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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 228 FILED ON: 1/12/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2187
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Julian Cyr
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying
resolve:
Resolve establishing a commission on artistic representation in the People’s House.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Julian CyrCape and Islands 1 of 3
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 228 FILED ON: 1/12/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2187
By Mr. Cyr, a petition (accompanied by resolve, Senate, No. 2187) of Julian Cyr that provisions
be made for an investigation and study by a special commission (including members of the
General Court) on artistic representation in the People’s House. Tourism, Arts and Cultural
Development.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 2241 OF 2021-2022.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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Resolve establishing a commission on artistic representation in the People’s House.
1 Resolved, that there shall be a special legislative commission on artistic representation in
2the People’s House. The commission shall review the Massachusetts State House, identify any
3racially or culturally insensitive art, murals, or exhibits within or surrounding the State House,
4and promote diverse representation of the Commonwealth’s people and history at the State
5House. The commission shall consist of: 2 persons appointed by the president of the senate from
6a list of not less than 4 nominees from the Massachusetts Black & Latino Legislative Caucus; 2
7persons appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives from a list of not less than 4
8nominees from the Massachusetts Black & Latino Legislative Caucus; a member of the senate
9appointed by the senate president; a member of the house appointed by the speaker of the house;
10the chair of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe or their designee; the chair of the Wampanoag Tribe
11of Gay Head Aquinnah or their designee. 2 of 3
12 The chief executive officer of the Boston Museum of African American History shall be
13appointed automatically to the commission and shall serve as chair.
14 The following shall be appointed automatically to the commission: the State House Art
15Curator; the superintendent of the Bureau of the State House; the chair of the State House Art
16Commission; the executive director of the Massachusetts Cultural Council or their designee; the
17executive director of the Massachusetts Humanities Council or their designee; the executive
18director of the Commission on the Status of Women or their designee; the executive director of
19the Commission on African Americans or their designee; the executive director of Amplify
20Latinx or their designee; the executive director of the Commission on Asian Americans or their
21designee; the executive director of the North American Indian Center of Boston or their
22designee; the executive director of the Commission on LGBTQ Youth or their designee; and the
23executive director of the Disability Law Center or their designee.
24 All members of the commission shall be voting members and shall have an equal vote on
25matters under its charge. The commission shall meet not less than four times annually, either in
26person or by remote video or audio conferencing. All commission votes shall pass by a simple
27majority.
28 The commission's work shall include but not be limited to: (i) conducting a review of art,
29murals, statues, plaques, or any similar images within and surrounding the State House to
30identify any racially or culturally insensitive images or content that should be considered for
31removal; (ii) identifying unused wall or floor space in the State House that could be filled with
32more diverse and representative images and art from across the Commonwealth; (iii) soliciting
33the commission of art, murals, statutes, plaques, or artistic representation within and surrounding 3 of 3
34the State House that reflects the diversity of the Commonwealth’s residents and its history;
35provided further, the Commission may also recommend removal from public display some or all
36portraits of Governor's displayed within the State House who served prior to 1900 and may
37recommend replacement of such wall space with more diverse and representative images and art
38from across the Commonwealth and its history; (iv) making recommendations regarding the
39statues representing the Commonwealth in the National Statuary Hall Collection including
40identifying any statue to be replaced, naming an individual to be newly commemorated, selecting
41a sculptor to create the replacement statue, and identifying methods of obtaining the funds
42necessary to accomplish the replacement.
43 The commission shall file an initial report with its findings on or before June 1, 2024 with
44the Clerk of the House and the Clerk of the Senate. Said report shall be further delivered to the
45Governor of the Commonwealth. The commission may file additional reports.
46 The commission may accept and solicit funds, including any gifts, donations, grants or
47bequests or any federal funds, for any of the purposes of this section. The commission may
48receive state appropriations or be awarded bond funds. These funds shall be deposited in a
49separate account with the state treasurer, to be received by the treasurer on behalf of the
50Commonwealth and to be expended by the commission in accordance with law.