. 30, 19 67; Jan. 7, 1971 ; July 23, 1974 ; Sept. 30 and Oct. 12, 1976 ; Nov. 3, 1981 ; Dec. 21,
131	131	1221981 ; Mar. 15, 1982 ; Oct. 3, 1983 ; June 3, 1985 ; Jan. 25 and Mar. 14, 1988 ; Mar. 27, 1995 ,
132	132	123June 12, 1995 ; July 17, 2003 ; Jan. 26, 2005; July 21 and September 20, 2005; Feb. 20, 2007;
133	133	124Feb 12, 2009; Feb. 15, 2017; Mar 7, 2019.]
134	134	1251A. All meetings of joint committees acting concurrently, Senate and House standing
135	135	126committees, special committees of the Senate and House of Representatives, and joint special
136	136	127committees and committees of conference on the disagreeing votes of the 2 branches shall be
137	137	128open to the public, unless a majority shall vote otherwise; provided, that such committees may, at
138	138	129the discretion of the chairs of said committees, assemble and vote remotely and allow remote
139	139	130access to the public. [Adopted July 17, 1973. Amended July 18, 1974; Feb. 12, 2009.]
140	140	1311B. A joint standing committee shall hold a public hearing on each matter referred to it in each
141	141	132legislative session. [Adopted June 3, 1985; Amended Feb. 12, 2009.] 8 of 62
142	142	1331C. All joint standing committees shall schedule committee hearings and executive sessions
143	143	134upon agreement of the chairs and so as not to conflict, to the extent feasible, with the schedules
144	144	135of other committees and, to the extent feasible, the day of the week and times during that day set
145	145	136aside for formal sessions by the respective branches from the first Wednesday in January through
146	146	137the fourth Wednesday of April in the first annual session. [Adopted June 3, 1985; Amended June
147	147	13812, 1995; Mar. 7, 2019.]
148	148	139All hearings of joint standing committees shall be conducted in-person with the option of remote
149	149	140participation available to both members of the joint standing committee and the public; provided,
150	150	141however, that the chairs of said joint standing committees shall be physically present at the
151	151	142hearing location where in-person public testimony is offered. All joint standing committees, in
152	152	143the conduct of their hearings, shall utilize, to the extent practicable, online platforms or systems
153	153	144that allow for synchronous, audio-visual communication between the chairs of the committee
154	154	145and individuals offering testimony remotely. All hearings of joint standing committees shall be
155	155	146publicly livestreamed on the website of the General Court and shall display and transmit, in real-
156	156	147time, the audio-visual attributes of public testimony offered remotely; provided further, that said
157	157	148livestream shall be archived on the website of the General Court for the duration of the
158	158	149legislative session. Members of joint standing committees may participate remotely and shall
159	159	150have the same privileges, rights and responsibilities as if the member were physically present at
160	160	151the hearing location, and other members of the Senate and House of Representatives may offer
161	161	152remote testimony before joint standing committees of which they are not a member. The chairs
162	162	153of the joint standing committees shall use best efforts to prioritize the testimony of those
163	163	154physically present at the hearing location and may, in their discretion, allow individuals
164	164	155participating in-person a greater amount of time to testify than those participating remotely. All 9 of 62
165	165	156notices of hearings of joint standing committees issued pursuant to Joint Rule 1D at which public
166	166	157testimony is being solicited shall include instructions on how to offer testimony both in-person
167	167	158and remotely. Nothing in this rule shall preclude a joint standing committee from conducting
168	168	159hearings in which only written testimony is accepted; provided, however, that such hearings shall
169	169	160only consider home rule petitions referred to the joint standing committee pursuant to Joint Rule
170	170	1617B, or any other matter referred to a joint standing committee after having first been reported
171	171	162favorably by a separate joint standing committee sharing jurisdiction.
172	172	1631D. All meetings of joint standing committees, and special joint committees of the Senate and
173	173	164House of Representatives, and joint special committees and committees of conference on the
174	174	165disagreeing votes of the 2 branches shall be open to the public, and any person shall be permitted
175	175	166to attend any such meeting unless such committee convenes in executive session, as provided
176	176	167herein. All joint standing committees shall determine a schedule for committee hearings to be
177	177	168held from the beginning of the first annual session through the fourth Wednesday in June in said
178	178	169session. These committee schedules shall be submitted to the Clerk of the House who shall cause
179	179	170them to be published on the official website for the General Court. Establishment of such
180	180	171schedules shall not preclude joint standing committees from scheduling additional hearings or
181	181	172meetings as needed. No executive session shall be held until after the committee has first
182	182	173convened in an open session for which notice has been given, the presiding officer has stated the
183	183	174purpose of the executive session, a majority of the committee members present has voted to go
184	184	175into executive session, the vote of each member has been recorded on a roll call vote, and the
185	185	176presiding officer has stated before the executive session if the committee will reconvene after the
186	186	177executive session. The records of all such roll calls shall be kept in the offices of the committee 10 of 62
187	187	178for the duration of the General Court during which said vote was recorded, and shall be available
188	188	179for public inspection upon reasonable notice and during regular office hours.
189	189	180Committees shall provide to members of the committee either the text or comprehensive
190	190	181summaries of the bills or other forms of legislative matters prior to the beginning of an executive
191	191	182session or poll. All joint standing committees, and special joint committees of the Senate and
192	192	183House of Representatives, shall notify the Sergeant-at-Arms of the time, place and agenda of all
193	193	184public hearings and executive sessions not less than 72 hours prior to the time of such meetings.
194	194	185If public testimony is being solicited, agendas shall include an electronic mail address and
195	195	186physical mail address for the submission of testimony. The Sergeant-at-Arms shall notify the
196	196	187clerk, who shall inform all members electronically and publish such information on the official
197	197	188website of the General Court whenever practicable.
198	198	189Nothing contained in this rule shall prohibit a joint standing committee or special joint
199	199	190committee of the Senate and the House of Representatives from taking appropriate action
200	200	191including, but not limited to, the exclusion of a person from a committee meeting in order to
201	201	192prevent the disruption of or interference with committee proceedings. All meetings of joint
202	202	193standing committees, and special joint committees of the Senate and House of Representatives,
203	203	194shall be limited to no more than 50 bills to be discussed in a hearing, unless it can be determined
204	204	195that all of the bills being considered are of the same subject matter.
205	205	196The 72 hour requirement shall be suspended in an emergency only after all reasonable efforts
206	206	197have been made to contact all committee members and upon a recorded vote of at least a
207	207	198majority of the members of each branch appointed to the committee, but not less than two-thirds
208	208	199of the members of each branch voting. 11 of 62
209	209	200A meeting of a committee may be recorded by a person in attendance by means of a recorder or
210	210	201any other means of audio/visual reproduction except when a meeting is held in executive session;
211	211	202provided, that a person seeking to record a meeting of a committee notifies the Chairs of the
212	212	203committee prior to commencing such recording; and provided further that during such recording
213	213	204there is no interference with the conduct of the meeting.
214	214	205The Chairs of each committee shall preserve decorum and order during each committee hearing.
215	215	206Persons attending hearings shall be required to refrain from the use of cellular telephones,
216	216	207beepers and pagers. The use of visual aids including, without limitation, posters, displays, or
217	217	208charts shall be permitted only upon approval of the Chairs. [Adopted June 3, 1985. Amended
218	218	209June 12, 1995; Feb. 20, 2007; Mar. 14, 2013; Mar. 7, 2019.]
219	219	2101E. The joint standing committee on Health Care Financing shall review all legislation relating
220	220	211to health care to evaluate the appropriateness and fiscal effect of such legislation. A matter
221	221	212within the jurisdiction of said committee may, if appropriate, initially be referred to another joint
222	222	213standing committee sharing jurisdiction of the subject-matter. Any matter reported favorably by
223	223	214such joint standing committee shall be referred to the joint committee on Health Care Financing;
224	224	215provided, however, that notwithstanding any rule to the contrary, any such matter so reported
225	225	216shall not be read a first time in the branch in which the report was received. The next favorable
226	226	217report on any such matter, if made by a joint committee, may be made to either branch. Such
227	227	218next favorable report shall be considered the first reading. The branch of origin for any such bill
228	228	219so reported shall be the branch receiving such favorable report.
229	229	220For all matters initially referred to the joint committee on Health Care Financing and not
230	230	221previously referred to another joint committee, the joint committee on Health Care Financing 12 of 62
231	231	222may make favorable reports to either branch, at the discretion of the committee, except that
232	232	223reports on money bills shall be made to the House.
233	233	224In compliance with section 38A of chapter 3 of the General Laws, the joint committee on Health
234	234	225Care Financing when reporting on bills shall include a fiscal note prepared under section 3A of
235	235	226chapter 29 of the General Laws, showing the estimated cost or the fiscal effect of the proposed
236	236	227legislation, if, in the opinion of said committee, such cost or fiscal effect exceeds the sum of
237	237	228$100,000; provided, however, that any matter reported by the committee on Health Care
238	238	229Financing with a fiscal effect of less than $100,000 shall not be referred, under the rules, to the
239	239	230committee on Ways and Means.[Adopted Jan. 26, 2005; Amended May 19, 2005; Feb. 20, 2007;
240	240	231Feb. 12, 2009.]
241	241	2321F. The joint committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets shall review all
242	242	233legislation providing for the giving, loaning or pledging of the credit of the Commonwealth (see
243	243	234Article LXII of the Amendments to the Constitution, as amended by Article LXXXIV). Said
244	244	235committee shall be responsible for evaluating such legislation and determining the
245	245	236appropriateness of enacting legislation containing increased bond authorizations for the
246	246	237Commonwealth. The committee shall periodically review and hold open public hearings,
247	247	238accepting oral and written testimony on the status of the bonds and notes of the Commonwealth,
248	248	239including (1) general obligation debt; (2) dedicated income tax debt; and (3) special obligation
249	249	240debt. The committee shall also, in its continuing study of the state’s bonding practices, review 13 of 62
250	250	241the Commonwealth’s liabilities relative to (a) state-supported debt; (b) state-guaranteed debt; and
251	251	242(c) indirect obligations.
252	252	243Any bill providing for borrowing for new projects, and requiring the Commonwealth to issue
253	253	244bonds for such purpose, shall, prior to its reference to the committee on Ways and Means, be
254	254	245referred to the committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets for report on its
255	255	246relationship to the finances of the Commonwealth. A measure may initially be referred to
256	256	247another joint committee with jurisdiction over the subject matter before being referred to the
257	257	248committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets; provided, however, that
258	258	249notwithstanding any rule to the contrary, any such matter so reported shall not be read a first time
259	259	250in the branch in which the report was received. The next favorable report on any such matter by
260	260	251the committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets shall be considered the first
261	261	252reading. The branch of origin for any such bill so reported shall be the branch receiving such
262	262	253favorable report.
263	263	254The provisions of Joint Rule 4 shall apply to all matters referred to the joint committee on
264	264	255Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets, except that where constitutionally prohibited.
265	265	256The joint committee shall consult with the various agencies of the Executive branch and the
266	266	257office of the Treasurer and Receiver-General relative to project expenditures, availability of 14 of 62
267	267	258funds, the sale of new bonds and the resultant debt obligations, federal reimbursements and other
268	268	259related funding and bonding issues.
269	269	260The joint committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets shall be authorized to
270	270	261conduct hearings relative to the statutory authority of the Executive branch and the Treasurer and
271	271	262Receiver-General in the issuance and sale of bonds and notes and the expenditure of capital
272	272	263funds by the various agencies and authorities of the Commonwealth. The committee shall
273	273	264determine whether such laws, administrative regulations and programs are being implemented in
274	274	265accordance with the intent of the General Court.
275	275	266The committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets shall be authorized to report
276	276	267to the General Court from time to time on the results of its hearings and to file drafts of
277	277	268legislation necessary to carry its recommendations into effect.
278	278	269Messages from the Governor setting terms of bonds and notes, or for the de-authorization or
279	279	270authorization of bonds and notes, shall be referred to the committee on Bonding, Capital
280	280	271Expenditures and State Assets.
281	281	2721G. The President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Minority Leader
282	282	273of the Senate, Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, the Senate and House chairs and
283	283	274the Senate and House ranking minority members of the joint committee on Public Safety and
284	284	275Homeland Security may receive security clearance from federal and state homeland security 15 of 62
285	285	276officials in order to be granted access to confidential homeland security briefings, information
286	286	277and materials. The President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the
287	287	278Senate and House committee chairs and the Senate and House ranking minority members may
288	288	279designate 1 or more members of their staff who may receive such security clearance.
289	289	280Any person who receives security clearance under this rule shall sign all confidentiality
290	290	281agreements required by homeland security officials. The breach of any such confidentiality
291	291	282agreement shall constitute a violation of the Joint Rules of the Senate and House of
292	292	283Representatives. Any alleged violation of a confidentiality agreement shall be referred for
293	293	284investigation to the Senate committee on Ethics and Rules or the House committee on Ethics,
294	294	285respectively, and, if appropriate, to law enforcement authorities for potential criminal
295	295	286prosecution. [Adopted Jan. 26, 2005; Amended Feb. 12, 2009; Mar. 7, 2019.]
296	296	2872. No member of either branch shall act as counsel for any party before any committee of the
297	297	288Legislature.
298	298	2892A. No member of either branch shall purchase, directly or indirectly, the stock or other
299	299	290securities of any corporation or association knowing that there is pending before the General
300	300	291Court any measure specially granting to such corporation or association any immunity,
301	301	292exemption, privilege or benefit or any measure providing for the creation of, or directly affecting
302	302	293any, contractual relations between such corporation or association and the Commonwealth. This
303	303	294rule shall not apply to the purchase of securities issued by the Commonwealth or any political
304	304	295subdivision of the Commonwealth. [See G.L. chapter 268, section 10.] [Adopted Jan. 16, 1922.]
305	305	2963. When the General Court is in session, authorization for any committee of the Senate or House
306	306	297of Representatives to travel during the session of the General Court shall be approved by a vote 16 of 62
307	307	298of two-thirds of the members of its branch present and voting. When the General Court is in
308	308	299session, authorization for any committee of the Senate or House of Representatives to sit and
309	309	300travel during the recess of the General Court shall be approved by a vote of two-thirds of the
310	310	301members of each branch present and voting. During the recess of the General Court, the
311	311	302President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives may, by written consent,
312	312	303allow standing committees of their respective branches or appoint special committees to sit,
313	313	304travel and incur expenses not exceeding sums authorized in writing by said presiding officers and
314	314	305appropriated for such purposes. When the General Court is in session, authorization for any joint
315	315	306committee to travel during the session, or to sit or travel during the recess, of the General Court
316	316	307shall be approved by a vote of two-thirds of the members of each branch present and voting.
317	317	308During the recess of the General Court, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House
318	318	309of Representatives, acting jointly, may, by written consent, allow joint committees or appoint
319	319	310joint special committees to sit, travel and incur expenses not exceeding sums authorized in
320	320	311writing by said presiding officers and appropriated for such purposes. The Clerks of the Senate
321	321	312and House of Representatives shall be notified of any appointments made and authorizations
322	322	313granted during the recess for said committees to sit, travel and incur expenses during the recess
323	323	314and the Clerks shall enter such information in the journals for the next year, as soon as may be
324	324	315practicable. Committees authorized by the presiding officers to sit during the recess in the odd
325	325	316numbered year shall report not later than the fourth Wednesday of January during the following
326	326	317year and committees authorized by the presiding officers to sit during the recess in the even
327	327	318numbered year shall report not later than the fourth Wednesday of December during the same
328	328	319year. 17 of 62
329	329	320No committee shall travel except at the expense of the Commonwealth. In any case when a
330	330	321committee is authorized to travel, the Sergeant-at-Arms shall provide transportation only for
331	331	322members of the committee and the officer accompanying them, and the reasonable traveling
332	332	323expenses of such members and officers only shall be charged to or paid by the Commonwealth.
333	333	324Neither the Sergeant-at-Arms nor the officer detailed by the Sergeant-at-Arms shall permit any
334	334	325person to accompany such committee while in the discharge of its official duties unless invited
335	335	326by vote of the committee.
336	336	327All bills for the traveling expenses of committees shall be submitted by the Sergeant-at-Arms to
337	337	328the committee by whom they have been incurred and shall be approved by a majority of said
338	338	329committee before being presented to the Comptroller for payment. [Adopted Feb. 7, 1890;
339	339	330Amended Feb. 2, 1891 ; Jan. 20, 1904 ; April 17, 1925 ; March 2, 1943 ; July 27, 1950 ; Oct. 18,
340	340	3311971 ; March 28, 1972 ; Jan. 15, 1973; Feb. 12, 2009.]
341	341	3323A. A joint standing committee may, upon the written and signed report of two-thirds of the
342	342	333members of the Senate and two-thirds of the members of the House appointed to said committee,
343	343	334report a bill or other form of legislation without said legislation being founded upon petition;
344	344	335provided, however, that matters so reported shall be germane to the subject matters regularly
345	345	336referred to the committee. The committee shall hold a public hearing on such bill or other form
346	346	337of legislation before it is reported. A bill or other form of legislation so reported shall be placed
347	347	338in the Orders of the Day by the Clerk of the respective branch to which it is reported or referred
348	348	339to a standing committee of said branch under the rules. All reports of committees not founded
349	349	340upon petition shall bear the designation ‘committee bill’, ‘resolve’, ‘order’ or ‘resolution’, as the
350	350	341case may be, in the Orders of the Day. Committees to which messages from the Governor,
351	351	342reports of state officers, boards, committees, commissions and others authorized to report to the 18 of 62
352	352	343General Court, may report by bill or otherwise such legislation as may be germane to the subject
353	353	344matter referred to them. [Adopted June 3, 1985 .]
354	354	3454. Favorable reports, and adverse reports on subjects of legislation other than petitions, by joint
355	355	346committees shall be made to the branch in which the matter was originally introduced, unless the
356	356	347committee decides otherwise under its own rules and, except that reports on money bills shall be
357	357	348made to the House and if adverse reports on matters other than petitions which are accompanied
358	358	349by money bills are accepted by the House, this shall constitute final rejection. Adverse reports by
359	359	350joint committees on petitions shall be made to the branch in which the petition was originally
360	360	351introduced, except that such adverse reports on petitions accompanied by proposed money bills
361	361	352shall be made to the House; and, if accepted by the branch in which they are made, shall be
362	362	353considered as a final rejection. When a report is made from any committee to either branch, and
363	363	354the subject-matter of the report is subsequently referred to a joint committee, such committee,
364	364	355except for the committee on Health Care Financing, shall report its action to the branch in which
365	365	356the reference originated. [See also Joint Rule 5.]
366	366	357A vote of a joint standing committee to give legislation a favorable or adverse report shall be
367	367	358conducted by a roll call upon request of 2 committee members present at the committee meeting.
368	368	359Such votes shall be recorded on appropriate forms that show all votes for and against the
369	369	360particular committee action. The records of all such roll calls shall be kept in the offices of the
370	370	361committee for the duration of the General Court during which said vote was recorded, and shall
371	371	362be available for public inspection upon reasonable notice and during regular office hours.
372	372	363All committee members shall have an opportunity to sign a form accompanying a report of the
373	373	364committee signifying approval of, dissent or abstention from a report of a joint standing 19 of 62
374	374	365committee before the report is final or filed. No signature shall be valid unless the report to
375	375	366which the signature is affixed includes the substantially complete text of the legislation being
376	376	367reported. [Amended Jan. 3, 1952; April 8, 1959; June 7, 1965; Jan. 7, 1971; March 11, 1974;
377	377	368June 3, 1985; Feb. 20, 2007; Feb. 15, 2017.]
378	378	3694A. In compliance with section 38A of chapter 3 of the General Laws, all joint committees of the
379	379	370General Court when reporting on bills referred to them shall include a fiscal note prepared under
380	380	371section 3A of chapter 29 of the General Laws, showing the estimated cost or the fiscal effect of
381	381	372the proposed legislation, if, in the opinion of said committee, such cost exceeds $100,000. Such
382	382	373fiscal note shall be filed electronically in the office of the clerk to which the report is being
383	383	374made, and shall be promptly made available on the official website of the General Court.
384	384	375[Adopted Jan. 15, 1973.]
385	385	3765. Matters reported adversely by joint committees and the committees on Rules of the two
386	386	377branches, acting concurrently, may be recommitted to the same committees at the pleasure of the
387	387	378branch acting on the report, and bills or resolves may be recommitted in either branch. If a bill or
388	388	379resolve is laid aside in either branch for the reason that it is declared to be broader in its scope
389	389	380than the subject-matter upon which it is based, the subject-matter shall be recommitted to the
390	390	381committee. A concurrent vote shall, however, be necessary for re-committal, with instructions.
391	391	382After recommitment, report shall, in all cases, be made to the branch originating the
392	392	383recommitment. [Amended Feb. 2, 1891; April 11, 1935; Jan. 6, 1947; May 7, 19 53; March 26,
393	393	3841963; Jan. 30, 1967; Jan. 7, 1971; March 11, 1974.] 20 of 62
394	394	3856. Bills and resolves reported by joint committees shall be presented with spaces between the
395	395	386several sections and shall be made available to all members electronically and to the public via
396	396	387the Internet. [Amended Jan. 28, 1889; Jan. 9, 1941; Feb. 8, 1949; Feb. 12, 2009.]
397	397	388Joint Petitions.
398	398	3896A. A member of the Senate and a member of the House of Representatives may file a joint
399	399	390petition in either branch and shall endorse their name on the petition and a brief statement of the
400	400	391nature and object of the instrument and the reading of the instrument shall be dispensed with,
401	401	392unless specially ordered. The petition shall be filed in the office of the clerk of either the Senate
402	402	393or House of Representatives, depending on whether it is a ‘Joint Senate/House Petition’ or a
403	403	394‘Joint House/Senate Petition’ but the Journal records in the Senate and House of Representatives
404	404	395shall carry both members’ names as presenters of the petition. [Adopted Jan. 15, 1973.]
405	405	3967. Whenever, upon any application for an act of incorporation or other legislation, the purpose
406	406	397for which such legislation is sought can be secured without detriment to the public interests by a
407	407	398general law or under existing laws, the committee to which the matter is referred shall report
408	408	399such general law, or ‘ought not to pass’. [Amended Feb. 2, 1891; Feb. 7, 18 93; Jan. 7, 1971.]
409	409	4007A. A petition for legislation to authorize a county to reinstate in its service a person formerly
410	410	401employed by it, or to retire or pension or grant an annuity to any person, or to increase any
411	411	402retirement allowance, pension or annuity, or to pay any sum of money in the nature of a pension
412	412	403or retirement allowance, or to pay any salary which would have accrued to a deceased official or
413	413	404employee but for their death, or to pay any claim for damages or otherwise, or to alter the
414	414	405benefits or change the restrictions of any county retirement or pension law, shall, subsequently to
415	415	406the procedure required by Senate Rule No. 20 and by House Rule No. 24, be reported adversely, 21 of 62
416	416	407unless, when filed it be the petition of, or be approved by, a majority of the county
417	417	408commissioners. [Adopted April 29, 1915. Amended Jan. 13, Feb. 19 and Dec. 22, 1920; May 24,
418	418	4091926; April 11, 1935; April 22, 1937; Jan. 12, 1939; Jan. 15, 1945; Feb. 20, 1951; Jan. 30, 1967;
419	419	410Jan. 7, 1971; Jan. 15, 1973; Mar. 7, 2019.]
420	420	4117B. A petition, the operation of which is restricted to a particular city or town (and which does
421	421	412not affect the powers, duties, etc., of state departments, boards, commissions, etc., or which does
422	422	413not affect generally the laws of the Commonwealth) and which is not filed in conformity with
423	423	414Section 8 of Article LXXXIX of the Amendments to the Constitution shall, subsequent to the
424	424	415procedure required by Senate Rule 20 and House Rule 24, be reported adversely, unless it be on
425	425	416petition filed or approved by the voters of a city or town, or the mayor and city council, or other
426	426	417legislative body, of a city, or the town meeting of a town. A joint committee to which is
427	427	418inadvertently referred a petition or other subject of legislation the operation of which is restricted
428	428	419to a particular city or town and which is not in conformity with Section 8 of Article LXXXIX of
429	429	420the Amendments to the Constitution shall report a general law which applies alike to all cities, or
430	430	421to all towns, or to all cities and towns, or to a class of not fewer than 2; or shall report ‘ought not
431	431	422to pass’, with the further endorsement that it ‘would be unconstitutional to enact such special
432	432	423law’.
433	433	424Any petition that subsequently conforms to Section 8 of Article LXXXIX of the Amendments to
434	434	425the Constitution after filing, which have followed the procedures set forth in Senate Rule 20 or
435	435	426House Rule 24, shall be forthwith reported from the committee on Rules and be referred by the
436	436	427Clerk to an appropriate committee.[Adopted Jan. 13, 1920. Amended Feb. 19 and Dec. 22, 1920;
437	437	428May 24, 1926; April 11, 1935; April 22, 1937; Jan. 12, 1939; Jan. 9, 1941; Jan. 15, 1945; Feb.
438	438	42920, 1951; Jan. 30, 1967; Jan. 7 and Mar. 22, 1971 ; Jan. 15, 1973; March 14, 2013.] 22 of 62
439	439	4307C. The approval vote required to file a petition, the operation of which is restricted to a
440	440	431particular city or town under Section 8 of Article LXXXIX of the Amendments to the
441	441	432Constitution of the Commonwealth, shall not expire prior to the final day of the next immediate
442	442	433biennial session in which the petition was filed and no additional vote shall be required to file a
443	443	434petition unless a vote to rescind such approval is passed by the voters of a city or town, or the
444	444	435mayor and city council or other legislative body of a city, or the select board and the town
445	445	436meeting or other legislative body of the town. [Adopted, Mar. 14, 2013; Amended Feb. 15,
446	446	4372017.]
447	447	4387D. The approval of a substantive amendment to a petition restricted to a single city or town and
448	448	439requiring a vote of the city of town before enactment of the petition shall be provided to the
449	449	440General Court before the enactment of the petition and shall be reviewed by House Counsel and
450	450	441Senate Counsel prior to the enactment of the petition in either branch. [Adopted , Feb. 15, 2017.]
451	451	442Notice to Parties Interested.
452	452	4438. No legislation affecting the rights of individuals or the rights of a private or municipal
453	453	444corporation, otherwise than as it affects generally the people of the Commonwealth or the people
454	454	445of the city or town to which it specifically applies, shall be proposed or introduced except by a
455	455	446petition, nor shall any bill or resolve embodying such legislation be reported by a committee
456	456	447except upon a petition duly referred, nor shall such a bill or resolve be reported by a committee,
457	457	448whether on an original reference or on a re-committal with instructions to hear the parties, until it
458	458	449is made to appear to the satisfaction of the committee that proper notice of the proposed
459	459	450legislation has been given by public advertisement or otherwise to all parties interested, without
460	460	451expense to the Commonwealth, or until evidence satisfactory to the committee is produced that 23 of 62
461	461	452all parties interested have in writing waived notice. A committee reporting adversely due to lack
462	462	453proper notice or of a waiver of proper notice shall so state in its report and no bill or resolve shall
463	463	454be in order as a substitute for, or amendment of, such report. Objection to the violation of this
464	464	455rule may be taken at any stage prior to that of the third reading. [Adopted Feb. 7, 1890. Amended
465	465	456Dec. 22, 1920 ; Jan. 12, 1939 ; Jan. 15, 1945; Jan. 7, 1971.]
466	466	4579. A petition for the incorporation of a city or town, for the annexation of 1 municipality to
467	467	458another, for the consolidation of 2 or more municipalities or for the division of an existing
468	468	459municipality, or for the incorporation or revival of a railroad, street railway, elevated railroad,
469	469	460canal, telephone, telegraph, water, gas, electric light, power or other public service corporation,
470	470	461for the amendment, alteration or extension of the charter or corporate powers or privileges, or for
471	471	462the change of name, of any such company, whether specially incorporated or organized under the
472	472	463General Laws, or for authority to take water for a water supply, or relative to building structures
473	473	464in or over navigable or tide waters, shall be placed on file, and not referred to a committee ,
474	474	465unless the petitioner has given the notice and followed the procedure required by section 5 of
475	475	466chapter 3 of the General Laws . But if, no objection being raised, any such petition is referred to
476	476	467a committee without such required notice or procedure, the committee shall forthwith report
477	477	468adversely, setting forth as the reason for such report failure to comply with the law, unless
478	478	469evidence satisfactory to the committee is produced that all parties interested have in writing
479	479	470waived notice. In case a bill or resolve is reported upon such a petition, after proof of such
480	480	471waiver of notice, this fact shall be set forth in the report of the committee. When an adverse
481	481	472report is made by a committee, on account of failure to give the required notice, no bill or resolve
482	482	473shall be substituted for such report, nor shall such report be recommitted or referred to another
483	483	474committee. 24 of 62
484	484	475A petition for the establishment or revival, or for the amendment, alteration or extension of the
485	485	476charter or corporate powers or privileges, or for the change of name, of any corporation, except a
486	486	477petition subject to the preceding paragraph, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the branch in
487	487	478which it is filed to the office of the State Secretary. If such a petition is returned by said
488	488	479Secretary with a statement that the petitioner has failed to comply with the requirements of
489	489	480section 7 of chapter 3 of the General Laws, said petition shall be placed on file, and shall not be
490	490	481referred to a committee.
491	491	482Any petition placed on file for want of proper notice or procedure under this rule shall not affect
492	492	483action upon any other measure involving the same subject matter. [Adopted Feb. 7, 1890.
493	493	484Amended Feb. 2, 1891; Feb. 3, 1898; Jan. 16, 1903; Feb. 19 and Dec. 22, 1920; May 24, 1926;
494	494	485Feb. 27, 1929; April 11, 1935; Jan. 6, 1938; Jan. 12, 1939; Jan. 9, 1941; Jan. 15, 1945; April 8,
495	495	4861959; Jan. 7, 1963; Jan. 7, 1971 ; Jan. 15, 1973 , June 12, 1995; Feb. 12, 2009; Mar. 7, 2019.]
496	496	487Limit of Time allowed for Reports of Committees.
497	497	48810. All joint committees and the committees on Rules of the two branches, acting concurrently,
498	498	489shall make final report not later than the first Wednesday in February of the second annual
499	499	490session of the General Court on all matters referred to them before the second Wednesday of
500	500	491January of the second annual session and within 30 days on all matters referred to them on and
501	501	492after the second Wednesday of January of the second annual session of the General Court except
502	502	493that the committee on Health Care Financing shall make final report not later than the last
503	503	494Wednesday of March of the second annual session on all matters referred to them on or before
504	504	495the fourth Wednesday of February and within 30 days on all matters referred to it after the fourth
505	505	496Wednesday in February of the second annual session of the General Court. When the time within 25 of 62
506	506	497which said committees are required to report has expired, all matters upon which no report has
507	507	498then been made shall forthwith be reported by the chair of the committee on the part of the
508	508	499branch in which they were respectively introduced, with an adverse recommendation under this
509	509	500rule. If the chair fails to make such report by the end of the legislative day next following the
510	510	501expiration date, all matters remaining unreported shall be placed in the Orders of the Day by the
511	511	502Clerk of the branch in which the matter was originally filed with an adverse report under this
512	512	503rule. Matters which have been referred under Joint Rule 29, upon which the chairs of the
513	513	504committees on Rules fail to make a report, shall be placed by the respective Clerks in the Orders
514	514	505of the Day of the branch in which the subject matter was referred to said committees.
515	515	506Committees to whom are referred subjects of legislation may combine petitions of similar
516	516	507subject matter, or other forms of legislation of similar subject matter, into 1 adverse report, and
517	517	508the report on the petition shall be that said petitions or other forms of legislation ‘ought NOT to
518	518	509pass,’ and if the report is accepted, all the matters contained in the report shall be disposed of.
519	519	510However, petitions upon which an adverse report is accepted in only 1 branch may not be
520	520	511combined with other subjects of legislation upon which adverse reports must be accepted, in
521	521	512concurrence. This rule shall not apply to petitions referred to the committees on Rules of the two
522	522	513branches, acting concurrently, under the second paragraph of Joint Rule 12. This rule shall not be
523	523	514rescinded, amended or suspended, except by a concurrent vote of four-fifths of the members of
524	524	515each branch present and voting thereon. Notwithstanding Joint Rule 30, this rule shall not be
525	525	516rescinded, amended or suspended more than 3 times except by unanimous consent. [Amended
526	526	517Feb. 2, 1891; Jan. 25, 1894; Jan. 16, 1903; Jan. 20, 1904; Dec. 22, 1920; April 17, 1925; Jan. 12,
527	527	5181939; Jan. 15, 1945; Jan. 6, 1947; May 7, 1953; Jan. 27, 1955; Jan. 30, 1967; Jan. 7, 1971; Feb. 26 of 62
528	528	5194, 1974, June 12, 1995; July 17, 2003; Feb. 20, 2007; Feb. 12, 2009; Feb. 15, 2017; Mar. 7,
529	529	5202019.]
530	530	52110A. The form for all subjects of legislation receiving a favorable report shall be ‘ought to pass.’
531	531	522The form for all subjects of legislation receiving an adverse report shall be ‘ought NOT to pass.’
532	532	523A committee to whom is referred any other matter may report recommending that the same be
533	533	524placed on file. [Adopted Jan. 7, 1971.]
534	534	525Committees of Conference.
535	535	52611. Committees of conference shall consist of 3 members on the part of each branch, one
536	536	527member of each branch being a member of the minority party representing its vote; and their
537	537	528report, if agreed to by a majority of each committee, shall be made to the branch asking for the
538	538	529conference, and may be either accepted or rejected, but no other action shall be had, except
539	539	530through a new committee of conference.
540	540	531Committees of conference to whom are referred matters of difference in respect to bills or
541	541	532resolves, shall, after filing their reports, but before consideration by either branch, have the same
542	542	533approved or discharged by each committee on Bills in the Third Reading [Amended April 22,
543	543	5341937; Feb. 12, 2009; Feb. 3, 2011; Feb. 15, 2017; Mar. 7, 2019.]
544	544	53511A. Committees of conference to whom are referred matters of difference in respect to
545	545	536appropriation bills, including capital outlay programs, shall, after filing their reports but before
546	546	537consideration by either branch have the same approved or discharged by each committee on Bills
547	547	538in the Third Reading. 27 of 62
548	548	539Upon the appointment of a committee of conference to whom matters of difference in respect to
549	549	540any appropriation bill or in respect to any bill providing for capital outlay programs and projects
550	550	541are referred, the clerk of the branch requesting said committee of conference shall make
551	551	542available to members of the General Court a list of the matters in disagreement identified by item
552	552	543number and item purpose and showing the amount made available by each branch of the General
553	553	544Court, and any other matters in disagreement and the position of each of the said branches.
554	554	545The report of said committee of conference shall consist of the matters of difference so referred
555	555	546and so identified, showing the amounts appropriated by each of the said branches and other
556	556	547matters in disagreement and the position of each branch with respect to those matters, and shall
557	557	548state said committee's recommendations with respect to the matters so referred. Matters on which
558	558	549there exists no disagreement between the branches shall not be disturbed by the committee on
559	559	550conference.
560	560	551The committees on ways and means of each branch of the General Court shall assist such
561	561	552committee of conference in any and all matters necessary to the preparation and completion of its
562	562	553report. [Adopted July 30, 1974; Amended Oct. 3, 1983; Feb. 3, 2011.]
563	563	55411B. No report from a committee of conference shall be considered or acted upon by either
564	564	555branch until the calendar day following the day on which said report shall have been available to
565	565	556the public and to the members of the General Court. The committee shall file its report no later
566	566	557than 8 p.m. on the day preceding its consideration and the General Court shall not consider said
567	567	558report before 1 p.m. on the following day, except that a report from such committee of
568	568	559conference that it is unable to agree may be considered and acted upon at the time that such 28 of 62
569	569	560report is filed. [Adopted Oct. 3, 1983. Amended July 17, 2003; July 21 and September 20, 2005;
570	570	561Feb. 3, 2011.]
571	571	56211C. Reports, other than those filed under Rule 11A, from a committee of conference shall,
572	572	563whenever practicable, be accompanied by a summary which shall be filed with the clerk.
573	573	564[Adopted Feb. 12, 2009; Feb. 3, 2011.]
574	574	56511D. Upon the filing of a report by a committee of conference the clerk of the branch in which
575	575	566the committee of conference filed its report shall make the report and the summary of the report
576	576	567available to all members electronically and to the public on the official website of the General
577	577	568Court by 9 p.m. on the day preceding its consideration. [Adopted Feb. 12, 2009; Feb. 3, 2011.]
578	578	56911E. Subsequent to the filing of a report of a committee of conference, an addendum may be
579	579	570submitted to the clerk of the branch in which the report had been filed. The addendum shall
580	580	571indicate that it contains only matters inadvertently omitted from or included in the report, and
581	581	572shall be signed by all of members of the House and Senate who had signed the conference
582	582	573committee report. The addendum shall be approved by both the Counsel to the House and the
583	583	574Counsel to the Senate. The addendum, having been approved by both the Counsel to the House
584	584	575and the Counsel to the Senate, shall be posted to the official website of the General Court
585	585	576immediately upon receipt by the clerk of the branch to which it was submitted. [Adopted Mar.
586	586	57714, 2013.]
587	587	578Limit of Time allowed for New Business.
588	588	57912. Resolutions intended for adoption by both branches of the General Court, petitions, and all
589	589	580other subjects of legislation, shall be deposited with the Clerk of either branch prior to 5 p.m. on
590	590	581the third Friday in January of the first annual session of the General Court. 29 of 62
591	591	582All such matters except messages from the Governor, reports required or authorized to be made
592	592	583to the General Court and petitions filed or approved by the voters of a city or town, or the mayor
593	593	584and city council, or other legislative body of a city, or the town meeting of a town, for the
594	594	585enactment of a special law under Section 8 of Article LXXXIX of the Amendments to the
595	595	586Constitution and which do not affect the powers, duties, etc., of state departments, boards,
596	596	587commissions, etc., or which do not affect generally the laws of the Commonwealth deposited
597	597	588with the respective clerks subsequent to 5 p.m. on the third Friday of January of the first annual
598	598	589session of the General Court shall be referred by the Clerks to the committees on the Rules of the
599	599	590two branches, acting concurrently. No such matter shall be admitted for consideration except on
600	600	591report of the committees on Rules of the two branches, acting concurrently, and then upon
601	601	592approval of two-thirds of the members of each branch voting thereon. Matters upon which
602	602	593suspension of Joint Rule 12 has been negatived shall be placed on file.
603	603	594At any special session called under Rule 26A, however, matters relating to the facts constituting
604	604	595the necessity for convening such session shall, if otherwise admissible, be admitted as though
605	605	596filed seasonably under the first sentence of this rule. Any recommendations from the Governor
606	606	597shall be similarly considered. This rule shall not be rescinded, amended or suspended, except by
607	607	598a concurrent vote of two-thirds of the members of each branch present and voting thereon.
608	608	599[Amended Feb. 7, 18 90; Feb. 2, 18 91; Feb. 7, 18 93; Jan. 10, 18 98; Jan. 9, 18 99; Feb. 15, 19
609	609	60001; May 4, 19 04; Jan. 31, 19 10; Feb. 2, 19 17; Dec. 22, 19 20; March 30, 19 21; Jan. 30, 19 23;
610	610	601Feb. 15, 19 33; Jan. 12 and Aug. 7, 19 39; Jan. 15, 19 45; Jan. 6, 19 47; May 27, 19 48; Jan. 30,
611	611	60219 67; March 26, 19 69; Jan. 7, 1971 ; Jan. 15 and Oct. 2, 1973 ; Oct 3, 1983 , June 12, 1995 ;
612	612	603Jan. 26, 2005; July 17, 2003; Jan. 26, 2005; July 21, 2005; Sept. 20, 2005; Feb. 12, 2009.] 30 of 62
613	613	60412A. All formal business of the first annual session of the General Court shall be concluded not
614	614	605later than the third Wednesday in November of that calendar year and all formal business of the
615	615	606second annual session shall be concluded not later than the last day of July of that calendar year.
616	616	607In order to assist the Senate and House in its analysis and appraisal of laws enacted by the
617	617	608General Court, each joint standing committee, upon conclusion of the formal business of the
618	618	609annual sessions, shall, as authorized by Joint Rule 1, initiate oversight hearings to evaluate the
619	619	610effectiveness, application and administration of the subject matter of laws within the jurisdiction
620	620	611of that committee. [Adopted June 12, 1995.]
621	621	612Unfinished Business of the Session.
622	622	61312B. Any matter pending before the General Court at the end of the first annual session and any
623	623	614special session held in the same year shall carry over into the second annual session of the same
624	624	615General Court in the same legislative status as it was at the conclusion of the first annual session
625	625	616or any special session held during that year; provided, however, that any measure making or
626	626	617supplementing an appropriation for a fiscal year submitted to or returned to the General Court by
627	627	618the Governor, under Article LXIII of the Amendments to the Constitution, in the first annual
628	628	619session or in a special session held during that year shall cease to exist upon the termination of
629	629	620the first annual session. [Adopted June 12. 1995.]
630	630	621Papers to be deposited with the Clerks.
631	631	62213. Information intended for presentation to the General Court by any Representative or Senator
632	632	623shall be deposited with the Clerk of the branch to which the member belongs; and all such
633	633	624information, unless they be subject to other rules or of the rules of the Senate or House, shall be
634	634	625referred by the Clerk, with the approval of the President or Speaker, to appropriate committees, 31 of 62
635	635	626subject to such changes as the Senate or House may make. The reading of information so
636	636	627referred may be dispensed with, but they shall, except as provided in these rules, be entered in
637	637	628the Journal of the same on the next legislative day after such reference.
638	638	629A member may include a brief statement of intent with all papers intended for presentation to the
639	639	630General Court. Upon a favorable report by a joint standing committee, a committee may include
640	640	631a brief written statement of intent. Said statement shall be dated and shall include the scope of
641	641	632the matter presented for consideration; provided, however, this rule shall not be construed to
642	642	633require the presentation of such statement of intent under this rule. [Adopted Feb. 7, 1890.
643	643	634Amended Feb. 2, 1891; Feb. 7, 1893; Jan. 25, 1894; Dec. 22, 1920; May 25, 1923; Feb. 15,
644	644	6351933; Jan. 12, 1971; June 3, 1985; Feb. 12, 2009.]
645	645	636Dockets of Legislative Counsel and Agents.
646	646	63714. The committees on Rules of the two branches, acting concurrently, may prescribe the manner
647	647	638and form of keeping the dockets of legislative agents which are required by law. [Adopted Feb.
648	648	6392, 1891; Amended Feb. 19, 1920.]
649	649	640Duties of the Clerk.
650	650	64115. If any part of the report of a committee over the signature of the chair or members of the
651	651	642committee is amended in either branch, the Clerk of that branch shall endorse upon the report
652	652	643such amendment. [Amended Mar. 7, 2019.]
653	653	64416. All papers, while on their passage between the 2 branches, may be under the signature of the
654	654	645respective Clerks, except as to the adopting of emergency preambles and the final passage of 32 of 62
655	655	646bills and resolves. Messages may be sent by such persons as each branch may direct. [Amended
656	656	647Feb. 21, 1919.]
657	657	64817. After bills and resolves have passed both branches to be engrossed, they shall be in the
658	658	649charge of the Clerks of the 2 branches, who shall prepare the same for final passage in the
659	659	650manner prescribed by law; and when so prepared the same shall be delivered to the Clerk of the
660	660	651House of Representatives; and when the bills have been passed to be enacted or the resolves have
661	661	652been passed in the House, they shall, in like manner, be delivered to the Senate Clerk and
662	662	653Parliamentarian. If a bill or resolve contains an emergency preamble, it shall be delivered in like
663	663	654manner, to the Senate after the preamble has been adopted by the House of Representatives and
664	664	655before the bill or resolve is put upon its final passage in that branch. If the Senate concurs in
665	665	656adopting the preamble, the bill or resolve shall be returned to the House to be there first put upon
666	666	657its final passage, under Joint Rule No. 22. [Amended Feb. 24, 1914; Feb. 21, 1919; Jan. 7, 1971.]
667	667	65818. [Omitted in 1971.]
668	668	65919. The Clerk of the branch in which a bill or resolve originated shall make an endorsement on
669	669	660the envelope of the engrossed copy of the bill, certifying in which branch the bill originated,
670	670	661which endorsement shall be entered on the journals by the Clerks respectively. [Amended Jan.
671	671	66228, 1889; Feb. 24, 1914.]
672	672	66320. Bills, resolves and other papers requiring the approval of the Governor shall be laid before
673	673	664the Governor for the Governor’s approbation by the Senate Clerk and Parliamentarian, who shall
674	674	665enter upon the journal of the Senate the day and date on which the same were so laid before the
675	675	666Governor. [Amended Jan. 28, 1889; Jan. 7, 1971.]
676	676	667Presentation and Distribution of Documents. 33 of 62
677	677	66821. The committees on Rules of the two branches, acting concurrently, may establish regulations
678	678	669for the distribution of bills, reports or other documents. Bills, reports or other documents shall be
679	679	670made available to members electronically and, except for petitions or other documents not
680	680	671assigned bill numbers, published on the Internet. The committees on Rules of the two branches,
681	681	672acting concurrently, may make such changes pertaining to the availability of bills, reports or
682	682	673other documents as they deem necessary for expediting the work of the legislature.
683	683	674The Clerks of the House of Representatives and the Senate shall be responsible for publishing
684	684	675the journals of their respective chamber, the book Public Officers of Massachusetts, the
685	685	676committee book and any other publications per order of the committees on Rules. [Amended Jan.
686	686	6778, 1886 ; Jan. 28, 1889 ; Jan. 27, 1911 ; Feb. 19, 1920 ; Jan. 6, 1947 ; Apr. 5, 19 67 ; Jan. 7,
687	687	6781971; Feb. 12, 2009; Mar. 14, 2013.]
688	688	679Emergency Measures.
689	689	68022. The vote on the preamble of an emergency law, which under the requirements of Article
690	690	681XLVIII, as amended by Article LXVII of the Amendments of the Constitution shall, upon
691	691	682request of 2 members of the Senate or of 5 members of the House of Representatives, be taken
692	692	683by call of the yeas and nays, shall be had after the proposed law has been prepared for final
693	693	684passage; and neither branch shall vote on the enactment of a bill or on the passage of a resolve
694	694	685containing an emergency preamble until it has been determined whether the preamble shall
695	695	686remain or be eliminated. If the bill contains an emergency preamble, a motion to amend the bill
696	696	687may be received in either branch before the adoption of the emergency preamble, and the
697	697	688amendment may contain a new emergency preamble. If the 2 branches concur in adopting the
698	698	689preamble, the bill or resolve shall first be put upon its final passage in the House of 34 of 62
699	699	690Representatives. If either branch fails to adopt the preamble, notice of its action shall be sent to
700	700	691the other branch; and the bill or resolve, duly endorsed, shall again be prepared for final passage
701	701	692without the preamble and without any provision that the bill or the resolve shall take effect
702	702	693earlier than 90 days after it has become law. Procedure shall be otherwise under the joint rules
703	703	694and the rules of the Senate and the House of Representatives. [Adopted Feb. 21, 1919. Amended
704	704	695Jan. 30, 1923; Jan. 7, 1971; Feb. 20, 2007; Feb. 12, 2009.]
705	705	69622A. Bills and resolves passed to be engrossed by both branches and before being transmitted by
706	706	697the clerks to the Legislative Engrossing Division shall be made available to the committees on
707	707	698Bills in the Third Reading of the two branches, acting jointly, who shall examine them to ensure
708	708	699accuracy in the text; that the legislation is correct as to form; that references to previous
709	709	700amendments to any particular law are correct and to ensure proper consistency with the language
710	710	701of existing statutes. These committees, with the approval of the majority and minority leadership
711	711	702of both branches may make corrections which are not substantive in nature. The clerks of both
712	712	703branches shall be immediately notified, in writing, of any such changes. Errors discovered by the
713	713	704committees of a substantive nature shall be reported to the General Court, which in turn shall
714	714	705take appropriate action under its rules. Upon completion of examination and possible correction
715	715	706of any such bills and resolves, the bills and resolves shall be returned to the clerks, who in turn,
716	716	707shall transmit them to the Legislative Engrossing Division to be prepared for final passage.
717	717	708[Adopted Sept. 16, 1971.]
718	718	709Legislative Amendments to the Constitution.
719	719	71023. All proposals for amendments to the Constitution referred to a joint committee on the first
720	720	711annual session of the General Court shall be reported by said committee not later than the last 35 of 62
721	721	712Wednesday of April in said year, and proposals for amendments to the Constitution referred to a
722	722	713joint committee subsequent to the last Wednesday in April of the first annual session shall be
723	723	714reported by said committee not later than the last Wednesday of April in the second session of
724	724	715the same General Court. The committee shall file its report, either recommending that the
725	725	716proposal ought to pass or ought not to pass, with any official papers in its possession that relate
726	726	717thereto, with the Clerk of the Senate. When the time within which said committees are required
727	727	718to report has expired, all matters upon which no report has been made shall forthwith be placed
728	728	719in the Journal of the respective branches, with an adverse report under this rule; and shall then be
729	729	720placed on file in the office of the Clerk of the Senate. For further information of the members of
730	730	721the Senate and House of Representatives, the respective Clerks shall also place all such matters
731	731	722under a separate heading in the Calendar of each branch, as soon as is practicable. In each branch
732	732	723the report shall be read and forthwith placed on file; and no further legislative action shall be
733	733	724taken on the measure unless consideration in joint session is called for by vote of either branch,
734	734	725under Section 2 of Part IV of Article XLVIII (as amended by Article LXXXI) of the
735	735	726Amendments to the Constitution. A joint committee to which is referred any recommendation for
736	736	727an amendment to the Constitution made by the Governor or contained in a report authorized to
737	737	728be made to the General Court may report on the recommendation a proposal for a legislative
738	738	729amendment, which shall be deemed to have been introduced by the member of the Senate who
739	739	730reports for the committee; and the procedure as regards reporting, filing and subsequent action
740	740	731shall be that provided for legislative amendments by this rule. Or the joint committee may report
741	741	732ought not to pass for the reason that no legislation is necessary or that the recommendation ought
742	742	733not to pass; and in such cases the usual procedure as regards similar reports by joint committees
743	743	734shall be followed. If such an adverse report is amended in the Senate by substituting a proposal 36 of 62
744	744	735for a legislative amendment, notice of the Senate's action shall be sent to the House and said
745	745	736proposal, together with the official papers relating to the subject, shall be in the custody of the
746	746	737Clerk of the Senate; and if said report is so amended in the House, the proposal, duly endorsed,
747	747	738together with the other papers, shall be sent to the Senate for its information and shall be kept in
748	748	739the custody of its Clerk. No further legislative action shall be taken in either branch on a proposal
749	749	740so substituted unless consideration in joint session is called for under the Constitution. If either
750	750	741branch calls for the consideration of any proposal in joint session, notice of its action shall be
751	751	742sent to the other branch; and it shall then be the duty of the Senate and the House of
752	752	743Representatives to arrange for the holding of the joint session not later than the second
753	753	744Wednesday in May. Subject to the requirements of the Constitution, joint sessions or
754	754	745continuances of joint sessions of the 2 branches to consider proposals for specific amendments to
755	755	746the Constitution, and all rules or procedures, shall be determined only by concurrent votes of the
756	756	7472 branches. The rules relative to joint conventions shall apply to the joint sessions of the 2
757	757	748houses. [Adopted Feb. 21, 1919. Amended March 30, 1921; April 11, 1935; Jan. 12, 1939; Jan.
758	758	74915, 1945; Nov. 9, 1951; Jan. 15, 1973; July 1, 1974; Feb. 12, 2009.]
759	759	750Executive Reorganization Plans.
760	760	75123A. Any reorganization plan, accompanied by a bill, submitted by the Governor under Article
761	761	752LXXXVII of the Amendments to the Constitution shall be referred by the Clerks of the Senate
762	762	753and the House, with the approval of the President and Speaker, to a joint standing committee
763	763	754within 5 days of the presentation of the reorganization plan.
764	764	755Said committee, to which is referred any such reorganization plan, shall, as required by said
765	765	756Article, not later than 30 days after the presentation of such plan by the Governor, hold a public 37 of 62
766	766	757hearing on the reorganization plan; and shall not later than 10 days after such hearing report that
767	767	758it either approves or disapproves such plan.
768	768	759When recommending action, the committee shall make, in each branch, a separate report of its
769	769	760recommendations, and shall file said report together with the committee's recommendations and
770	770	761the reasons for those recommendations, in writing. Majority and minority reports shall be signed
771	771	762by the members of said committee. Any official papers in the possession of said committee that
772	772	763relate thereto shall be filed with the Clerk of the Senate.
773	773	764If the committee recommends favorable action, the report shall be that the reorganization plan
774	774	765‘ought to be approved’. If the committee recommends adverse action, the report shall be that the
775	775	766reorganization plan ‘ought NOT to be approved’. In each instance, the question shall be ‘Shall
776	776	767this reorganization plan be approved?’
777	777	768In each branch, the report shall be read and forthwith recorded in the Journal. On the legislative
778	778	769day next following the Journal record, the report shall be placed in the Orders of the Day of the
779	779	770Senate and the House.
780	780	771When the time within which a joint committee is required to report on a reorganization plan has
781	781	772expired, a matter upon which no report has been made shall forthwith be placed in the Orders of
782	782	773the Day by the Clerks of each branch and the question shall be ‘Shall this reorganization plan be
783	783	774approved?’.
784	784	775When such plan is before either branch, no motion relating to said plan shall be allowed except
785	785	776the motions to lay on the table (only in the Senate), to postpone to a time certain, or to commit or
786	786	777recommit (at the pleasure of either branch). The motions to take a recess, to adjourn, the previous 38 of 62
787	787	778question (if provided in the branch debating the issue), to close debate at a specified time, and
788	788	779the motion to reconsider shall also be in order.
789	789	780A motion to discharge any committee to which is referred or to which is recommitted a
790	790	781reorganization plan shall not be in order prior to the expiration of 40 days after the Governor's
791	791	782presentation of such plan. After the expiration of said 40 days, a motion to discharge a committee
792	792	783shall be decided by a majority vote of the branch in which the motion is made.
793	793	784Unless disapproved by a majority vote of the members of either of the 2 branches of the General
794	794	785Court present and voting, the General Court not having prorogued within 60 days from the date
795	795	786of presentation by the Governor, the plan shall be approved and shall take effect as provided by
796	796	787Article LXXXVII of the Amendments to the Constitution.
797	797	788Within 7 days of the expiration of the 60 days from the date of presentation of said plan by the
798	798	789Governor, unless the question has already been decided, the Clerks of the Senate and House of
799	799	790Representatives shall place the plan in the Orders of the Day; and no motions except the motions
800	800	791to take a recess, to adjourn, and previous question, or to close debate at a specified time, shall be
801	801	792in order.
802	802	793No such reorganization plan presented to the General Court shall be subject to change or
803	803	794amendment before expiration of such 60 days. [Adopted June 13, 1967; Amended March 27,
804	804	7951969; June 12, 1995; Feb. 12, 2009.]
805	805	796Joint Conventions.
806	806	79724. The President of the Senate shall preside in Conventions of the 2 branches, and such
807	807	798Conventions shall be held in the Representatives' Chamber; the Senate Clerk and Parliamentarian 39 of 62
808	808	799shall be the Clerk of the Convention, and a record of the proceedings of the Convention shall be
809	809	800entered at large on the journals of both branches. [Amended Feb. 20, 2007.]
810	810	80125. When an agreement has been made by the 2 branches to go into Convention, such agreement
811	811	802shall not be altered or annulled, except by concurrent vote, excepting that it shall be in order to
812	812	803recess the convention from time to time upon a majority vote of said convention. [Amended Jan.
813	813	8047, 1971 .]
814	814	80526. No business shall be entered on, in Convention, other than that which may be agreed on
815	815	806before the Convention is formed.
816	816	807Special Sessions.
817	817	80826A. If written statements of 21 members of the Senate and 81 members of the House of
818	818	809Representatives, that in their opinion it is necessary that the General Court assemble in special
819	819	810session on a particular date and time specified in their statements during a recess of the General
820	820	811Court, are filed with their respective Clerks, such Clerks shall forthwith notify all the members
821	821	812of their respective branches to assemble at the State House in Boston, on said date at the time so
822	822	813specified. When so assembled, the first business to be taken up shall be the question of the
823	823	814necessity of so assembling, under Article I of Section I of Chapter I of Part the Second of the
824	824	815Constitution of the Commonwealth. If 21 members of the Senate and 81 members of the House
825	825	816of Representatives judge by vote taken by call of the yeas and nays that such assembling of the
826	826	817General Court is necessary, specifying in such vote the facts constituting such necessity, the
827	827	818General Court shall then complete its organization as a special session, proceed to the
828	828	819consideration of the suspension of Joint Rule 12A which if suspended by the required two-thirds
829	829	820of the members of both branches shall permit the General Court to proceed to the consideration 40 of 62
830	830	821of matters properly before it. Nothing in this rule shall prevent the General Court from
831	831	822assembling in any other constitutional manner when it judges necessary. [Adopted Aug. 7, 1939.
832	832	823Amended March 2, 1943; March 27, 19 69; May 5, 1979; July 17, 2003; July 21 and September
833	833	82420, 2005.]
834	834	825Joint Elections.
835	835	82627. In all elections by joint ballot a time shall be assigned for such election at least 1 day
836	836	827previous to such election.
837	837	82827A. In all cases of elections by ballot a majority of the votes cast shall be necessary for a
838	838	829choice, and where there shall be no such a majority on the first ballot the ballots shall be repeated
839	839	830until a majority is obtained; and in balloting, blanks shall be rejected and not taken into the count
840	840	831in the enumeration of votes, excepting that when the number of blanks shall be more than the
841	841	832number of votes received by the candidate having the highest number of votes, then the election
842	842	833shall be declared void and the balloting shall be repeated as provided herein. [Adopted March 27,
843	843	8341969 .]
844	844	83528. [Omitted March 28, 1972 .]
845	845	836References to the Committees on Rules.
846	846	83729. All motions and orders authorizing joint committees to travel or to employ stenographers, or
847	847	838authorizing joint committees or special commissions composed as a whole or in part of members
848	848	839of the General Court to make investigations or to file special reports, all propositions reported by
849	849	840joint committees which authorize investigations or special reports by joint committees or by
850	850	841special commissions composed as a whole or in part of members of the General Court, all 41 of 62
851	851	842motions or orders proposed for joint adoption which provide that information be transmitted to
852	852	843the General Court, and all matters referred under the second paragraph of Joint Rule 12, shall be
853	853	844referred without debate to the committees on Rules of the two branches acting concurrently, who
854	854	845shall report on the matter, under Joint Rule 10. All matters which have been referred under this
855	855	846rule shall, in each instance, be reported back into the branch making such reference. [Adopted
856	856	847Jan. 10, 1898. Amended Jan. 20, 1904; Jan. 28, 1913; Feb. 19 and Dec. 22, 1920; April 11, 1935;
857	857	848April 22, 1937; Jan. 27, 1955; Jan. 30, 1967; Oct. 18, 1971.]
858	858	84929A. Meetings of any special commission, special legislative commission, task force or other
859	859	850group authorized or required by a statute, resolve, rule, or order to make or conduct an
860	860	851investigation or study of any issue shall be conducted openly and transparently. Meetings of any
861	861	852special commission, special legislative commission, task force or other group authorized or
862	862	853required by a statute, resolve, rule, or order to make or conduct an investigation or study of any
863	863	854issue and which are chaired by members of the general court shall be posted and conducted
864	864	855pursuant to the rules of the senate and house of representatives and shall be conducted according
865	865	856to the following requirements:
866	866	857a.)Meetings shall be open to the public;
867	867	858b.)Meetings shall be announced by appropriate notice at least 72 hours in advance;
868	868	859c.)Any documents used in a meeting be provided to the public upon request in a manner to
869	869	860be determined by the chair;
870	870	861d.)Public testimony shall be accepted in a manner to be determined by the chair; 42 of 62
871	871	862e.)The chair shall maintain a summary of the subjects discussed at each meeting, a list of
872	872	863documents and other exhibits used at the meetings, and shall maintain a record of proceedings,
873	873	864including a record of all votes. For the purposes of this rule a video or audio recording made
874	874	865available to the public shall be considered an adequate record of the proceedings. [Adopted, Feb.
875	875	86615, 2017; Amended Mar. 7, 2019.]
876	876	86730. All motions or orders extending the time within which joint committees and the committees
877	877	868on Rules of the two branches, acting concurrently, are required to report shall be referred without
878	878	869debate to the committees on Rules of the two branches, acting concurrently, who shall report
879	879	870recommending what action should be taken on the motion or order. Such extension shall be
880	880	871granted by a concurrent majority vote if recommended by the committees on Rules of the two
881	881	872branches, acting concurrently; but no such extension shall be granted, against the
882	882	873recommendation of the committees, except by a four-fifths vote of the members of each branch
883	883	874present and voting on the extension. This rule shall not be rescinded, amended or suspended,
884	884	875except by a concurrent vote of four-fifths of the members of each branch present and voting
885	885	876thereon. [Adopted Jan. 16, 1903. Amended Feb. 6, 1912; Feb. 19, 1920; Jan. 6, 1947; Jan. 27,
886	886	8771955; June 7, 1965.]
887	887	878Members.
888	888	87931. A member of either branch who directly or indirectly solicits for such member or others any
889	889	880position or office within the gift or control of a railroad corporation, street railway company, gas
890	890	881or electric light company, telegraph or telephone company, aqueduct or water company, or other
891	891	882public service corporation, shall be subject to suspension for such solicitation, or to such other 43 of 62
892	892	883penalty as the branch of which the person is a member may see fit to impose. [See G. L. 271, sec.
893	893	88440.] [Adopted May 22, 1902.]
894	894	885Accommodations for Reporters.
895	895	88632. Subject to the approval and direction of the committees on Rules of the two branches, acting
896	896	887concurrently, during the session, and of the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House
897	897	888of Representatives after prorogation, the use of the rooms and facilities assigned to reporters in
898	898	889the State House shall be under the control of the organizations of legislative reporters known as
899	899	890the Massachusetts State House Press Association and the State House Broadcasters Association.
900	900	891No person shall be permitted to use such rooms or facilities who is not entitled to the privileges
901	901	892of the reporters' galleries of the Senate or of the House. Within 10 days after the General Court
902	902	893convenes the Massachusetts State House Press Association and the State House Broadcasters
903	903	894Association shall each transmit to the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of
904	904	895Representatives and the Sergeant-at-Arms a list of the legislative reporters with the principal
905	905	896publication or news service which each represents. [Adopted Jan. 27, 1911. Amended Feb. 24,
906	906	8971914; Feb. 19, 1920; April 17, 1925; May 23, 1979; Feb. 12, 2009.]
907	907	898Suspension of Rules.
908	908	89933. Any joint rule except Rule 10 and Rule 30 may be altered, suspended or rescinded by a
909	909	900concurrent vote of two-thirds of the members of each branch present and voting thereon.
910	910	901[Amended Feb. 7, 1893. Adopted in revised form Jan. 9, 1899. Amended Jan. 16, 1903; Jan. 26,
911	911	9022005.]
912	912	903Audit of Accounts. 44 of 62
913	913	90434. The committees on Rules of the two branches, acting concurrently, shall provide that an
914	914	905outside independent audit of joint financial accounts be conducted by a certified public
915	915	906accountant no less frequently that at the end of each second fiscal year. A copy of such audit
916	916	907shall be filed with the Clerks of the Senate and House of Representatives, and made available for
917	917	908public inspection upon reasonable notice and during regular office hours. [Adopted May 30,
918	918	9091985.]
919	919	91035. The committees on Rules of the two branches, acting concurrently, shall reexamine the Joint
920	920	911Rules of the House and Senate as needed, but at least every 4 years, and shall report to each
921	921	912branch any recommendations it may have to facilitate the work of the respective branches and
922	922	913the joint standing committees. [Adopted June 12, 1995.]
923	923	914Procurement.
924	924	91536. (a) The House Business Manager and Chief Financial Officer of the Senate shall complete
925	925	916the procurement of all goods and services from the joint legislative accounts. Procurements for
926	926	917goods or services shall be made pursuant to a statewide procurement contract established by the
927	927	918operational services division, to the extent practicable, as determined by the House Business
928	928	919Manager and the Chief Financial Officer of the Senate. If the Business Manager and the Chief
929	929	920Financial Officer determine that a procurement cannot be made using a statewide procurement
930	930	921contract established by the operational services division, they may procure the required goods or
931	931	922services under subsections (b), (c) or (d).
932	932	923(b) Procurement of a supply or service from a vendor not on a statewide procurement contract
933	933	924valued at less than $10,000 shall be made at the discretion of the House Business Manager and
934	934	925the Chief Financial Officer of the Senate. 45 of 62
935	935	926(c) If the House Business Manager and the Chief Financial Officer of the Senate seek to procure
936	936	927a supply or service from a vendor not on a statewide procurement contract valued at $10,000 or
937	937	928more, but less than $100,000, they shall seek written or oral quotations from not fewer than 3
938	938	929persons customarily providing such supply or service. The House Business Manager and the
939	939	930Chief Financial Officer of the Senate shall record the names and addresses of all persons from
940	940	931whom quotations were sought , the names and addresses of all persons submitting quotations
941	941	932and the date and amount of each quotation. The House Business Manager and the Chief
942	942	933Financial Officer of the Senate shall transmit said records to House and Senate Counsel for
943	943	934review with a recommendation as to what quotation offers the needed quality of supply or
944	944	935service at the best value for the General Court. Upon completion of the review by the House and
945	945	936Senate Counsels, the House Business Manager and the Chief Financial Officer of the Senate
946	946	937shall award the contract to the responsible person whose quotation offers the needed quality of
947	947	938supply or service and which represents the best value for the General Court.
948	948	939(d) If the House Business Manager and the Chief Financial Officer of the Senate seek to procure
949	949	940a supply or service from a vendor not on a statewide procurement contract valued at $100,000 or
950	950	941more, the House Business Manager and the Chief Financial Officer of the Senate shall seek
951	951	942proposals through a competitive bid process, which shall be established by the House and Senate
952	952	943Counsel; provided, however, that House and Senate Counsel shall file the competitive bid
953	953	944process with the Clerk of the House and the Clerk of the Senate no later than March 31st of the
954	954	945first year of the session.
955	955	946(e) The House Business Manager and the Chief Financial Officer of the Senate shall maintain a
956	956	947file on each procurement not executed using a statewide procurement contract established by the
957	957	948operational services division and in excess of $10,000 and shall include in such file all 46 of 62
958	958	949documents constituting the agreement for goods and services and all documents required by
959	959	950subsection (c) or (d). The files maintained shall be available for inspection by members of the
960	960	951General Court during regular business hours unless the information is otherwise protected by
961	961	952state or federal law.
962	962	953(f) Whenever the time required to comply with a requirement of this rule would endanger the
963	963	954health, safety or convenience of the members, staff or visitors to the House of Representatives or
964	964	955Senate the House Business Manager and the Senate Chief Financial Officer may make an
965	965	956emergency procurement without satisfying the requirement of this rules; provided, however, that
966	966	957both the House Business Manager and the Senate Chief Financial Officer certify in writing that:
967	967	958(i) an emergency exists and explain the nature thereof; (ii) the emergency procurement is limited
968	968	959to only supplies or services necessary to meet the emergency; (iii) shall conform to the
969	969	960requirements of rule to the extent practicable under the circumstances; (iv) each contractor’s
970	970	961name, (v) the amount and the type of each contract; (vi) the supplies or services provided under
971	971	962each contract; (vii) and basis for determining the need for an emergency procurement.
972	972	963(g) Notwithstanding subsection (a) and (d), all procurements for legal consulting services and
973	973	964legal resources shall be handled exclusively by House and Senate Counsel in compliance with
974	974	965the provisions of this rule.
975	975	966(h) If, in the determination of the House Business Manager and the Chief Financial Officer of the
976	976	967Senate, an emergency procurement of greater than $10,000 is necessary, the House Business
977	977	968Manager and the Chief Financial Officer of the Senate may procure the goods or services
978	978	969immediately and create and maintain a file explaining the nature of the emergency and the goods
979	979	970or services that were procured as a result. The House Business Manager and the Chief Financial 47 of 62
980	980	971Officer of the Senate shall document the goods or services that were procured, the process used
981	981	972to procure the goods or services, the vendors that were contacted and any other information
982	982	973relevant to the procurement, and make that information available to members of the General
983	983	974Court during regular business hours, unless the information is otherwise protected by state or
984	984	975federal law. [Adopted Mar. 14, 2013; Amended Feb. 15, 2017; Mar. 7, 2019].
985	985	976
986	986	977INDEX TO JOINT RULES
987	987	978OF THE TWO BRANCHES
988	988	979[The figures refer to the numbers of rules.]
989	989	980Accounts, audit, 34.
990	990	981AMENDMENTS:
991	991	982 of rules, vote required, 10, 12, 30, 33.
992	992	983 to Constitution, procedure, 23.
993	993	984 to engrossed Bills, 22.
994	994	985BILLS AND RESOLVES:
995	995	986 after passage to be engrossed, to be in charge of Clerks, etc., 17.
996	996	987 carry over, first to second session, 12B.
997	997	988 committee bills, 3A. 48 of 62
998	998	989 containing emergency preambles, procedure, 22.
999	999	990 enacted, to be laid before the Governor by Clerk of the Senate, 20.
1000	1000	991 for special legislation, not to be reported if object is attainable by general or existing
1001	1001	992laws, 7.
1002	1002	993 how to be written, 6.
1003	1003	994 how printed, etc., 21.
1004	1004	995 may be reported to either branch except, etc., 4.
1005	1005	996 money, to be reported to the House, 4.
1006	1006	997 recommittal of, 5.
1007	1007	998 specially affecting rights of individuals or corporations, not to be reported except on
1008	1008	999petition, etc., 8.
1009	1009	1000Bills in the Third Reading, committee on.
1010	1010	1001 may make non-substantive changes after bill engrossed in both branches, 22A.
1011	1011	1002 to approve reports of conference committees, 11.
1012	1012	1003Blank ballots not to be counted in elections, etc., 27A.
1013	1013	1004Cities, petitions affecting, 7B, 12.
1014	1014	1005CLERKS:
1015	1015	1006 papers deposited late with, disposition, 12. 49 of 62
1016	1016	1007 papers on passage between the two branches to be under signature of, except, etc., 16.
1017	1017	1008 papers to be deposited with, and referred to committees, 13
1018	1018	1009 Senate Clerk shall be Clerk of joint Convention, 24.
1019	1019	1010 Senate Clerk shall lay enacted bills, etc., before Governor, 20.
1020	1020	1011 shall endorse amendments or reports of committees, 15.
1021	1021	1012 shall endorse where bill or resolve originated, 19.
1022	1022	1013 shall have charge of bills, etc., after passage to be engrossed, etc., 17.
1023	1023	1014 to certify bills and resolves to rightly and truly prepared for final passage, 17.
1024	1024	1015 to notify members to assemble for special sessions, 26A.
1025	1025	1016 to place unreported matters in the Orders of the Day when time for reporting expires, 10.
1026	1026	1017 to submit certain petitions to State Secretary, 9.
1027	1027	1018COMMITTEES:
1028	1028	1019 bills specially affecting individuals or corporations not to be reported when notice, etc., 8.
1029	1029	1020 bills reported by joint, how to be written, 6.
1030	1030	1021 Cannabis Policy committee, 1.
1031	1031	1022
1032	1032	1023 Cellular telephones, etc., prohibit, 1D. 50 of 62
1033	1033	1024 decorum, chairs of each committee preserve, 1D.
1034	1034	1025 fiscal notes, 4A.
1035	1035	1026 Export Development committee, 1.
1036	1036	1027 form of reports, 10A.
1037	1037	1028 if report is amended in either branch, to be endorsed by Clerk, 15.
1038	1038	1029 Health Care Financing
1039	1039	1030 deadline for reporting, 10.
1040	1040	1031 reports not to be read prior to reference to, 1E.
1041	1041	1032 limit of time for reports, etc., 10, 30.
1042	1042	1033 limit number of bills to be heard, 1D.
1043	1043	1034 members of Legislature not to act as counsel before, 2.
1044	1044	1035 motions and orders extending time within which, may report, to be referred to
1045	1045	1036committees on Rules, 30.
1046	1046	1037 not to sit during recess of General Court unless authorized by the two branches, 3.
1047	1047	1038 notice of hearings, 1D.
1048	1048	1039 of conference, 1A, 11, 11A, 11B.
1049	1049	1040 on Rules to regulate distribution of documents, 21.
1050	1050	1041 open meetings, 1A, 1D. 51 of 62
1051	1051	1042 orders authorizing joint, to travel or employ stenographers, to be referred to committees
1052	1052	1043on Rules, 29.
1053	1053	1044 executive sessions, 1D,
1054	1054	1045 oversight activities and Internet posting, 1.
1055	1055	1046 posters, etc. prohibit, 1D.
1056	1056	1047 proposals for amendments to the Constitution, reports of, on, 23.
1057	1057	1048 public hearings, 1B.
1058	1058	1049 public testimony, physical address and e-mail, 1D.
1059	1059	1050 recording of meetings of, 1D.
1060	1060	1051 report of, without being founded upon petition, 3A.
1061	1061	1052 reports of, recommittal of, 5.
1062	1062	1053 reports of, 4, 10.
1063	1063	1054 reports of, subsequently referred to a joint committee (except for Health Care Financing),
1064	1064	1055to be reported to branch in which original report was made, 4.
1065	1065	1056 reports of, may be made to either branch, except, etc., 4.
1066	1066	1057 roll call votes, 4.
1067	1067	1058 rules of procedure and Internet posting, 1.
1068	1068	1059 schedule of hearings, 1C, 1D. 52 of 62
1069	1069	1060 special legislation to be reported against, if purpose can be secured by general or existing
1070	1070	1061law, 7.
1071	1071	1062 standing, appointment, number of members, etc., 1.
1072	1072	1063 Summaries of bills, etc., prior to executive sessions, 1D.
1073	1073	1064 testimony before, physical addresses and e-mail, 1D.
1074	1074	1065 to report money bills to House, 4.
1075	1075	1066 to report adversely on petitions not advertised according to law, etc., 9.
1076	1076	1067 travel of, 3.
1077	1077	1068 visual aides, posters, etc., prohibit, 1D.
1078	1078	1069 written statement of intent, 13.
1079	1079	1070CONFERENCE, COMMITTEES OF, 1A, 11, 11A, 11B, 11C, 11D, 11E.
1080	1080	1071 addendum procedures, 11E.
1081	1081	1072 appropriation bills, 11A.
1082	1082	1073 availability, etc., 11B.
1083	1083	1074 committee on Bills in the Third Reading approval, etc., 11.
1084	1084	1075 conference to consist of 3 members, 11.
1085	1085	1076 errata procedures, 11E.
1086	1086	1077 internet posting, 11D. 53 of 62
1087	1087	1078 may be accepted or rejected, 11.
1088	1088	1079 minority party members, 11.
1089	1089	1080 open to the public, except, 1A.
1090	1090	1081 shall be made to the branch in which the matter was introduced, 4.
1091	1091	1082 summary to be filed with the clerk, 11C.
1092	1092	1083
1093	1093	1084Constitution, amendments to, procedure relative to, 23.
1094	1094	1085CONVENTIONS OF BOTH BRANCHES:
1095	1095	1086 agreement to go into Convention shall not be altered except by concurrent vote, 25.
1096	1096	1087 Clerk of Senate to be Clerk; record to be made in journals of both branches, 24.
1097	1097	1088 held in Representatives' Chamber, 24.
1098	1098	1089 no business to be transacted except that before agreed upon, 26.
1099	1099	1090 President of Senate shall preside, 24.
1100	1100	1091Corporations, legislation affecting, 8, 9.
1101	1101	1092Counsel, no member shall act as, before committees, 2.
1102	1102	1093Counsels to Senate and House, 1.
1103	1103	1094Counties, certain petitions to require approval of county commissioners, 7A, 7B. 54 of 62
1104	1104	1095Documents, distribution, printing and publishing, etc., 21.
1105	1105	1096Elections by joint ballot, to be assigned one day previous, 27.
1106	1106	1097 blank ballots not to be counted, etc., 27A.
1107	1107	1098Emergency laws, 16, 17, 22.
1108	1108	1099Employee handbook, 1.
1109	1109	1100Engrossed bills
1110	1110	1101 amendments to, 22.
1111	1111	1102 in charge of Clerks; to be prepared for final passage and certified by Clerks, 17.
1112	1112	1103Evidence, printing of extended reports, 21.
1113	1113	1104Executive reorganization plans, 23A.
1114	1114	1105Fiscal notes, 4A.
1115	1115	1106General law to be preferred to special legislation, 7.
1116	1116	1107GOVERNOR:
1117	1117	1108 executive reorganization plans, 23A.
1118	1118	1109 may submit recommendations during special sessions, 12.
1119	1119	1110 papers requiring approval of, to be submitted to, by Clerk of the Senate, 20.
1120	1120	1111 recommendations of, for amendments to the Constitution, 23. 55 of 62
1121	1121	1112Home rule legislation, 7B, 12.
1122	1122	1113Human Resources offices, Senate and House, employee handbook, 1.
1123	1123	1114Individuals, legislation affecting, 8.
1124	1124	1115Information, motions and orders for joint adoption providing that, be transmitted to the General
1125	1125	1116Court, 29.
1126	1126	1117Intent statement, petitioners and committees. 13.
1127	1127	1118Internet, posting of certain information on, 1.
1128	1128	1119Investigations, propositions involving special, to be referred to committees on Rules, acting
1129	1129	1120concurrently, 29.
1130	1130	1121Joint conventions and joint sessions of the two houses, 23-26.
1131	1131	1122Joint petitions, 6A.
1132	1132	1123JOURNALS OF THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:
1133	1133	1124 papers deposited to be entered in, 13.
1134	1134	1125 proceedings of joint conventions to be recorded in, 24.
1135	1135	1126 record of date bills laid before Governor, 20.
1136	1136	1127LEGISLATION:
1137	1137	1128 affecting rights of individuals or corporations, must be introduced by petition, 8.
1138	1138	1129 intent statements, petitioners, 13. 56 of 62
1139	1139	1130 subjects of, to be deposited with Clerks, 12, 13.
1140	1140	1131 Legislative accounts, audits, 34.
1141	1141	1132 Legislative sessions, limit, 12A.
1142	1142	1133LIMITS OF TIME:
1143	1143	1134 for filing statements calling for special sessions during recess, 26A.
1144	1144	1135 for holding of joint session for consideration of Amendments to the Constitution, 23.
1145	1145	1136 for introduction of new business, 12.
1146	1146	1137 for legislative sessions, first and second year of General Court, 12A.
1147	1147	1138 for reports, 10, 30.
1148	1148	1139 for transmission of list of legislative reporters, 32.
1149	1149	1140LOCAL APPROVAL
1150	1150	1141 compliance subsequent to filing, 7B.
1151	1151	1142 substantive amendments to filed with House and Senate counsels, 7D.
1152	1152	1143 valid until end of next biennial session, 7C.
1153	1153	1144MEMBERS:
1154	1154	1145 majority may assemble in special session, 26A.
1155	1155	1146 not to act as counsel before committees, 2. 57 of 62
1156	1156	1147 not to purchase stock or other securities of corporations or associations when legislation
1157	1157	1148affecting such corporations or associations is pending, 2A.
1158	1158	1149 not to solicit employment for themselves or others, 31.
1159	1159	1150 written statement of intent of legislation, 13.
1160	1160	1151Memorials contemplating legislation deposited with Clerks late, disposition, 12.
1161	1161	1152Messages between the two branches, 16.
1162	1162	1153Motions, certain, to be referred to the committee on Rules, 29, 30.
1163	1163	1154New business, limit of time allowed for, 12.
1164	1164	1155Notice of legislation specially affecting the rights of individuals or corporation to be given, 8.
1165	1165	1156Orders, certain, to be referred to the committees on Rules, 29, 30.
1166	1166	1157Orders of the Day, unreported matters to be placed in, by Clerks, 10.
1167	1167	1158PAPERS:
1168	1168	1159 certain, to be printed in advance, 13.
1169	1169	1160 on passage between the two branches to be under Clerks' signatures, except, etc., 16.
1170	1170	1161 reading may be dispensed with, 13.
1171	1171	1162 requiring approval of Governor to be laid before him by Clerk of the Senate, 20.
1172	1172	1163 to be deposited with Clerks, etc., 13.
1173	1173	1164 written statements of intent, 13. 58 of 62
1174	1174	1165PETITIONS.
1175	1175	1166 adverse reports on, to be made to branch in which introduced, 4.
1176	1176	1167 deposited with Clerks subsequently to last hour for filing, to be referred to the
1177	1177	1168committees on Rules of the two branches, acting concurrently, 12.
1178	1178	1169 for amendments to Constitution, 23.
1179	1179	1170 for legislation affecting a particular city or town, 7B, 12.
1180	1180	1171 for the establishment or revival, or for the amendment, alteration or extension of the
1181	1181	1172charter or corporate powers or privileges, or for the change of name, of any corporation (except a
1182	1182	1173public service corporation) to be transmitted to State Secretary, etc., 9.
1183	1183	1174 for the incorporation of a city or town, for the annexation, consolidation or division of
1184	1184	1175municipalities, for the incorporation, revival, amendment of corporate powers or change of name
1185	1185	1176of public service corporations, for authority to take water for water supply, or relative to building
1186	1186	1177structures in or over navigable or tide waters, to be placed on file, unless, etc., 9.
1187	1187	1178 intent statements, 13.
1188	1188	1179 that a county be authorized to retire or pension or grant an annuity, or to pay any accrued
1189	1189	1180salary or claim for damages, or to alter any county or municipal retirement law, or to reinstate
1190	1190	1181former employees, to be reported adversely, unless, etc., 7A.
1191	1191	1182 to be admitted during special sessions, 26A.
1192	1192	1183 to be deposited with Clerks and referred to committees, 13. 59 of 62
1193	1193	1184Placed on file, 10A, 12.
1194	1194	1185Preambles, emergency, vote on, 22.
1195	1195	1186Procurement contracts , 36.
1196	1196	1187PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE:
1197	1197	1188 approval of facilities used by legislative reporters, 32.
1198	1198	1189 to approve references to committees, 13.
1199	1199	1190 to preside in joint session, 24.
1200	1200	1191Printing, how ordered, provided, etc., 13, 21.
1201	1201	1192Public service corporations, penalty for members soliciting position within control of, 31.
1202	1202	1193Publishing of documents, how ordered, provided, etc., 21.
1203	1203	1194Reading of papers, may be dispensed, 13.
1204	1204	1195Recess committees, 3.
1205	1205	1196Recommitment of reports, bills and resolves, 5.
1206	1206	1197Reporters, use of rooms and facilities assigned to, to be under control of State House Press
1207	1207	1198Association, etc., 32.
1208	1208	1199Reports made to Legislature not to be referred to the committees on Rules of the two branches,
1209	1209	1200acting concurrently, under the rule, 12.
1210	1210	1201 number to be published, 21. 60 of 62
1211	1211	1202Reports of committees. See Committees.
1212	1212	1203 form of, 10A.
1213	1213	1204Recision of rules, vote required, 10, 12, 30, 33.
1214	1214	1205Resolutions, certain, deposited with Clerks late, disposition, 12.
1215	1215	1206Resolves: See Bills and Resolves.
1216	1216	1207RULES, COMMITTEE ON:
1217	1217	1208 authority to prescribe manner and form of keeping dockets of legislative counsel and
1218	1218	1209agents, 14.
1219	1219	1210 certain motions and orders to be referred to, 29, 30.
1220	1220	1211 formal sessions, establish schedule, 1.
1221	1221	1212 limit of time for reports, 10, 30.
1222	1222	1213 may make regulations for distribution of documents, 21.
1223	1223	1214 may suggest measures to facilitate business, 1.
1224	1224	1215 recommend rules changes, every four years, 35.
1225	1225	1216 rooms and facilities assigned to reporters subject to approval of, 32.
1226	1226	1217SECRETARY OF THE COMMONWEALTH:
1227	1227	1218 legislation affecting corporations, 9.
1228	1228	1219SERGEANT-AT-ARMS: 61 of 62
1229	1229	1220 duties relative to travel of committees, 3.
1230	1230	1221 to receive list of legislative reporters, 32.
1231	1231	1222SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:
1232	1232	1223 approval of facilities used by legislative reporters, 32.
1233	1233	1224 to approve references to committees, 13.
1234	1234	1225Special commissions or task forces, transparency, etc., 29A.
1235	1235	1226SPECIAL LEGISLATION:
1236	1236	1227affecting individuals or corporations, must be based on petition, 8.
1237	1237	1228 affecting particular cities and towns, 7B, 12.
1238	1238	1229 not to be granted if object is attainable under general or existing laws, 7.
1239	1239	1230SPECIAL SESSIONS:
1240	1240	1231 matters to be considered at, 12.
1241	1241	1232 method of assembling, 26A.
1242	1242	1233Standing committees, appointment and number, 1.
1243	1243	1234State House Press Association, legislative reporters, 32.
1244	1244	1235Stenographers, motions or orders authorizing committees to employ, to be referred to committees
1245	1245	1236on Rules, 29.
1246	1246	1237Suspension of rules, vote required, 10, 12, 30, 33. 62 of 62
1247	1247	1238Task forces and commissions, transparency, etc., 29A.
1248	1248	1239Towns, petitions affecting, 7B, 12.
1249	1249	1240Travel and traveling expenses of committees, 3, 29.
1250	1250	1241Ways and Means, committee on, matters referred to either may be