Massachusetts House Bill H2025 Latest Draft

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