Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H2025 Compare Versions

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

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1	1	1 of 146
2	2	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2025
3	3	House order No. 2025, as amended and as adopted by the House. February 25, 2025.
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	House of Representatives, February 25, 2025.
6	6	_______________
7	7	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
8	8	(2025-2026)
9	9	_______________
10	10	1 The Rules of the House of Representatives for the 194th General Court (for the years
11	11	22025-2026), as adopted by the House on February 25, 2025:
12	12	3 SPEAKER.
13	13	4 1. The Speaker shall take the Chair at the hour to which the House stands adjourned, call the
14	14	5members to order, and, on the appearance of a quorum, proceed to business. [1.]
15	15	6 1A. The House shall not be called to order before the hour of ten o'clock A.M. nor meet
16	16	7beyond the hour of midnight unless by unanimous consent of the Members present. If there is
17	17	8unanimous consent to continue meeting past midnight then, the House shall return to the
18	18	9business then pending; and if no business was pending, to the next order of business. However, if
19	19	10there is not unanimous consent of the members present to meet beyond the hour of midnight, the
20	20	11Speaker shall forthwith, and without further debate, adjourn or recess the House to a time not
21	21	12earlier than ten o'clock A.M. on the next succeeding calendar day. 2 of 146
22	22	13 [Adopted Jan. 12, 1983; Amended Jan. 11, 1985; Jan. 12, 1987; Jan. 14, 1997; May 16,
23	23	142000.]
24	24	15 2. The Speaker shall preserve decorum and order in the House Chamber. While in the House
25	25	16Chamber, members, staff and guests shall be required to dress in proper and appropriate attire
26	26	17and be courteous and professional when using electronic devices. The committee on Operations,
27	27	18Facilities and Security, in consultation with the Speaker, may establish policies and procedures
28	28	19for the preservation of decorum and order in the galleries of the House Chamber to ensure that
29	29	20the House may conduct its business without undue disruption.
30	30	21 Members, staff and guests shall not take photographs or videos of, or in, the House Chamber
31	31	22during formal or informal sessions unless otherwise permitted by this Rule. Members may take
32	32	23photographs at their assigned seats in the chamber during formal or informal sessions; provided,
33	33	24however, that any photographs or video taken by members during formal or informal sessions
34	34	25shall not include images of any other member, staff or guest without their express written
35	35	26consent.
36	36	27 The Speaker may permit photographs or videos during special occasions, which shall include,
37	37	28but shall not be limited to, swearing-in ceremonies and addresses by constitutional officers or
38	38	29other dignitaries. The use of audio-visual aids including, without limitation, videos, computers,
39	39	30posters, displays or charts shall be permitted only upon approval of the Speaker.
40	40	31 The Speaker also may speak to points of order in preference to other members; and shall
41	41	32decide all questions of order, subject to an appeal to the House. [2.] (2.) [With regard to appeals,
42	42	33see Rule 77.]
43	43	34 [Amended Jan. 11, 1985; Jan. 9, 2003; Jan. 20, 2011; Jan. 29, 2015; Jan. 30, 2019.] 3 of 146
44	44	35 3. The Speaker shall declare all votes, subject to verification as hereinafter provided. [3.] (55.)
45	45	36[See Rules 49 to 53, inclusive.]
46	46	37 [Amended Jan. 11, 1985.]
47	47	38 4. In all cases the Speaker may vote. [4.] (3.)
48	48	39 [Amended Jan. 11, 1985.]
49	49	40 4A. There shall be a Speaker pro Tempore. The Speaker pro Tempore shall assist the Speaker
50	50	41in the coordination of policy development and the ceremonial functions of the House and shall
51	51	42perform such duties assigned to them by the Speaker. Upon a vacancy in the office of Speaker,
52	52	43the office of Speaker pro Tempore shall be considered vacant.
53	53	44 [Adopted Jan. 26, 2005, Amended, Jan. 23, 2007; Jan. 30, 2019.]
54	54	45 4B. (a) As used in this Rule, the following words shall have the following meanings:-
55	55	46 “Earned income”, income derived from salaries, wages, tips and commissions for performing
56	56	47services as an employee of an employer.
57	57	48 “Unearned income”, all other income that is not earned income.
58	58	49 (b) The Speaker shall not receive earned income for:
59	59	50 (1) affiliating with or being employed by a firm, partnership, association, corporation or other
60	60	51entity that provides professional services involving a fiduciary relationship;
61	61	52 (2) permitting their name to be used by such a firm, partnership, association, corporation or
62	62	53other entity; 4 of 146
63	63	54 (3) receiving compensation for practicing a profession that involves a fiduciary relationship;
64	64	55or
65	65	56 (4) serving as an officer or member of the board of an association, corporation or other entity.
66	66	57 (c) The provisions of this rule shall take effect on August 1, 2017.
67	67	58 [Added Feb. 2, 2017; Amended Jan 30, 2019.]
68	68	59 5. The Speaker may appoint a member to perform the duties of the Chair. In the event the
69	69	60Speaker fails to appoint a member to perform the duties of the Chair, the Speaker pro Tempore
70	70	61shall be the Acting Speaker until the Speaker otherwise provides or until a vacancy in the office
71	71	62of Speaker occurs. In the event that the Speaker pro Tempore is absent or is unable to perform
72	72	63the duties of Acting Speaker, the Majority Leader, the Assistant Majority Leader, the Second
73	73	64Assistant Majority Leader or other designee shall be the Acting Speaker. [7.] (4.)
74	74	65 [Amended April 18, 1979; Jan. 11, 1985; Jan. 14, 1997; Jan. 26, 2005.]
75	75	66 6. In case of a vacancy in the office of Speaker, or in case the Speaker or the member named
76	76	67by said Speaker in accordance with the preceding rule is absent at the hour to which the House
77	77	68stands adjourned, the senior member present shall call the House to order, and shall preside until
78	78	69a Speaker is elected, which shall be the first business in order. [8.] (5.)
79	79	70 [Amended Jan. 11, 1985, Amended, Jan. 23, 2007.]
80	80	71 7. At the beginning of the first year of the two-year General Court, the Speaker may, unless
81	81	72the House otherwise directs, appoint a Chaplain; and the Speaker may fill any vacancy in the
82	82	73office of Chaplain. [7A.] (4.) 5 of 146
83	83	74 [Amended Jan. 11, 1985; Jan. 29, 2015.]
84	84	75 SCHEDULING.
85	85	76 7A. There shall be appointed a standing committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling
86	86	77consisting of eleven members. The committee shall not be subject to the provisions of Rule 17A,
87	87	78but shall be authorized to meet from time to time at the call of the Chair for the purpose of
88	88	79assisting the members of the House of Representatives in identifying the major matters pending
89	89	80before the General Court, the relative urgency and priority for consideration of such matters, and
90	90	81alternative methods of responding to such matters by the General Court. Said committee shall
91	91	82schedule legislative matters in a manner that will provide for an even distribution and orderly
92	92	83consideration of reports of legislative committees on the daily Calendar.
93	93	84 The committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling shall not be authorized to recommend
94	94	85changes or amendments to legislation or recommend that a matter ought to pass or ought not to
95	95	86pass, but shall only report asking to be discharged from further consideration of a bill, and
96	96	87recommending that it be referred or recommitted to another committee; provided, however, that
97	97	88it shall not recommend that a matter be referred or recommitted to the committee on Rules or the
98	98	89committees on Rules of the two branches, acting concurrently, or what date a matter shall be
99	99	90scheduled for consideration by the House and placed in the Orders of the Day. All reports by the
100	100	91committee on petitions filed or approved by the voters of a city or town, or by the mayor and city
101	101	92council, or other legislative body of a city or the town meeting of a town with respect to a law
102	102	93relating to that city or town shall be read and considered by the House at a formal or informal
103	103	94session before being accepted, rejected or otherwise acted upon. Any such petition and any 6 of 146
104	104	95attachment to the petition shall be filed in both paper and electronic format approved by the
105	105	96Clerk.
106	106	97 All matters received from the Senate or reported from standing committees of the House and
107	107	98joint standing committees of the General Court shall, unless subject to provisions of any other
108	108	99House or joint rules, be referred to the committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling. All
109	109	100matters reported by said committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling recommending that a
110	110	101matter shall be scheduled for consideration by the House shall be placed in the Orders of the Day
111	111	102for the next sitting. Said committee may report on a legislative matter within thirty days
112	112	103following the day the matter was referred. If the committee fails to report a matter within thirty
113	113	104days following the date of its reference, the Clerk shall place the matter on the Calendar of the
114	114	105House as if it had been scheduled for consideration by said committee on Steering, Policy and
115	115	106Scheduling.
116	116	107 [Adopted Jan. 14, 1997; Amended Jan. 26, 1999; Jan. 24, 2001; Jan. 9, 2003; Jan. 26, 2005.]
117	117	108 7B. The committee on Rules shall be authorized to originate and report special orders for the
118	118	109scheduling and consideration of legislation on the floor of the House. Said committee shall not
119	119	110be subject to the notification provisions contained in Rule 17A but may hold public hearings and
120	120	111shall accept testimony only from the members of the House. A majority of the members
121	121	112appointed to the committee shall constitute a quorum. When reported, such orders may be
122	122	113amended by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting, and shall be subject to
123	123	114approval by a majority of the members of the House present and voting. Debate on the question
124	124	115on adoption of such orders shall be limited to one hour. No orders adopted pursuant to this 7 of 146
125	125	116paragraph shall limit the powers of the Speaker as provided in Rules 1 to 6, inclusive. Such
126	126	117orders shall not be subject to reconsideration.
127	127	118 The committee on Rules shall not be subject to the provisions of Rule 17A, but may meet in
128	128	119private to discuss or consider the appointment, discipline or dismissal of any individual the
129	129	120committee is authorized by law or rule to appoint, discipline or dismiss.
130	130	121 [Adopted Jan. 14, 1997; Amended Jan. 24, 2001; Feb. 11, 2009; Jan. 30, 2019; Feb. 1, 2023.]
131	131	122 7C. The committee on Rules may consider and make recommendations designed to improve
132	132	123and expedite the business and procedures of the House and its committees, and to recommend to
133	133	124the House any amendments to the Rules deemed necessary; provided that a majority of the
134	134	125members of the House present and voting shall be required to approve such recommendations.
135	135	126 The committee shall be privileged to report at any time.
136	136	127 [Adopted Jan. 14, 1997.]
137	137	128 7D. The Speaker shall, in consultation with the committee on Rules and the committee on
138	138	129Steering, Policy and Scheduling, establish a committee scheduling system that minimizes to the
139	139	130greatest extent possible scheduling conflicts for members of committees.
140	140	131 The Speaker shall determine a schedule for the House for each week relative to formal and
141	141	132informal sessions and shall make such schedule available to the members in writing or by
142	142	133electronic mail by 5:00 P.M. on Friday of the preceding week; provided, however, that the
143	143	134Speaker may make, notwithstanding the provisions of Rule 7A, changes in the schedules to
144	144	135facilitate the business of the House in an efficient and timely fashion. The Speaker shall
145	145	136communicate notice of any such scheduling change to the members in writing or by electronic 8 of 146
146	146	137mail as soon as practicable, and whenever possible, the Speaker shall provide such notice not
147	147	138less than twenty-four hours before the event so rescheduled is set to commence.
148	148	139 [Adopted Jan. 14, 1997; January 9, 2003; Jan. 30, 2019.]
149	149	140 MONITORS.
150	150	141 8. Two monitors shall be appointed by the Speaker for each division of the House, whose
151	151	142duty it shall be to see to the due observance of the rules, and, on request of the Speaker, to return
152	152	143the number of votes and members in their respective divisions. [9.]
153	153	144 9. If a member transgresses any of the rules after being notified thereof by a monitor, it shall
154	154	145be the duty of such monitor to report the case to the House.
155	155	146 It shall be the duty of a monitor to report their knowledge of the occurrence of a member
156	156	147voting for another member, in their division of the House, to the Speaker of the House and to the
157	157	148Minority Leader. [10.] [See Rules 16 and 16A.]
158	158	149 [Amended Jan. 9, 1991; May 5, 1993; Feb. 11, 2009; Jan. 30, 2019.]
159	159	150 9A. There shall be established a Floor Division Committee for each of the four divisions of
160	160	151the House. The Speaker shall appoint a Floor Division chairperson for each of the four divisions.
161	161	152Said committee shall consist of the members assigned to the respective divisions.
162	162	153 In order to create a continuous flow of debate, each chairperson shall be responsible for
163	163	154reviewing the daily Calendar and providing advance notice to committee members in the
164	164	155respective divisions of all matters scheduled for consideration in the Orders of the Day. Said
165	165	156committee chairpersons shall provide information to members of their committees on pending
166	166	157legislation and other matters of business before the House, and shall serve as the primary liaison 9 of 146
167	167	158between their respective committees and the Speaker of the House. The committee chairpersons
168	168	159shall advise the Speaker on operational matters, including session coordination, debate, and
169	169	160remote voting, as necessary, and other critical business before the House. The committee
170	170	161chairpersons shall facilitate discussions among committee members and ensure that committee
171	171	162members are fully equipped to engage in informed and productive debate.
172	172	163 [Adopted Jan. 14, 1997.]
173	173	164 CLERK.
174	174	165 10. The Clerk shall keep the Journal of the House. The Clerk shall enter therein a record of
175	175	166each day's proceedings and, whenever practicable, submit it to the Speaker and the Minority
176	176	167Leader before the hour fixed for the next sitting, and shall cause the same to be available daily in
177	177	168a format to be determined by the Clerk; and provided further that a copy of said Journal shall
178	178	169also be made available to each member of the House. Any objection to the Journal shall be made
179	179	170before the House proceeds to the consideration of the Orders of the Day. [11.] (6.)
180	180	171 [Amended Jan. 12, 1981; Jan 11, 1985; Jan. 17, 1995; Jan. 9, 2003.]
181	181	172 10A. The Clerk shall be the official parliamentarian of the House of Representatives.
182	182	173 [Adopted Jan. 9, 1991.]
183	183	174 10B. The Clerk shall be the official keeper of records of the House of Representatives for
184	184	175legislative records that remain in the office of said Clerk at the end of each biennial session, and
185	185	176until such time as said records are transferred to the State Archives or destroyed in accordance
186	186	177with law.
187	187	178 [Adopted Jan. 29, 2015.] 10 of 146
188	188	179 11. Every question of order with the decision thereof shall be entered at large in the Journal,
189	189	180and shall be noted in an appendix, which shall also contain the rules of the House and of the two
190	190	181branches. [12.] (6.)
191	191	182 12. The Clerk shall prepare and make available on each day of formal session a Calendar of
192	192	183matters in order for consideration and such other memoranda as the House or the Speaker may
193	193	184direct. The Clerk shall prepare a Calendar on which shall appear any question on passage of a
194	194	185bill or resolve notwithstanding the objections of Their Excellency the Governor which may be
195	195	186considered forthwith at the direction of the House or Speaker.
196	196	187 When, in the determination of the Clerk, a volume of matters exists for the next legislative
197	197	188day, the Clerk shall be authorized to prepare and cause to be made available an advance calendar
198	198	189of the matters in order of consideration for the next legislative day and such other memoranda as
199	199	190the House or Speaker may direct. The Clerk may indicate on the advance calendar that the
200	200	191matters contained therein are subject to change.
201	201	192 The Clerk shall be authorized to dispense with preparing and making available a Calendar for
202	202	193designated formal sessions of the House only after two-thirds of the members present and voting
203	203	194consent thereto on a recorded yea and nay vote. Debate on this question shall be limited to fifteen
204	204	195minutes, no member shall speak more than three minutes, and such question shall not be subject
205	205	196to reconsideration.
206	206	197 The Clerk shall dispense with preparing and making available a Calendar for designated
207	207	198Informal Sessions of the House.
208	208	199 As soon as practicable whenever the Clerk prepares a Calendar or advance Calendar under
209	209	200this rule, they shall also cause a true copy thereof to be posted on the website of the General 11 of 146
210	210	201Court that is generally available to all members and their staff, and reasonably promptly
211	211	202thereafter the Clerk shall cause the members and their staff to be notified of the same by way of
212	212	203electronic mail. [13.] (7.)
213	213	204 [Amended Jan. 12, 1983; Jan. 11, 1985; Jan. 12, 1987; May 5, 1993; Jan. 17, 1995; Jan. 24,
214	214	2052001; Jan. 9, 2003; Jan. 26, 2005, Jan. 23, 2007; Jan. 30, 2019; Feb. 1, 2023.]
215	215	206 13. Any objection to the Calendar shall be made and disposed of before the House proceeds to
216	216	207the consideration of the Orders of the Day. [14.]
217	217	208 13A. The Clerk shall make available to all members electronically and, to the public via the
218	218	209website of the General Court, the text of all dockets and bills introduced and admitted for
219	219	210consideration in the House.
220	220	211 [Adopted, Feb. 11, 2009; Jan. 30, 2019; July 7, 2021; Feb. 1, 2023.]
221	221	212 COUNSEL.
222	222	213 13B. (a) The House shall employ a full-time Counsel pursuant to section 51 of chapter 3 of
223	223	214the General Laws. The committee on Rules shall appoint a qualified person to act as Counsel at
224	224	215such compensation as the committee on Rules shall approve.
225	225	216 Counsel shall serve a term of two years from the date of appointment, unless the Counsel
226	226	217sooner resigns, retires or is removed; provided, however, that the Counsel may only be removed:
227	227	218(i) for misfeasance, malfeasance or nonfeasance, as determined by the Director of Human
228	228	219Resources appointed pursuant to Rule 90 and approved by a majority vote of the committee on
229	229	220Rules; or (ii) by a majority roll call vote of the House. 12 of 146
230	230	221 Counsel may employ such legal and other assistants as may be necessary in the discharge of
231	231	222Counsel’s duties, subject to the approval of the committee on Rules, and may expend with like
232	232	223approval such sums as may be necessary for the discharge of their duties.
233	233	224 (b) Counsel shall be the chief legal officer of the House and shall perform all duties generally
234	234	225required of a counsel to an organization and specifically those required pursuant to any general
235	235	226or special law, rule, regulation, or order of the House. Counsel shall provide legal and legislative
236	236	227drafting services to all members regardless of party or seniority.
237	237	228 [Added Jan. 30, 2019.]
238	238	229 HOUSE BUSINESS MANAGER.
239	239	230 13C. (a) The House shall employ a full-time House Business Manager. The committee on
240	240	231Operations, Facilities and Security shall appoint a qualified person to act as House Business
241	241	232Manager at such compensation as the committee on Operations, Facilities and Security shall
242	242	233approve.
243	243	234 Subject to the approval of the committee on Operations, Facilities and Security, the House
244	244	235Business Manager may employ such assistants as may be necessary in the discharge of their
245	245	236duties and may expend with like approval such sums as may be necessary for the discharge of
246	246	237their duties.
247	247	238 (b) The House Business Manager shall be the chief finance manager of the House and shall
248	248	239report to the committee on Operations, Facilities and Security, which shall provide oversight of
249	249	240the House Business Manager generally and approval of any decisions made by the House
250	250	241Business Manager having a substantial impact on the House of Representatives, as determined 13 of 146
251	251	242by the committee. The House Business Manager shall perform all duties generally required of a
252	252	243finance manager to an organization and specifically those required pursuant to House Rules or as
253	253	244directed by the committee on Operations, Facilities and Security. Such duties shall include,
254	254	245without limitation, overseeing the provision of outside, independent audits of House financial
255	255	246accounts pursuant to House Rule 85A; the execution and management of all procurements
256	256	247pursuant to House Rule 87; the maintenance of and adherence to internal control policies and
257	257	248procedures related to the House’s finances and administration; and the maintenance of House
258	258	249invoices, receipts, vouchers, contracts, and related documentation.
259	259	250 MEMBERS.
260	260	251 14. No member shall stand up, to the inconvenience of others, while a member is speaking; or
261	261	252be involved in disturbing conversation while another member is speaking in debate; or pass
262	262	253unnecessarily between the Speaker of the House and the member speaking; or stand in the
263	263	254passages, or in the area in front of the Chair; or stand at the Clerk’s desk while a roll call is in
264	264	255progress. [16.]
265	265	256 [Amended Jan. 12, 1987; Jan. 9, 1989; Jan. 26, 1999.]
266	266	257 14A. [Adopted Feb. 11, 2009; Omitted Jan. 29, 2015.]
267	267	258 15. When it appears to the Chair that the presence of a quorum is endangered, the Chair shall
268	268	259order the doors closed. If a quorum is doubted the Chair shall order the doors closed and
269	269	260thereafter no member shall enter or leave the House until an initial determination has been made
270	270	261as to the presence of a quorum or lack thereof; and thereafter, provided that no quorum is
271	271	262present, no member shall leave the House unless by permission of the Chair, but members shall
272	272	263be admitted, at any time. 14 of 146
273	273	264 Upon the doubting of a quorum and after ascertaining that a quorum is not present, the
274	274	265Speaker may order a recorded attendance roll call to be taken by use of the electronic roll call
275	275	266system.
276	276	267 Said roll call, if ordered, shall be taken at a time determined by the Speaker.
277	277	268 Members answering a quorum call shall vote “YES” on the roll call system. [17.] (11.)
278	278	269 [Amended Jan. 12, 1981; Feb. 22, 1982; Jan. 12, 1983; Jan. 12, 1987; Jan. 9, 1991.]
279	279	270 ETHICS.
280	280	271 16. There shall be appointed a committee on Ethics as authorized by Rule 17. The committee
281	281	272shall consist of 11 members, 7 of whom shall be appointed by the Speaker, 4 of whom shall be
282	282	273appointed by the Minority Leader.
283	283	274 A member appointed to the committee shall not be considered to be a member of the
284	284	275committee subsequent to the declaration of candidacy for any other state or federal elective
285	285	276office.
286	286	277 The committee shall investigate and evaluate, (i) at the direction of the Speaker, (ii) by a
287	287	278sworn written complaint filed and delivered by a member, officer or employee to the chair, (iii)
288	288	279or by a majority vote of the members appointed to the Ethics committee, any matters relative to
289	289	280alleged violations of Rule 16A by a member, officer or employee.
290	290	281 Upon the receipt of a sworn written complaint, at the direction of the Speaker or by a majority
291	291	282vote of the members appointed to the Ethics committee, the committee shall notify any person
292	292	283named of the nature of the alleged violation and a list of prospective witnesses, and also shall
293	293	284notify said person of the final disposition and the recommendations, if any, of the committee. 15 of 146
294	294	285 Any member, officer, or employee of the House named relative to an alleged violation shall
295	295	286be afforded the opportunity to appear before the committee on Ethics with counsel.
296	296	287 All proceedings including the filing of the initial complaint shall be considered confidential
297	297	288information.
298	298	289 If the alleged violation received in the manner described above is deemed to have merit by a
299	299	290majority vote of the members appointed to the committee, the committee shall file a report with
300	300	291the Clerk of the House. Said report shall be a public document. The committee shall not disclose
301	301	292any allegation deemed to be frivolous or without merit.
302	302	293 If a majority appointed finds that any member, officer, or employee of the House has violated
303	303	294any provision of Rule 16A, a majority appointed may, in the case of a member, recommend a
304	304	295reprimand, censure, removal from a committee or position of authority, including leadership,
305	305	296chair or vice chair, or expulsion; and in the case of an officer or employee, a majority appointed
306	306	297may recommend a reprimand, suspension, or removal from employment.
307	307	298 Should such an alleged violation be filed with the committee regarding a member or members
308	308	299of the House Ethics committee, said member or members shall not participate in the committee
309	309	300deliberations on said alleged violation.
310	310	301 Any member, officer, or employee of the House may request in writing from the House
311	311	302committee on Ethics or from the Counsel to the House appointed pursuant to Rule 13B a
312	312	303confidential written advisory opinion on the requirements of chapters 268A and 268B of the
313	313	304General Laws as well as an opinion on any other general or special law, rule or regulation
314	314	305applicable to their official position or concerning any contemplated personal action which may 16 of 146
315	315	306conflict with their official position. The committee on Ethics or the Counsel to the House shall
316	316	307issue confidential written advisory opinions and clarification in response to said written request.
317	317	308 No member, officer or employee of the House shall be penalized in any manner for having
318	318	309acted within the guidelines of a written advisory opinion from the House committee on Ethics or
319	319	310from the Counsel to the House appointed pursuant to Rule 13B, provided that all pertinent facts
320	320	311are stated in the request for an advisory opinion.
321	321	312 A written advisory opinion from the House committee on Ethics or from the Counsel to the
322	322	313House appointed pursuant to Rule 13B shall be a defense in any proceeding arising from said
323	323	314opinion or advice unless material facts were omitted or misstated by the person in the request of
324	324	315the opinion.
325	325	316 The chair of the Ethics committee may convene the committee at any time.
326	326	317 The chair shall also convene the committee at the written request of at least 5 members of the
327	327	318committee.
328	328	319 The committee may, upon the written and signed report of two-thirds of the members of the
329	329	320committee, file a special report containing legislation without said legislation being founded
330	330	321upon petition which shall be referred under the provisions of Rule 24 and consistent with the
331	331	322provisions of Joint Rule 13, to the appropriate joint standing committee. Any special report
332	332	323containing legislation filed pursuant to this paragraph shall be germane to subject matters
333	333	324regularly considered by the committee. The committee shall not include in any such special
334	334	325report a bill that would have a fiscal impact as described in Rule 33. 17 of 146
335	335	326 Upon convening of the first annual session of the General Court and after the adoption of
336	336	327rules, all members, officers and employees of the House shall be provided with a current copy of
337	337	328the Code of Ethics contained in Rule 16A. [19.] (12A.)
338	338	329 [Amended Jan. 12, 1987; May 5, 1993; Jan. 17, 1995; Mar. 6, 1995; Jan. 14, 1997; Jan. 20,
339	339	3302011; Feb. 11, 2009; Jan. 29, 2015; Jan. 30, 2019; July 7, 2021.]
340	340	331 CODE OF ETHICS.
341	341	332 16A. (1.) While members, officers and employees should not be denied those opportunities
342	342	333available to all other citizens to acquire and retain private, economic and other interests;
343	343	334members, officers, and employees should exercise prudence in any and all such endeavors and
344	344	335make every reasonable effort to avoid transactions, activities, or obligations, which are in
345	345	336substantial conflict with or will substantially impair their independence of judgment.
346	346	337 (2.) No member, officer or employee shall solicit or accept any compensation or political
347	347	338contribution other than that provided for by law for the performance of official legislative duties.
348	348	339 (3.) No member, officer or employee shall serve as a legislative agent as defined in section 39
349	349	340of chapter 3 of the General Laws regarding any legislation before the General Court.
350	350	341 (4.) No member, officer or employee shall receive any compensation or permit any
351	351	342compensation to accrue to their beneficial interest by virtue of influence improperly exerted from
352	352	343their official position in the House.
353	353	344 (5.) No member, officer or employee shall accept employment or engage in any business or
354	354	345professional activity, which will require the disclosure of confidential information gained in the
355	355	346course of, and by reason of, their official position. 18 of 146
356	356	347 (6.) No member, officer or employee shall willfully and knowingly disclose or use
357	357	348confidential information gained in the course of their official position to further their own
358	358	349economic interest or that of any other person.
359	359	350 (7.) Except as provided in Rule 49, no member shall cast a vote for any other member, nor
360	360	351shall any officer or employee vote for any member, except that the Clerk or an assistant Clerk
361	361	352may record a vote for a member who votes late under the provisions of Rule 52, or is prohibited
362	362	353from voting from his desk due to a malfunction of the electronic roll call voting system; provided
363	363	354the Clerk's action shall not be construed as voting for said member.
364	364	355 (8.) No member shall use profane, insulting, or abusive language in the course of public
365	365	356debate in the House Chamber or in testimony before any committee of the General Court.
366	366	357 (9.) No member, officer or employee shall employ anyone from public funds who does not
367	367	358perform tasks which contribute substantially to the work of the House and which are
368	368	359commensurate with the compensation received. Unless their personnel record indicates
369	369	360otherwise, no officer or full-time employee of the House shall engage in any outside business
370	370	361activity during regular business hours, whether the House is in session or not, and all employees
371	371	362of the House are assumed to be full-time.
372	372	363 (10.) No member, officer or employee shall accept or solicit compensation for non-legislative
373	373	364services which is in excess of the usual and customary value of such services.
374	374	365 (11.) No member, officer or employee shall accept or solicit an honorarium for a speech,
375	375	366writing for publication, or other activity from any person, organization or enterprise having a
376	376	367direct interest in legislation or matters before any agency, authority, board or commission of the
377	377	368Commonwealth which is in excess of the usual and customary value of such services. 19 of 146
378	378	369 (12.) No member, officer or employee shall knowingly accept any gifts from any legislative
379	379	370or executive agent as prohibited by law. No member, officer or employee shall knowingly accept
380	380	371any gift from any person or entity having a direct interest in legislation before the General Court
381	381	372as prohibited by law. (For the purposes of this paragraph, the terms “gift” and “person” shall be
382	382	373the same as their definitions in section 1 of chapter 268B of the General Laws).
383	383	374 (13.) No member shall convert campaign funds to personal use in excess of reimbursements
384	384	375for legitimate and verifiable campaign expenditures. Members shall consider all proceeds from
385	385	376testimonial dinners and other fundraising activities as campaign funds.
386	386	377 (14.) No member shall serve on any committee or vote on any question in which their private
387	387	378right is immediately concerned, distinct from the public interest. [19.]
388	388	379 (15.) No member, officer or employee shall violate the confidentiality of any proceeding
389	389	380before the Ethics committee. [19A.]
390	390	381 (16.) Members, officers and employees may utilize public resources to support charitable and
391	391	382community service activities consistent with the Conflict of Interest Law, G.L. c. 268A, pursuant
392	392	383to policies established by committee on Human Resources and Employee Engagement pursuant
393	393	384to Rule 90(h)(2).
394	394	385 [Amended Jan. 12, 1981; May 5, 1993; Jan. 24, 2001; Feb. 11, 2009; Jan. 29, 2015; Jan. 30,
395	395	3862019; Jul. 7, 2021; Feb. 1, 2023.]
396	396	387 16B. The committee on Human Resources and Employee Engagement shall develop and
397	397	388conduct an ethics law training program for every member, officer and employee of the House;
398	398	389provided further, that said training program shall include, without limitation, a review of the 20 of 146
399	399	390requirements and prohibitions of chapter 268A and chapter 268B of the General Laws, and the
400	400	391regulations of the State Ethics Commission, as they apply to legislators and legislative staff; and
401	401	392provided further, that said training program shall be offered virtually or in-person and shall be
402	402	393mandatory for all members, officers and employees.
403	403	394 [Adopted Jan. 9, 2003, Amended Feb. 11, 2009; Jan 20, 2011; Jul. 7, 2021.]
404	404	395 16C. Bills involving lobbyists’ reporting laws, and laws pertaining to the ethical conduct of
405	405	396public officials shall, after their first reading, be referred to the committee on Ethics, for report
406	406	397on their relation to the ethics laws of the Commonwealth. No new provisions shall be added to
407	407	398such measures by the committee, unless directly pertaining to ethics. [Adopted Feb. 11, 2009.]
408	408	399 COMMITTEES.
409	409	400 17. At the beginning of the first year of the two-year General Court, standing committees
410	410	401shall be appointed as follows:
411	411	402 A committee on Rules;
412	412	403 (to consist of 15 members).
413	413	404 A committee on Ways and Means;
414	414	405 (to consist of 35 members).
415	415	406 A committee on Bills in the Third Reading;
416	416	407 (to consist of 3 members).
417	417	408 A committee of each Floor Division; 21 of 146
418	418	409 (to consist of the members of each division).
419	419	410 A committee on Ethics;
420	420	411 (to consist of 11 members).
421	421	412 A committee on Human Resources and Employee Engagement;
422	422	413 (to consist of 13 members).
423	423	414 A committee on Post Audit and Oversight;
424	424	415 (to consist of 11 members).
425	425	416 A committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling;
426	426	417 (to consist of 11 members).
427	427	418 A committee on Climate Action and Sustainability;
428	428	419 (to consist of 11 members).
429	429	420 A committee on Federal Funding, Policy and Accountability;
430	430	421(to consist of 11 members).
431	431	422 A committee on Operations, Facilities and Security;
432	432	423(to consist of 11 members).
433	433	424 A committee on Intergovernmental Affairs;
434	434	425(to consist of 11 members). 22 of 146
435	435	426 Committee meetings, insofar as practicable, shall not be scheduled in conflict with formal
436	436	427sessions of the House of Representatives. [20.] (12, 12A, 12B.)
437	437	428 [Amended March 6, 1979; Sept. 16, 1981; Jan. 11, 1985; Jan. 12, 1987; May 5, 1993; Oct. 6,
438	438	4291993; May 23, 1996; Jan. 14, 1997; Jul. 17, 2003; Jan. 26, 2005, Feb. 11, 2009; Jan. 29, 2015;
439	439	430Jul. 7, 2021.]
440	440	431 17A. (a) For the purposes of this rule, the following terms shall, unless the context clearly
441	441	432requires otherwise, have the following meanings:
442	442	433 “Deliberation”, a verbal exchange between a quorum of members of a committee attempting
443	443	434to arrive at a decision on any public business within its jurisdiction.
444	444	435 “Emergency”, a sudden generally unexpected occurrence or set of circumstances demanding
445	445	436immediate action.
446	446	437 “Executive conference”, any meeting or part of a meeting of a committee which is closed to
447	447	438certain persons for deliberation on certain matters.
448	448	439 “Executive session”, any meeting or part of a meeting of a committee wherein the committee
449	449	440is voting on legislation and where public participation is limited to observance.
450	450	441 “Meeting”, any corporal convening and deliberation of a committee for which a quorum is
451	451	442required in order to make a decision at which any public policy matter over which the committee
452	452	443has supervision, control, jurisdiction or advisory power is discussed or considered; provided,
453	453	444however, that “meeting” shall not include an on-site visitation or inspection of any project or
454	454	445program. 23 of 146
455	455	446 “Quorum”, a simple majority of a committee unless otherwise defined by constitution, rule or
456	456	447law applicable to such committee; provided further, that a quorum shall be presumed to be
457	457	448present unless otherwise doubted.
458	458	449 (b) All meetings, except executive conferences, of House standing and special committees,
459	459	450shall be open to the public and any person shall be permitted to attend any meeting except as
460	460	451otherwise provided pursuant to this rule or Rule 7A. All meetings of House standing and special
461	461	452committees open to the public shall be conducted in-person with the option of remote
462	462	453participation available to the public; provided, however, that the members of such committees
463	463	454shall be physically present at the hearing location where in-person public testimony is offered.
464	464	455All House standing and special committees, in the conduct of their hearings, shall utilize, to the
465	465	456extent practicable, online platforms or systems that allow for synchronous, audio-visual
466	466	457communication between the members of the committee and individuals offering testimony
467	467	458remotely. All hearings of House standing and special committees shall be publicly livestreamed
468	468	459on the official website of the General Court which shall display and transmit, in real-time, the
469	469	460audio-visual attributes of public testimony offered remotely; provided further, that said
470	470	461livestream shall be archived on the official website of the General Court for the duration of the
471	471	462legislative session. The chairperson of any House standing or special committee conducting a
472	472	463hearing shall use best efforts to prioritize the testimony of those physically present at the hearing
473	473	464location and may, in their discretion, allow individuals participating in-person a greater amount
474	474	465of time to testify than those participating remotely. All notices of hearings shall include
475	475	466instructions on how to offer testimony both in-person and remotely. The chairperson of a House
476	476	467standing or special committee shall record the attendance of members during committee hearings 24 of 146
477	477	468and shall cause the attendance to be published on the official website of the General Court
478	478	469alongside the livestream of the hearing archived on said website.
479	479	470 No quorum of a committee shall meet in private for the purpose of deliberation except as
480	480	471provided pursuant to this rule.
481	481	472 No executive session shall be held until: (i) the committee has first convened in an open
482	482	473session for which notice has been given; (ii) the presiding officer has stated the authorized
483	483	474purpose of the executive session; (iii) a majority of the members of the committee present have
484	484	475voted to go into executive session and the vote of each member has been recorded on a roll call
485	485	476vote and entered into the minutes: and (iv) the presiding officer has stated before the executive
486	486	477session if the committee will reconvene after the executive session.
487	487	478 (c) Executive conferences shall be held only for the following purposes: (i) to discuss the
488	488	479reputation, character, physical condition or mental health rather than the professional
489	489	480competence of a member, officer or employee; (ii) to consider the discipline or dismissal of, or to
490	490	481hear complaints or charges brought against a member, officer or employee; (iii) to discuss
491	491	482strategy with respect to litigation if an executive session or other open meeting may have a
492	492	483detrimental effect on the legal position of the committee; or (iv) to consider the purchase,
493	493	484exchange, lease or value of real property, if such discussions may have a detrimental effect on
494	494	485the negotiating position of the Commonwealth or a person, firm or corporation.
495	495	486 A member, officer or employee subject to an executive conference pursuant to clause (i) or
496	496	487clause (ii) shall be notified in writing no less than 48 hours prior to the proposed executive
497	497	488conference; provided, however, that upon agreement of the parties involved, the notification
498	498	489requirements of clause (i) and clause (ii) may be waived. Upon request of the member, officer or 25 of 146
499	499	490employee subject to an executive conference pursuant to clause (i) or clause (ii) the executive
500	500	491conference shall be open to the public.
501	501	492 A member, officer or employee subject to an executive conference pursuant to clause (i) or
502	502	493clause (ii) shall have the right to: (a) be present at such executive conference during discussions
503	503	494or considerations which involve that member, officer or employee; (b) have counsel or a
504	504	495representative of their own choosing present and attending for the purpose of advising said
505	505	496member, officer or employee; provided, however, that said counsel or representative shall not
506	506	497actively participate in the executive conference; and (c) to speak on their own behalf to the
507	507	498committee assembled in executive conference.
508	508	499 (d) This rule shall not apply to any chance meeting or social meeting at which matters relating
509	509	500to official business are discussed so long as no final agreement is reached. No chance meeting or
510	510	501social meeting shall be used in circumvention of the spirit or requirements of this section to
511	511	502discuss or act upon a matter over which the committee has supervision, control, jurisdiction, or
512	512	503advisory power.
513	513	504 (e) Except pursuant to an emergency, a notice and agenda of every meeting of a committee
514	514	505subject to this rule shall be filed with the Clerk of the House, publicly posted by the Clerk on the
515	515	506bulletin board outside the Clerk’s Office and in such other places as are designated in advance
516	516	507for such purpose by said Clerk, made available to all members electronically and made available
517	517	508to the public via the website of the General Court at least 72 hours prior to the time of such
518	518	509meeting and a list of the bills, petitions, and resolutions to be considered for a vote or other
519	519	510action by the committee. The notice shall include the date, time and place of such meeting. Such
520	520	511filing and posting shall be the responsibility of the committee scheduling such meeting. If public 26 of 146
521	521	512testimony is being solicited, agendas shall include an electronic mail address and physical mail
522	522	513address for the submission of testimony and instructions on how the public may participate
523	523	514remotely, and the committee shall make reasonable efforts to ensure diversity among those from
524	524	515whom testimony is solicited. The notice and posting requirements shall not apply to executive
525	525	516conferences held pursuant to clause (i) or clause (ii) of subsection (c) of this rule unless the
526	526	517member, officer or employee subject to the executive conference requests that the executive
527	527	518conference be open to the public.
528	528	519 (f) A committee shall maintain accurate records of its meetings and hearings setting forth the
529	529	520date, time and place thereof, and recording any action taken at each meeting, hearing, executive
530	530	521conference or executive session. All votes requested to be taken in executive sessions shall be
531	531	522recorded roll call votes and shall become a part of the record of said executive sessions. The
532	532	523record of each meeting shall be available to the public on the official website of the General
533	533	524Court; provided, however, that the records of any executive conference shall remain confidential
534	534	525as long as publication may defeat the lawful purposes of the executive conference.
535	535	526 (g) Upon prior notification and approval of the chair, a meeting of a committee may be
536	536	527recorded by a person in attendance by means of a recorder or any other means of audio/visual
537	537	528reproduction; provided, however, that said recording shall not interfere with the conduct of the
538	538	529meeting. Executive conferences conducted pursuant to clause (i) or clause (ii) of subsection (c)
539	539	530of this rule shall not be recorded unless upon the request of the member, officer or employee who
540	540	531is subject to said executive conference, and then only at such member’s, officer’s or employee’s
541	541	532expense. Executive conferences conducted pursuant to clause (iii) or (iv) of subsection (c) of this
542	542	533rule may be recorded at the discretion of the chair. 27 of 146
543	543	534 (h) Copies of all redrafted bills that are to be voted on at an executive session by the House
544	544	535Ways and Means Committee shall be available to all members of the committee electronically in
545	545	536the form they will be considered no less than twenty-four hours prior to their consideration;
546	546	537provided, however, that said committee may vote on a bill that has not been available for said
547	547	538period of time by vote of a majority of the committee members present.
548	548	539 [Adopted Nov. 17, 1983; Amended Jan. 12, 1987; Jan. 9, 1991; May 5, 1993; Jan. 17, 1995;
549	549	540Jan. 14, 1997; Jan. 9, 2003, Jan. 23, 2007, Feb. 11, 2009; Jan. 30, 2019; Jul. 7, 2021; Feb. 1,
550	550	5412023.]
551	551	542 17B. The vote on any legislation in committee shall be a recorded vote of the full committee.
552	552	543Such votes shall be recorded on appropriate forms that show all votes for and against the
553	553	544particular committee action; provided, that votes may also be recorded in LAWS. The record of
554	554	545all such roll calls shall be posted on the official website of the General Court within 48 hours of
555	555	546the vote.
556	556	547 No report of a House committee on any legislation shall be final until those members of the
557	557	548committee present and voting with the majority have been given the opportunity to sign such
558	558	549appropriate forms before the report is made to the House. No signature shall be valid unless the
559	559	550forms to which the signatures are affixed include the substantially complete text of the legislation
560	560	551being reported.
561	561	552 [Adopted Nov. 17, 1983; Amended Jan. 12, 1987, Amended Jan. 29, 2015; Jul. 7, 2021; Feb.
562	562	5531, 2023.]
563	563	554 17C. There shall be a committee on Human Resources and Employee Engagement on the part
564	564	555of the House consisting of thirteen members. 28 of 146
565	565	556 Said committee shall discharge its duties pursuant to the Rules, including Rule 16B and Rules
566	566	55788 through 100, and shall also be responsible for the allocation of office space as equitably as
567	567	558possible among the various members and joint and standing committees. The committee shall
568	568	559allocate space among the various committees on the part of the House taking into account the
569	569	560workload, duties and responsibilities and size of staff of each.
570	570	561 The Speaker may make temporary office assignments in accordance with the foregoing
571	571	562principles.
572	572	563 The committee on Human Resources and Employee Engagement may from time to time make
573	573	564changes in the assignment of office space for committees and the various staffs in accordance
574	574	565with the established standards.
575	575	566 Said committee shall establish the staffing levels and positions for each joint and standing
576	576	567committee of the House together with a classification plan for all employees of the House of
577	577	568Representatives.
578	578	569 The House staff members of each committee shall be appointed solely on the basis of fitness
579	579	570to perform the duties of their respective positions, consistent with section 4 of chapter 151B of
580	580	571the General Laws. The committee staff shall not:
581	581	572 (1) engage in any work other than legislative business during business hours unless pursuant
582	582	573to the pro-bono service policy or charitable and community service activity policy established by
583	583	574the committee on Human Resources and Employee Engagement pursuant to Rule 90(h)(2); and
584	584	575 (2) be assigned any duties other than those pertaining to legislative business. 29 of 146
585	585	576 The committee shall meet on request of the chair or any 3 members of the committee. Any
586	586	577such meeting requested shall be convened on or within the fifth business day following such
587	587	578request. All such requests shall be in writing and forwarded to the chair and each member of the
588	588	579committee.
589	589	580 Funds shall be allocated from the budget to carry out the determination of the committee.
590	590	581 [Adopted Jan. 11, 1985; Amended Jan. 16, 1985; Jan. 12, 1987; Jan. 9, 1991; Feb. 11, 2009;
591	591	582Jan. 29, 2015; Jan. 30, 2019; July 7, 2021; Feb. 1, 2023.]
592	592	583 17D. [Omitted Jan. 26, 2005.]
593	593	584 17E. [Omitted Jan. 26, 2005.]
594	594	585 17F. [Omitted Jan. 26, 2005.]
595	595	586 17G. [Omitted Jul. 7, 2021.]
596	596	587 18. The Speaker shall appoint, and may recommend the removal of, the Speaker pro
597	597	588Tempore, the Majority Floor Leader, Assistant Majority Floor Leader and two Second Assistant
598	598	589Majority Floor Leaders. The Minority Leader shall appoint, and may recommend the removal of,
599	599	590the Assistant Minority Floor Leader, Second Assistant Minority Floor Leader, and two Third
600	600	591Assistant Minority Floor Leaders, Ranking minority member of Ways and Means, two Assistant
601	601	592Ranking minority members of the Ways and Means committee, Ranking minority member of the
602	602	593committee on Rules, Ranking minority member of the committee on Financial Services, Ranking
603	603	594minority member of the committee on Health Care Financing, Ranking minority member of the
604	604	595committee on the Judiciary, Ranking minority member of the committee on Bonding, Capital
605	605	596Expenditures, and State Assets, Ranking minority member of the committee on Public Safety 30 of 146
606	606	597and Homeland Security, Ranking minority member of the committee on Transportation and
607	607	598Ranking minority member of the committee on Economic Development and Emerging
608	608	599Technologies. The Minority Leader shall be that member of the minority party who is selected
609	609	600for that position by the members of their party.
610	610	601 Each of the foregoing appointments or removals shall be ratified by a majority vote of the
611	611	602respective party caucus. In the event that an appointment is rejected by such caucus another
612	612	603appointment shall be made by the person designated to make the initial appointment, which shall
613	613	604also be subject to ratification in the same manner.
614	614	605 The Speaker shall appoint, and may recommend the removal of, the chair of each standing
615	615	606committee. The Speaker shall appoint, and may recommend the removal of, the vice chair and
616	616	607assistant vice chair of the Ways and Means committee, the vice chair of the Post Audit and
617	617	608Oversight committee, the vice chair of the committee on Rules, the vice chair of the committee
618	618	609on Revenue, the vice chair of the committee on Financial Services, the vice chair of the
619	619	610committee on Health Care Financing, the vice chair of the committee on Bonding, Capital
620	620	611Expenditures, and State Assets, the vice chair of the committee on State Administration and
621	621	612Regulatory Oversight, and the vice chair of the committee on Economic Development and
622	622	613Emerging Technologies.
623	623	614 The majority party shall then vote to accept or reject each such appointment or
624	624	615recommendation for removal by a majority vote.
625	625	616 In the event that any such appointment is rejected by the caucus, the procedure of this rule
626	626	617shall be repeated until an appointment for the said position has been approved by the caucus. A 31 of 146
627	627	618vacancy in any position to which the provisions of this section apply shall be filled in the same
628	628	619manner as provided in this section for original appointment.
629	629	620 No member shall receive more than one stipend pursuant to section 9B of chapter 3 of the
630	630	621General Laws.
631	631	622 The Speaker and the Minority Leader may, without a majority vote of their respective parties,
632	632	623remove a member appointed to a leadership position from said position pursuant to this rule if
633	633	624the member has been criminally indicted by a court of competent jurisdiction.
634	634	625 [Amended Jan. 16, 1979; Nov. 17, 1983; Jan. 11, 1985; Jan. 9, 1991; Jan. 14, 1997; Jan. 23,
635	635	6262007; Feb. 11, 2009; Jan 23, 2013; Jan. 29, 2015; Feb. 19, 2015; Jan. 30, 2019; Feb. 1, 2023.]
636	636	627 18A. There shall be 1 member of the minority party on all committees of conference and 1 on
637	637	628the committee on Bills in the Third Reading. On all other standing and joint committees, the
638	638	629percent of minority party membership shall be at least equal to the percent of minority party
639	639	630membership in the House of Representatives as of the first day of the session; provided, further,
640	640	631that where such percentage results in a fraction of a number, the fraction shall be rounded off to
641	641	632the nearest whole; provided, however, that the minority party shall under no circumstances have
642	642	633fewer than 4 members on the committee on Ethics, 4 on the committee on Human Resources and
643	643	634Employee Engagement , 3 on the committee on Rules and 7 on the committee on Ways and
644	644	635Means. In no case shall minority party representation be fewer than 2 members on all other
645	645	636standing and joint committees.
646	646	637 The Speaker and the Minority Leader shall appoint the members of their respective party
647	647	638caucuses to be assigned to each standing committee. The Speaker shall appoint the vice chair of
648	648	639each standing committee. The appointments, except those to which Rule 18 applies, shall be 32 of 146
649	649	640voted upon together and shall be subject to ratification by majority vote of the appropriate party
650	650	641caucus.
651	651	642 No member shall be removed from a standing committee except upon the recommendation of
652	652	643the Speaker or Minority Leader, as the case may be, subject to the ratification by their respective
653	653	644caucuses; provided, however, that the Speaker and the Minority Leader may, without a majority
654	654	645vote of their respective parties, remove a member appointed to a standing committee pursuant to
655	655	646this rule if the member has been criminally indicted by a court of competent jurisdiction; and
656	656	647provided further, that if any vacancy occurs in a position to which Rule 18 does not apply,
657	657	648subsequent to the initial ratification, the Speaker or Minority Leader shall fill such vacancy.
658	658	649 The Speaker shall announce committee appointments of majority party members, and the
659	659	650member first named shall be chair, and the second named member shall be vice-chair. The
660	660	651Minority Leader shall announce committee appointments of minority party members. (13.)
661	661	652 [Adopted Jan. 11, 1985; Amended Jan. 12, 1987; Jan. 9, 1991; Jan. 14, 1997; Feb. 11, 2009;
662	662	653Jan. 30, 2019.]
663	663	654 18B. All votes on ratification by the caucus required by these rules shall be by written ballot
664	664	655and shall require a majority of those present and voting; provided, however, that if a motion to
665	665	656ratify the appointments by acclamation is made and seconded, no written ballot shall be required.
666	666	657[Adopted Jan. 11, 1985.]
667	667	658 18C. [Adopted, Jan. 11, 1985, Omitted Jan. 24, 2001.]
668	668	659 19. A majority and minority party caucus may be called by the Speaker or Minority Leader,
669	669	660respectively, or upon petition of 25 percent of the members of the respective party caucus. A 33 of 146
670	670	661caucus may entertain resolutions, motions, or other means of ascertaining the sense of the
671	671	662respective party members on any subject. (13B.)
672	672	663 [Adopted Nov. 17, 1983; Amended Jan. 11, 1985; Jan. 29, 2015.]
673	673	664 19A. The majority party and minority party shall establish caucus rules that shall dictate the
674	674	665procedures of each caucus.
675	675	666 19B. Any member caucus or group of members organized around a common legislative
676	676	667agenda that utilizes House resources, including staff time, shall register with the House
677	677	668Committee on Rules as a Legislative Member Organization, unless it is a party caucus. The chair
678	678	669of the House Committee on Rules shall notify the Clerk of the House of any Legislative Member
679	679	670Organization registering with the Committee and shall maintain a list of all Legislative Member
680	680	671Organizations.
681	681	672 Registration shall include the name of the Legislative Member Organization, its statement of
682	682	673purpose, identification of its members and officers, and a certification signed by its chair that any
683	683	674state resources used for the purposes of the Legislative Member Organization shall be not be
684	684	675used for any partisan political end.
685	685	676 A Legislative Member Organization may not include a non-legislator. Senators may belong to
686	686	677the Legislative Member Organization, but at least one House member shall be an officer of the
687	687	678Legislative Member Organization in order for the organization to use House resources. A
688	688	679Legislative Member Organization may, without limitation, sponsor informational or educational
689	689	680events, may invite outside speakers and groups to make presentations to the members of the
690	690	681Legislative Member Organization and others, and may distribute any report, analysis, or other 34 of 146
691	691	682research material prepared by others, provided, that the identity of the person or organization
692	692	683authoring the work is fully disclosed.
693	693	684 A member’s official stationery may list their membership in a Legislative Member
694	694	685Organization.
695	695	686 [Adopted Nov. 17, 1983; Amended Jan. 14, 1997; Jul. 7, 2021; Feb. 1, 2023.]
696	696	687 20. The committee on Ways and Means shall report in appropriation bills the total amount
697	697	688appropriated. The General Appropriation Bill shall be available to the members at least 7
698	698	689calendar days prior to consideration thereof by the House. [25.] (27A.)
699	699	690 [Amended Jan. 11, 1985; Mar. 24, 1986; Jan. 14, 1997; Jan. 26, 2005; Jan. 29, 2015.]
700	700	691 20A. (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of Rule 33A, amendments to the General
701	701	692Appropriation Bill shall be properly filed with the Clerk in an electronic format to be determined
702	702	693by the Clerk as directed by the Speaker; provided, that the Clerk shall notify by electronic
703	703	694communication the primary sponsor of each amendment of the receipt of such amendment and
704	704	695the number assigned by said Clerk to the amendment; provided further, that the Clerk shall print
705	705	696each amendment so filed electronically and such printed copy shall be considered to be the
706	706	697official amendment for that bill. Amendments to said General Appropriation Bill shall be filed
707	707	698with the Clerk by 5 o’clock P.M. on the third business day subsequent to the bill being made
708	708	699available in a format to be determined by the Clerk as directed by the Speaker pursuant to Rule
709	709	70020B and release of said bill by said Clerk; provided, that if the release of said bill by said Clerk
710	710	701occurs before the hour of 2 o’clock P.M., then the same day in which said bill was released shall
711	711	702be considered the first business day. Otherwise, the day following the release shall be considered
712	712	703the first business day. 35 of 146
713	713	704 (b)(1) The Clerk, with the assistance of the committee on Ways and Means, shall categorize
714	714	705the subject-matter of the amendments and arrange such amendments for consideration
715	715	706sequentially by subject as appearing in the published version of the General Appropriation Bill,
716	716	707or the Clerk, with the assistance of the committee on Ways and Means, shall categorize the
717	717	708subject-matter of the amendments and arrange such subject matters for consideration as
718	718	709determined by the committee on Ways and Means. Debate on the General Appropriation Bill
719	719	710shall not commence until a date and time to be determined by the House which is subsequent to
720	720	711the designated time established for filing of amendments pursuant to subsection (a) of this rule.
721	721	712 (2) Before the main question on the General Appropriation Bill is placed before the House, an
722	722	713amendment may be withdrawn at the request of the primary sponsor of the amendment or
723	723	714postponed by the committee on Ways and Means; provided, that further consideration of any
724	724	715amendment so postponed shall take place immediately subsequent to consideration of the
725	725	716amendments within the particular subject-matter to which the postponed amendment was
726	726	717assigned according to the provisions of this subparagraph; provided, that if more than one
727	727	718amendment is so postponed, subsequent consideration of said amendments shall be in the order
728	728	719determined by the committee on Ways and Means; provided further, an amendment so postponed
729	729	720shall not be subsequently considered outside of its assigned subject-matter; and provided further,
730	730	721that perfecting or substitute amendments, including, but not limited to an amendment
731	731	722consolidating more than one amendment, may be submitted by the committee on Ways and
732	732	723Means during consideration of the subject category to which the amendment or amendments
733	733	724were assigned. Any amendment may be removed from a consolidated amendment by the
734	734	725primary sponsor of the amendment. Any such amendment so removed from a consolidated
735	735	726amendment shall be offered as an amendment to the General Appropriation Bill, to be acted upon 36 of 146
736	736	727in the first degree before action is taken on the consolidated amendment, except that any
737	737	728amendment so removed from the consolidated amendment may be moved by the committee on
738	738	729Ways and Means from one subject category to another subject category not yet disposed of in the
739	739	730General Appropriation Bill.
740	740	731 (3) A consolidated amendment to the General Appropriation Bill, offered by the committee
741	741	732on Ways and Means, shall contain a fiscal note indicating its total expenditures.
742	742	733 (4) Notwithstanding Rule 74, a consolidated amendment offered by the committee on Ways
743	743	734and Means, may not be divided.
744	744	735 (c) Except for consolidated amendments or perfecting amendments offered by the committee
745	745	736on Ways and Means, no proposition on a subject different from the amendment under
746	746	737consideration shall be admitted under color of a further amendment to the General Appropriation
747	747	738Bill. A consolidated amendment to the General Appropriation Bill, offered by the committee on
748	748	739Ways and Means, shall be a motion offering an amendment in the second degree.
749	749	740 (d) Any amendment to the General Appropriation Bill not complying with this rule shall be
750	750	741considered withdrawn; provided that, any such amendments shall be published as part of the
751	751	742amendment list published by the committee on Ways and Means.
752	752	743 [Adopted Jan. 24, 2001; Amended Jan. 9, 2003; Jan. 26, 2005; Jan. 23, 2007; Jan. 20, 2011;
753	753	744Jan. 29, 2015; Feb. 1, 2023.]
754	754	745 20B. When the General Appropriation Bill is reported by the committee on Ways and Means,
755	755	746it shall be made available to all members electronically and to the public via the website of the
756	756	747General Court in a format to be determined by the Speaker in consultation with the Clerk. The 37 of 146
757	757	748committee on Ways and Means shall provide the membership with an electronic copy of its
758	758	749proposed text of said General Appropriation Bill, and an executive summary which shall include
759	759	750a list of outside sections, and a short summary of each outside section prior to full House
760	760	751consideration of such bill. When the House considers said General Appropriation Bill, it shall be
761	761	752read a second time; provided further that amendments relative to enhancing or reducing revenue
762	762	753shall only be considered prior to the third reading of said bill to be in order, and that all other
763	763	754amendments to the General Appropriations Bill shall only be considered subsequent to the third
764	764	755reading of said bill.
765	765	756 [Adopted Jan. 9, 2003, Amended Jan. 23, 2007; Feb. 11, 2009; Feb. 1, 2023.]
766	766	757 21. Whenever the committee on Ways and Means reports an appropriation bill or capital
767	767	758outlay bill, it shall make available to the members a report which includes an explanation of any
768	768	759increase or decrease of five percent or more which results in an increase or decrease of one
769	769	760million dollars or more for any item for which the Governor has made a recommendation, and an
770	770	761explanation for the deletion of an item recommended by the Governor, and for the addition of an
771	771	762item for which the Governor has made no recommendation. [25A.] (27A.)
772	772	763 22. Bills and resolves when ordered to a third reading shall be referred forthwith to the
773	773	764committee on Bills in the Third Reading, which shall examine and correct them, for the purpose
774	774	765of avoiding repetitions and unconstitutional provisions, and insuring accuracy in the text and
775	775	766references, and consistency with the language of existing statutes; but any change in the sense or
776	776	767legal effect, or any material change in construction, shall be reported to the House as an
777	777	768amendment. 38 of 146
778	778	769 The committee on Bills in the Third Reading may consolidate into 1 bill any 2 or more related
779	779	770bills referred to it, whenever legislation may be simplified thereby.
780	780	771 Resolutions received from and adopted by the Senate or introduced or reported into the
781	781	772House, after they are read and before they are adopted, shall be referred to the committee on
782	782	773Bills in the Third Reading.
783	783	774 Amendments of bills, resolves and resolutions adopted by the Senate and sent to the House
784	784	775for concurrence, shall, subsequently to the procedure required by Rule 35 in respect to
785	785	776amendments, also be referred, in like manner, to the committee on Bills in the Third Reading.
786	786	777 When a bill, resolve or resolution has been so referred, no further action shall be taken until a
787	787	778report thereon has been made by the committee. Accompanying said report shall be a written
788	788	779explanation prepared by the committee defining any changes made in a bill, resolve or resolution
789	789	780so as to facilitate the proceedings of the House.
790	790	781 If a bill or resolve referred to the committee on Bills in the Third Reading requires a two-
791	791	782thirds vote because it contains an emergency preamble, or if it provides for the borrowing of
792	792	783money by the Commonwealth and comes within the provisions of Section 3 of Article LXII of
793	793	784the Amendments to the Constitution, or provides for the giving, loaning or pledging of the credit
794	794	785of the Commonwealth and comes within the provisions of Section 1 of Article LXII (as amended
795	795	786by Article LXXXIV) of the Amendments to the Constitution, or provides, upon recommendation
796	796	787of the Governor, for a special law relating to an individual city or town and comes within the
797	797	788provisions of clause (2) of Section 8 of Article LXXXIX of the Amendments to the Constitution
798	798	789or provides for environmental protection within the provisions of Article XLIX as amended by 39 of 146
799	799	790Article XCVII, the committee shall plainly indicate the fact on the outside of the bill or resolve,
800	800	791or on a wrapper or label attached thereto. [26.] (33.)
801	801	792 [Amended Jan. 12, 1983; Jan. 11, 1985; May 5, 1993; Jan. 29, 2015; Feb. 1, 2023.]
802	802	793 23. Bills and resolves prepared for final passage shall be certified by the Clerk of the House,
803	803	794after comparison, to be the same as the bills or resolves passed to be engrossed; and if found to
804	804	795be properly prepared, the Clerk shall so endorse on the envelope thereof; and the question on
805	805	796enactment or final passage or adopting an emergency preamble shall be taken thereon, without
806	806	797further reading, unless specifically ordered.
807	807	798 When a bill prepared for final passage contains an emergency preamble or when it provides
808	808	799for the borrowing of money by the Commonwealth and comes within the provisions of Section 3
809	809	800of Article LXII of the Amendments to the Constitution, or provides for the giving, loaning or
810	810	801pledging of the credit of the Commonwealth and comes within the provisions of Section 1 of
811	811	802Article LXII (as amended by Article LXXXIV) of the Amendments to the Constitution, or
812	812	803provides, upon recommendation of the Governor, for a special law relating to an individual city
813	813	804or town and comes within the provisions of clause (2) of Section 8 of Article LXXXIX of the
814	814	805Amendments to the Constitution, or provides for environmental protection within the provisions
815	815	806of Article XLIX as amended by Article XCVII, the Clerk shall plainly indicate the fact on the
816	816	807envelope thereof. [27.] (34.) [See Rule 40.]
817	817	808 [Amended Jan. 12, 1983; Jan. 29, 2015.]
818	818	809 23A. No member of the House, except the Speaker, Speaker pro Tempore, Majority Leader,
819	819	810Assistant Majority Leader, Second Assistant Majority Leader, Minority Leader, Assistant
820	820	811Minority Leader, Second Assistant Minority Leader, Third Assistant Minority Leader, Vice- 40 of 146
821	821	812Chairperson of the Committee on Ways and Means, Assistant Vice-Chairperson of the
822	822	813Committee on Ways and Means and committee chairs with respect to committee business, shall
823	823	814receive privileges or compensation for postage which is greater than seventy-five percent of the
824	824	815amount allowed as standard practice during the 186th biennial session of the General Court, as
825	825	816determined by the House Business Manager.
826	826	817 [Adopted Jan. 11, 1985; Amended Jan. 24, 2001; Jan. 26, 2005; Jan. 20, 2011; Feb. 1, 2023.]
827	827	818 24. (a)(1) Petitions, recommendations and reports of state officials, departments, commissions
828	828	819including legislative commissions, and boards, special reports including legislation initiated by
829	829	820the Committee on Ethics pursuant to rule 16, and reports of special committees and commissions
830	830	821including legislative commissions, shall be filed with the Clerk in a format to be determined by
831	831	822said Clerk, who shall, unless they are subject to other provisions of these rules or the rules of the
832	832	823two branches, refer them, with the approval of the Speaker, to the appropriate committees,
833	833	824subject to such change of reference as the House may make. The reading of all such documents
834	834	825may be dispensed with, but they shall be entered in the Journal of the same or the next legislative
835	835	826day after such reference except as provided in Joint Rule 13.
836	836	827 (2) All orders, including motions or orders proposed for joint adoption, resolutions and other
837	837	828papers intended for presentation, except those hereinbefore mentioned, shall be filed with the
838	838	829Clerk in a format to be determined by said Clerk, who shall, prior to the procedure required by
839	839	830other provisions of these rules or of the rules of the two branches, refer them to the committee on
840	840	831Rules.
841	841	832 (b) Resolutions for adoption by the House only or resolutions for joint adoption shall only be
842	842	833considered for adoption in the House if the resolution meets the criteria set forth in this rule. 41 of 146
843	843	834 (c) Resolutions shall consist of: (i) no more than 5 clauses beginning with the word
844	844	835“WHEREAS”, which shall contain statements of facts or opinions; and (ii) no more than 2
845	845	836clauses beginning with the word “RESOLVED”.
846	846	837 (d) Resolutions shall recognize, honor, commend, celebrate or commemorate a momentous
847	847	838achievement, special occasion or significant event or date; provided, however, that the following
848	848	839resolutions shall not be considered for adoption:
849	849	840 (i) resolutions recognizing, honoring, commending, celebrating or commemorating the
850	850	841birthday of a person under the age of 80;
851	851	842 (ii) resolutions recognizing, honoring, commending, celebrating or commemorating a
852	852	843wedding anniversary of a married couple of less than 50 years;
853	853	844 (iii) resolutions recognizing, honoring, commending, celebrating or commemorating an
854	854	845anniversary of an organization of less than 20 years;
855	855	846 (iv) resolutions recognizing, honoring, commending, celebrating or commemorating a class
856	856	847reunion;
857	857	848 (v) resolutions recognizing, honoring, commending, celebrating or commemorating a for-
858	858	849profit organization;
859	859	850 (iv) resolutions proclaiming certain days, weeks or months;
860	860	851 (vii) resolutions that includes a statement of policy or ideology.
861	861	852 (e) Suspension of subsections (b) through (d) of this rule shall require unanimous consent of
862	862	853the members present. 42 of 146
863	863	854 (3) Petitions and other papers so filed which are subject to the provisions of Joint Rule 7A,
864	864	8557B, or 9 shall be referred by the Clerk to the committee on Rules. Petitions and other papers so
865	865	856filed, which are subject to the provisions of the second paragraph of Joint Rule 12, shall, prior to
866	866	857the procedure required by said rule, be referred by the Clerk to the committee on Rules. The
867	867	858reading of all such papers may be dispensed with, but they shall be entered in the Journal of the
868	868	859same or the next legislative day after such reference.
869	869	860 (4) Matters which have been placed on file during the preceding year may be taken from the
870	870	861files by the Clerk upon request of any member or member-elect; and matters so taken from the
871	871	862files shall be referred or otherwise disposed of as provided above.
872	872	863 (5) Recommendations and special reports of state officials, departments, commissions and
873	873	864boards, reports of special committees and commissions, bills and resolves accompanying
874	874	865petitions, recommendations and reports, and resolutions shall be made available under the
875	875	866direction of the Clerk, who may cause to be made available, with the approval of the Speaker,
876	876	867any other documents filed as herein provided.
877	877	868 (6) All such legislation and reports filed with the Clerk shall be submitted in a format
878	878	869prescribed by said Clerk. Said documents shall contain the name or names of the primary
879	879	870sponsors and a list of the names of all petitioners praying for the legislation. Additional names
880	880	871may be added to the list of the petitioners; provided, however, that, such additional names shall
881	881	872be submitted in a format to be determined by the Clerk.
882	882	873 (7) Any petition so submitted that is a refile of a measure submitted in a previous session shall
883	883	874include, in the appropriate space provided, the session year for which the measure was filed and 43 of 146
884	884	875the House or Senate bill number or docket number assigned to such measure in such previous
885	885	876session.
886	886	877 (8) Debate upon the suspension of this rule shall be limited to 10 minutes, 3 minutes for each
887	887	878member, and the Speaker shall recognize the member presenting the order, resolution or petition
888	888	879first; provided, however, that suspension of this rule shall require unanimous consent of the
889	889	880members present. Any order, except such order that would amend the Rules of the House,
890	890	881resolution or petition referred to the committee on Rules after the question of suspension of this
891	891	882rule has been negatived, or any order, resolution or petition filed after the beginning of the
892	892	883session and referred to the committee on Rules, shall not be discharged from said committee
893	893	884except by unanimous consent of the House. Motions to discharge the committee on Rules shall
894	894	885be subject to the provisions of paragraph 2 of Rule 28. [28.] (20.) [See Rules 36 and 85.]
895	895	886 [Amended April 27, 1981; Jan. 9, 1989; Jan. 9, 1991; Jan. 26, 2005; Feb. 11, 2009; Jan. 29,
896	896	8872015; Jan. 30, 2019; Jul. 7, 2021; Feb. 1, 2023.]
897	897	888 25. Every petition for legislation shall be accompanied by a bill or resolve embodying the
898	898	889legislation prayed for. [29.] [See Joint Rule 12.]
899	899	890 26. When the object of an application can be secured without a special act under existing
900	900	891laws, or, without detriment to the public interests, by a general law, the committee to which the
901	901	892matter is referred shall report such general law or ought not to pass, as the case may be. The
902	902	893committee may report a special law on matters referred to it upon (1) a petition filed or approved
903	903	894by the voters of a city or town, or the mayor and city council, or other legislative body, of a city,
904	904	895or the town meeting of a town, with respect to a law relating to that city or town; (2) a
905	905	896recommendation by the Governor; or (3) matters relating to erecting and constituting 44 of 146
906	906	897metropolitan or regional entities, embracing any two or more cities and towns, or established
907	907	898with other than existing city or town boundaries, for any general or special public purpose or
908	908	899purposes. [30.] (16.) [See Joint Rule 7.]
909	909	900 [Amended Feb. 11, 2009.]
910	910	901 27. With the exception of matters referred to the committee on Rules under the provisions of
911	911	902paragraph (3) of Rule 24, committees shall report on all matters referred to them. The committee
912	912	903on Ways and Means shall report the General Appropriation Bill not later than the second
913	913	904Wednesday of May; and provided further that said committee shall make available to the
914	914	905members all data compiled for justification of budgetary recommendations in all appropriation
915	915	906bills.
916	916	907 The House chair of each joint standing committee shall make final report on all matters
917	917	908referred to and heard by their committee prior to the third Wednesday of December of the first
918	918	909annual session of the General Court by not later than 60 calendar days after the matter is heard;
919	919	910provided, however, that an additional 30 calendar days may be granted on a matter by the House
920	920	911chair who shall notify the Clerk of said extension. After the expiration of such 90-day period, the
921	921	912House shall approve by unanimous consent an extension order submitted by the House members
922	922	913of the joint committee for any additional time for further consideration of the matter by the
923	923	914committee. However, a committee shall not make final report after, and the House shall not
924	924	915approve of an extension order that extends consideration of a matter beyond, the third
925	925	916Wednesday in March of the second annual session of the General Court. For matters referred to a
926	926	917joint standing committee and heard by said committee after the third Wednesday of December of
927	927	918the first annual session, the committee shall make final report by not later than 60 calendar days 45 of 146
928	928	919after the matter is heard, or by the third Wednesday in March of the second annual session,
929	929	920whichever occurs later. For all matters referred to the committee on Health Care Financing after
930	930	921the third Wednesday in March of the second annual session which were initially referred to
931	931	922another joint standing committee, the committee shall make final report not later than the last
932	932	923Wednesday of May of the second annual session.
933	933	924 When the time within which joint standing committees are required to report has expired, all
934	934	925matters upon which no report has then been made shall forthwith be reported by the House chair
935	935	926with a recommendation to study the matter.
936	936	927 [Amended April 18, 1979; Jan. 14, 1997; Jan. 29, 2015.]
937	937	928 27A. [Omitted Jan. 23, 2007.]
938	938	929 28. (1) Motions directing the committee on Ways and Means to report certain matters to the
939	939	930House, or motions discharging said committees from further consideration of certain matters,
940	940	931shall not be considered until the expiration of seven calendar days and shall require a majority
941	941	932vote of the members present and voting for adoption. Committees so directed to report shall file
942	942	933a report with the Clerk within 4 legislative days. The committee on Ways and Means may not be
943	943	934directed to report or be discharged from further consideration of any appropriation or capital
944	944	935outlay measure.
945	945	936 (2) The committee on Rules, except as provided in Rule 24, and the committee on Bills in the
946	946	937Third Reading shall not be discharged from consideration of any measure or be directed to report
947	947	938on any measure within 10 calendar days of its reference without the unanimous consent of the
948	948	939House, or after such 10 day period except by a vote of a majority of the members present and
949	949	940voting thereon. 46 of 146
950	950	941 (3) Matters discharged under the provisions of this rule shall be placed in the Orders of the
951	951	942Day for the next sitting. Petitions discharged under the provisions of this rule shall be considered
952	952	943as favorably reported and the bill, resolve, resolution or order accompanying such petitions shall
953	953	944be placed in the Orders of the Day for the next sitting.
954	954	945 (4) During the last week of the session, the provisions of paragraphs (1) and (3) of this rule
955	955	946shall be inoperative.
956	956	947 (5) A second motion to discharge a matter from a committee or a second motion to direct a
957	957	948committee to report a matter shall not be entertained until the first such motion has been disposed
958	958	949of.
959	959	950 (6) As an alternative procedure to that provided under the provisions of this rule, the members
960	960	951of the House may, by filing a petition signed by a majority of the members elected to the House,
961	961	952discharge the House committee on Ways and Means, the House committee on Bills in the Third
962	962	953Reading, and the House committee on Rules from further consideration of a legislative matter.
963	963	954Seven days following the filing of the petition with the House Clerk, the committee shall be
964	964	955discharged from further consideration of the legislative matter specified in the petition and the
965	965	956House Clerk shall place the matter in the Orders of the Day for the next calendar day that the
966	966	957House is meeting.
967	967	958 (7) For the purpose of this rule, matters not appearing on the Calendar which are not before
968	968	959any committee shall be deemed to be before the Rules committee. Notwithstanding the previous
969	969	960sentence, a bill which has been engrossed by the House and Senate shall be placed before the
970	970	961House for enactment. Any member may request to the House that a matter engrossed in the
971	971	962House and Senate, returned for final passage by the engrossing division, and reviewed and 47 of 146
972	972	963released by the Committee on Bills in the Third Reading be placed before the House for
973	973	964enactment. The Speaker shall, in response to such a request of a member, put the matter before
974	974	965the House at the conclusion of the matter then pending.
975	975	966 (8) This rule shall not be suspended unless by unanimous consent of the members present.
976	976	967(27C, 32A.)
977	977	968 [Amended Jan. 12, 1981; April 27, 1981; Jan. 12, 1983; Nov. 17, 1983; Jan. 11, 1985; Jan. 9,
978	978	9691989; Jan. 9, 1991; Jan. 24, 2001; Jan. 9, 2003; Jan. 26, 2005, Jan. 23, 2007; Jan. 29, 2015.]
979	979	970 28A. [Adopted Jan. 11, 1985; Amended Jan. 9, 2003; Jan. 29, 2015; Omitted.]
980	980	971 REGULAR COURSE OF PROCEEDINGS.
981	981	972 Petitions.
982	982	973 29. The member presenting a petition shall endorse their name thereon; and the reading
983	983	974thereof shall be dispensed with, unless specially ordered. [37.] (18.)
984	984	975 [Amended Jan. 11, 1985; Jan. 30, 2019.]
985	985	976 Motions Contemplating Legislation, etc.
986	986	977 30. All motions contemplating legislation shall be founded upon petition, except as follows:
987	987	978 The committee on Ways and Means may originate and report appropriation bills as provided
988	988	979in Rule 20. Messages from the Governor shall, unless otherwise ordered, be referred to the
989	989	980appropriate committee, which may report by bill or otherwise thereon. A similar disposition
990	990	981shall, unless otherwise ordered, be made of reports by state officers and committees authorized to
991	991	982report to the Legislature, and similar action may be had thereon. 48 of 146
992	992	983 Messages from the Governor returning appropriation bills, or parts of appropriation bills, with
993	993	984objections or reductions of sections or items thereof, shall be reconsidered subsequent to a report
994	994	985of the committee on Ways and Means. Messages or recommendations from the Governor shall
995	995	986be filed with the Clerk in a format to be determined by the Clerk. [40.] (19.)
996	996	987 [Amended Jan. 24, 2001.]
997	997	988 Bills and Resolves.
998	998	989 31. Bills shall be drafted in a format approved by the Counsel to the House and submitted in a
999	999	990format to be determined by the Clerk. Bills amending existing laws shall not provide for striking
1000	1000	991words from, or inserting words in, such laws, unless such course is best calculated to show
1001	1001	992clearly the subject and nature of the amendment. No repealed law, and no part of any repealed
1002	1002	993law, shall be re-enacted merely by reference. [42.] (17.)
1003	1003	994 [Amended Jan. 9, 2003; Jan. 26, 2005; Jan. 29, 2015.]
1004	1004	995 32. If a committee to which a bill is referred reports that the same ought not to pass, the
1005	1005	996question shall be “Shall this bill be rejected?”. If the question on rejection is negatived, the bill, if
1006	1006	997it has been read but once, shall be placed in the Orders of the Day for the next sitting for a
1007	1007	998second reading without question; otherwise it shall be placed in the Orders of the Day for the
1008	1008	999next sitting, pending the question on ordering to a third reading, or to engrossment, as the case
1009	1009	1000may be. [43.] (30.)
1010	1010	1001 [Amended Jan. 30, 2019.]
1011	1011	1002 32A. [Omitted Jan. 26, 2005.] 49 of 146
1012	1012	1003 33. Bills involving an expenditure of public money or grant of public property, or otherwise
1013	1013	1004affecting the state finances, unless the subject matter has been acted upon by the joint committee
1014	1014	1005on Ways and Means, shall, after their first reading, be referred to the committee on Ways and
1015	1015	1006Means, for report on their relation to the finances of the Commonwealth.
1016	1016	1007 New provisions shall not be added to such bills by the committee on Ways and Means, unless
1017	1017	1008directly connected with the financial features thereof.
1018	1018	1009 Orders reported in the House or received from the Senate involving the expenditure of public
1019	1019	1010money for special committees, shall, before the question is taken on the adoption thereof, be
1020	1020	1011referred to the committee on Ways and Means, whose duty it shall be to report on their relation
1021	1021	1012to the finances of the Commonwealth.
1022	1022	1013 Every such bill involving a capital expenditure for new projects, or an appropriation for
1023	1023	1014repairs, or any legislation, the cost of which, in the opinion of the committee, exceeds the sum of
1024	1024	1015one hundred thousand dollars when reported into the House by the committee on Ways and
1025	1025	1016Means, shall be accompanied by a fiscal note indicating the amount of public money which will
1026	1026	1017be required to be expended to carry out the provisions of the proposed legislation, together with
1027	1027	1018an estimate of the cost of operation and maintenance for the first year if a new project is
1028	1028	1019involved. [44.] (27.)
1029	1029	1020 [Amended April 18, 1979; Jan. 12, 1981; Jul. 17, 2003; Jan. 26, 2005.]
1030	1030	1021 33A. Copies of all bills shall be available, in a format to be determined by the Speaker in
1031	1031	1022consultation with the Clerk, to all members of the House and the public electronically via the
1032	1032	1023website of the General Court; provided, however, that any bill or resolve to be considered by the
1033	1033	1024House at a formal session shall be available to all members electronically and to the public via 50 of 146
1034	1034	1025the website of the General Court no later than 12:00 P.M. the day prior to consideration thereof
1035	1035	1026by the House in a formal session; provided further that, to the extent practicable, a summary of
1036	1036	1027any bill containing meaningful policy changes to be considered by the House in a formal session
1037	1037	1028shall be made available by the chair of the joint standing committee which had jurisdiction of the
1038	1038	1029bill, to all members of the House and the public via the website of the General Court prior to the
1039	1039	1030commencement of roll calls for the formal session in which the bill will be considered.
1040	1040	1031 All amendments offered by members to any matter in the House shall be submitted in a
1041	1041	1032format to be determined by the Clerk in consultation with the Speaker; provided, however, that
1042	1042	1033an amendment to any matter to be considered by the House at a formal session shall be filed by
1043	1043	10345:00 P.M. on the day the bill or resolve is made available to the members pursuant to the first
1044	1044	1035paragraph of this rule. Amendments shall be considered by the House chronologically as
1045	1045	1036submitted to the Clerk, except for an amendment in the second degree; provided that all
1046	1046	1037amendments shall be drafted in proper form acceptable to the Clerk; and provided further that the
1047	1047	1038Clerk shall print each amendment so filed and such printed copy shall be considered to be the
1048	1048	1039official amendment for that bill and there shall be available to the members a duplicate copy of
1049	1049	1040each amendment. (33A.)
1050	1050	1041 When the House considers any bill or resolve, other than the General Appropriations Bill, it
1051	1051	1042shall be read a second time and, subsequent to the consideration of any amendments
1052	1052	1043recommended by a committee or committees, it shall forthwith be considered by the House, the
1053	1053	1044question being on ordering it to a third reading, without any other amendments. A bill or resolve
1054	1054	1045so ordered to a third reading shall be immediately referred to the committee on Bills in the Third
1055	1055	1046Reading and, upon being released by said committee, it shall be read a third time and shall then
1056	1056	1047be open to amendments, the main question being on passing the bill or resolve to be engrossed. 51 of 146
1057	1057	1048 Except for consolidated amendments or perfecting amendments offered by the committee on
1058	1058	1049Ways and Means, no proposition on a subject different from the amendment under consideration
1059	1059	1050shall be admitted under color of a further amendment to any bill or resolve. A consolidated
1060	1060	1051amendment to any bill or resolve, offered by the committee on Ways and Means, shall be a
1061	1061	1052motion offering an amendment in the second degree.
1062	1062	1053 [Adopted Nov. 17, 1983; Amended Nov. 28, 1984; Jan. 12, 1987; Jan. 9, 1991; Jan. 17,
1063	1063	10541995l; Jan. 9, 2003; Jan. 26, 2005, Jan. 23, 2007; Jan. 29, 2015; Jul. 7, 2021; Feb. 1, 2023.]
1064	1064	1055 33B. [Omitted Jan. 26, 2005.]
1065	1065	1056 33C. [Omitted Jan. 26, 2005.]
1066	1066	1057 33D. [Omitted Jan. 26, 2005.]
1067	1067	1058 33E. No consolidated amendment offered by the committee on Ways and Means shall be
1068	1068	1059considered by the House until the expiration of at least 30 minutes after the consolidated
1069	1069	1060amendment shall have been first filed with the Clerk and made available to the members. This
1070	1070	1061rule shall not be suspended unless by unanimous consent of the members present.
1071	1071	1062 [Added Feb. 4, 2010; Amended Jan. 29, 2015.]
1072	1072	1063 33F. No consolidated amendment shall be adopted except by a roll call vote.
1073	1073	1064 [Added Feb. 2, 2017.]
1074	1074	1065 34. Bills from the Senate, after their first reading, shall be referred to a committee of the
1075	1075	1066House. [45.] (26.)
1076	1076	1067 [Amended Jan. 26, 1999.] 52 of 146
1077	1077	1068 35. Amendments proposed by the Senate, and sent back to the House for concurrence, shall
1078	1078	1069be referred to the committee on Bills in the Third Reading, provided that the journal shall reflect
1079	1079	1070the referral; and provided further that subsequent to a report from said committee, the
1080	1080	1071amendments shall be considered forthwith. [46.] (36.)
1081	1081	1072 [Amended April 18, 1979; Jan. 12, 1981; Jan. 26, 2005, Jan. 23, 2007; Jan. 23, 2013.]
1082	1082	1073 36. No bill shall be proposed or introduced unless received from the Senate, reported by a
1083	1083	1074committee, or moved as an amendment to the report of a committee. [47.] (36.)
1084	1084	1075 37. Bills, resolves and other papers that have been, or, under the rules or usage of the House,
1085	1085	1076are to be made available in a format to be determined by the Speaker in consultation with the
1086	1086	1077Clerk, shall be read by their titles only, unless the full reading is requested by vote of a majority
1087	1087	1078of those members present and voting.
1088	1088	1079 [Amended Jan. 9, 2003, Amended, Jan. 23, 2007.] [48.] (29.)
1089	1089	1080 38. When a bill, resolve, order, petition or memorial has been finally rejected or disposed of
1090	1090	1081by the House, no measure substantially the same shall be introduced by any committee or
1091	1091	1082member during the same session. This rule shall not be suspended unless by unanimous consent
1092	1092	1083of the members present. [49.] (54.)
1093	1093	1084 39. No bill shall be passed to be engrossed without having been read on three separate
1094	1094	1085legislative days. [51.] (28.)
1095	1095	1086 [Amended Jan. 11, 1985.]
1096	1096	1087 40. No engrossed bill shall be amended, except by striking out the enacting clause. A motion
1097	1097	1088to strike out the enacting clause of a bill shall be received when the bill is before the House for 53 of 146
1098	1098	1089enactment. If the bill contains an emergency preamble, a motion to suspend this rule may be
1099	1099	1090received before the adoption of the emergency preamble and, if suspended, the amendment may
1100	1100	1091contain a new emergency preamble. This rule shall not apply to a bill or resolve returned by the
1101	1101	1092Governor with a recommendation of amendment in accordance with the provisions of Article
1102	1102	1093LVI of the Amendments to the Constitution; nor shall it apply to amendments of engrossed bills
1103	1103	1094proposed by the Senate and sent to the House for concurrence, which amendments shall be
1104	1104	1095subject to the provisions of Rule 35, provided, however, that an affirmative vote on a motion to
1105	1105	1096suspend this rule shall be required in order to offer an amendment to such an engrossed bill when
1106	1106	1097the question before the House is on adoption of an emergency preamble, re-enactment or
1107	1107	1098enactment, as the case may be. [53.] (49.)
1108	1108	1099 [Amended, Jan. 23, 2007; Jan. 20, 2011; Jan. 23, 2013; Jan. 29, 2015.]
1109	1109	1100 41. Bills received from the Senate and bills reported favorably by committees, when not
1110	1110	1101referred to another standing committee of the House, shall, prior to being placed in the Orders of
1111	1111	1102the Day, be referred to the committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling. Resolutions received
1112	1112	1103from and adopted by the Senate, or reported in the House by committees, shall, if proposed for
1113	1113	1104joint adoption, be referred to said committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling. [56.] (26.)
1114	1114	1105 [Amended Jan. 14, 1997; Jan. 26, 1999.]
1115	1115	1106 42. Reports of committees, not by bill or resolve, including orders if proposed for joint
1116	1116	1107adoption, after they are received from the Senate, or made in the House, as the case may be,
1117	1117	1108shall, unless subject to the provisions of any other House or joint rules, be referred to the
1118	1118	1109committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling; provided that the report of a committee asking to
1119	1119	1110be discharged from further consideration of a subject, and recommending that it be referred or 54 of 146
1120	1120	1111recommitted to another committee, or a report of a committee recommending that a matter be
1121	1121	1112placed on file, shall be immediately considered. Reports of committees on proposals for
1122	1122	1113amendments to the Constitution shall be dealt with in accordance with the provisions of Joint
1123	1123	1114Rule 23. [57.] (36.)
1124	1124	1115 [Amended Jan. 14, 1997; Jan. 29, 2015.]
1125	1125	1116 42A. The Clerk shall, prior to 3 o'clock P.M., on the day preceding a session, make available
1126	1126	1117by electronic communication or other means, a list of all reports of the committee on Steering,
1127	1127	1118Policy and Scheduling, asking to be discharged from further consideration of subjects, and
1128	1128	1119recommending that the subjects be referred to other committees.
1129	1129	1120 [Adopted Jan. 26, 2005; Amended Jan. 29, 2015.]
1130	1130	1121 43. Bills ordered to a third reading shall be placed in the Orders of the Day for the next day
1131	1131	1122for such reading. [58.] (32.)
1132	1132	1123 Special Rules Affecting the Course of Proceedings.
1133	1133	1124 44. The Speaker may designate when an informal session of the House shall be held provided
1134	1134	1125said Speaker gives notice of such informal session at a prior session of the House. The Speaker
1135	1135	1126may, in cases of emergency, cancel a session or declare any session of the House to be an
1136	1136	1127informal session. At an informal session the House shall only consider reports of committees,
1137	1137	1128papers from the Senate, bills for enactment or resolves for final passage, bills containing
1138	1138	1129emergency preambles and the matters in the Orders of the Day. Motions to reconsider moved at
1139	1139	1130such informal session shall be placed in the Orders of the Day for the succeeding day, and no
1140	1140	1131new business shall be entertained, except by unanimous consent. 55 of 146
1141	1141	1132 Formal debate, or the taking of the sense of the House by yeas and nays shall not be
1142	1142	1133conducted during such informal session.
1143	1143	1134 Upon the receipt of a petition signed by at least a majority of the members elected to the
1144	1144	1135House, so requesting, the Speaker shall, when the House is meeting in informal session under the
1145	1145	1136provisions of Joint Rule 12A, designate a formal session, to be held within seven days of said
1146	1146	1137receipt, for the purpose of considering the question of passage of a bill, notwithstanding the
1147	1147	1138objections of the Governor, returned pursuant to Article 2, Section 1, Chapter1, Part 2 of the
1148	1148	1139Massachusetts Constitution. This rule shall not be suspended unless by unanimous consent of the
1149	1149	1140members present. [59.] (5A.)
1150	1150	1141 The House may meet in a formal session notwithstanding the provisions of Joint Rule 12A
1151	1151	1142upon the adoption of an order filed by the committee on Rules pursuant to Rule 7C.
1152	1152	1143 [Amended Jan. 11, 1985; Jan. 12, 1987; Jan. 17, 1995; Jan. 14, 1997; Jan. 24, 2001; Jan. 9,
1153	1153	11442003; Feb. 11, 2009.]
1154	1154	1145 45. After entering upon the consideration of the Orders of the Day, the House shall proceed
1155	1155	1146with them in regular course as follows: Matters not giving rise to a motion or debate shall first be
1156	1156	1147disposed of in the order in which they stand in the Calendar; after which the matters that were
1157	1157	1148passed over shall be considered in like order and disposed. The provisions of this paragraph shall
1158	1158	1149not be suspended unless by unanimous consent of the members present.
1159	1159	1150 Notwithstanding the provisions of this rule, during consideration of the Orders of the Day, the
1160	1160	1151committee on Ways and Means and the committee on Bills in the Third Reading may present
1161	1161	1152matters for consideration of the House after approval of two-thirds of the members present and
1162	1162	1153voting, without debate. [59.] (37.) [See Rule 47.] 56 of 146
1163	1163	1154 [Amended Jan. 12, 1981; Jan. 12, 1983; Feb. 11, 2009.]
1164	1164	1155 46. When the House does not finish the consideration of the Orders of the Day, those which
1165	1165	1156had not been acted upon shall be the Orders of the Day for the next and each succeeding day
1166	1166	1157until disposed of, and shall be entered in the Calendar, without change in their order, to precede
1167	1167	1158matters added under Rule 7A; provided, however, that all other matters shall be listed in
1168	1168	1159numerical order by Calendar item.
1169	1169	1160 The unfinished business in which the House was engaged at the time of adjournment shall
1170	1170	1161have the preference in the Orders of the Day for the next day. [60.] (35.)
1171	1171	1162 [Amended Jan. 12, 1987; Jan. 26, 1999.]
1172	1172	1163 47. No matter which has been duly placed in the Orders of the Day shall be discharged
1173	1173	1164therefrom, or considered out of the regular course. [61.] (38.) [See Rule 45.]
1174	1174	1165 Voting.
1175	1175	1166 48. Members desiring to be excused from voting shall make application to that effect before
1176	1176	1167the division of the House or the taking of the yeas and nays is begun. Such application may be
1177	1177	1168accompanied by a brief statement of reasons by the member. The Clerk shall, prior to the first
1178	1178	1169roll call of the sitting, announce the name of any member who has informed the Clerk to not call
1179	1179	1170their name or lock their voting station. The Clerk shall also announce prior to any subsequent roll
1180	1180	1171call of the sitting the name of any member who had informed said Clerk not to call their name or
1181	1181	1172lock their voting station since the taking of the immediately preceding roll call.
1182	1182	1173 A member absent from the House for a formal session period of a day or longer shall notify
1183	1183	1174the Clerk in writing of the intended absence. A member absent during a formal session for an 57 of 146
1184	1184	1175extended period or for the remainder of the session shall notify the Clerk in person. The Clerk
1185	1185	1176shall provide a written notice to any such absent member.
1186	1186	1177 The Clerk shall disable the voting station of any such member notifying the Clerk of an
1187	1187	1178absence pursuant to this Rule. The Clerk shall also disable the voting station of any member
1188	1188	1179failing to answer the first non-quorum roll call of a legislative sitting; provided, however, that the
1189	1189	1180Clerk shall reactivate the voting station upon receiving notification of the member's return to the
1190	1190	1181House Chamber. ([64.] (57.)
1191	1191	1182 [Amended Feb. 11, 2009; Jan. 30, 2019.]
1192	1192	1183 49. (a) If the presence of a quorum is doubted, a count of the House shall be made. When a
1193	1193	1184yea and nay vote is taken, the members, with the exception of the Speaker, shall vote only from
1194	1194	1185their seats. A member who has been appointed by the Speaker to perform the duties of the Chair,
1195	1195	1186or a person who has been elected Speaker pro Tempore, may designate some member or a court
1196	1196	1187officer to cast a vote for said member on any vote taken on the electronic voting system while
1197	1197	1188such member is presiding. Said designated member performing the duties of the Chair, or
1198	1198	1189Speaker pro Tempore, may, if the Speaker is in the State House, cast a vote for the Speaker. The
1199	1199	1190Speaker shall state the pending question before opening the system for voting.
1200	1200	1191 The Speaker may direct the Clerk to cast a vote for a member who is in the House Chamber,
1201	1201	1192but who is unable to vote due to a malfunction of their voting station or inability to open their
1202	1202	1193voting station.
1203	1203	1194 (b) Except in the case of a vote to ascertain the presence of a quorum, if a member is
1204	1204	1195prevented from voting personally using the electronic voting system because of physical
1205	1205	1196disability, said member shall, if present in the State House, be excused from so voting and the 58 of 146
1206	1206	1197Speaker shall assign a court officer to cast said member's vote so long as said physical disability
1207	1207	1198continues; provided that the Speaker shall announce the action of the Chair to the membership
1208	1208	1199prior to assigning a court officer to cast the member's vote and provided further that the Speaker
1209	1209	1200shall announce the action to the membership the first time a vote is cast for that member on each
1210	1210	1201successive day.
1211	1211	1202 (c) A member serving on active reserve military duty may participate remotely in a formal
1212	1212	1203session, subject to the requirements and limitations of federal law and regulation, including, but
1213	1213	1204not limited to, United States Department of Defense Directive 1344.10. A member serving on
1214	1214	1205active reserve military shall notify the Clerk of such service as soon as practicable.
1215	1215	1206 (d) A member with a serious health condition may submit to Counsel appointed pursuant to
1216	1216	1207Rule 13B a request for an accommodation to participate remotely in a formal session. Said
1217	1217	1208request shall be accompanied by documentation from said member’s health care provider that an
1218	1218	1209accommodation to participate remotely is necessary. For purposes of this rule, a serious health
1219	1219	1210condition shall include:
1220	1220	1211 (1) the member’s own serious health condition, which includes illness, injury, impairment, or
1221	1221	1212physical or mental conditions requiring inpatient care or continuing treatment by a health care
1222	1222	1213provider, involving more than three days of incapacity; or
1223	1223	1214 (2) care for the member’s parent, child or spouse with a serious health condition.
1224	1224	1215 For purposes of this rule, a serious health condition shall not include routine, health-related
1225	1225	1216visits or examinations or temporary conditions or other short-term illnesses involving less than
1226	1226	1217three days of incapacity. 59 of 146
1227	1227	1218 (e) A member shall be entitled to participate remotely in a formal session in connection with
1228	1228	1219any condition or limitation related to a member’s pregnancy, including pregnancy loss, and may
1229	1229	1220participate remotely in formal session for 20 weeks after the birth or adoption of a child by a
1230	1230	1221member or the member’s partner, or placement of a child in foster care with a member or the
1231	1231	1222member’s partner. A member who intends to participate remotely pursuant to this subsection
1232	1232	1223shall notify Counsel of the need for an accommodation as well as the expected length of the
1233	1233	1224accommodation.
1234	1234	1225 (f) Counsel shall not approve, without the prior written approval of the Chair of the
1235	1235	1226committee on Rules, any request for an accommodation to participate remotely in a formal
1236	1236	1227session that does not satisfy the requirements of this subsection.
1237	1237	1228 (g) Upon approval of a request for accommodation to participate remotely received pursuant
1238	1238	1229to subsection (d) or subsection (f), Counsel shall notify the Clerk that the member filing the
1239	1239	1230request has been authorized to participate remotely. Other than the notification provided to the
1240	1240	1231Clerk or to the Chair of the committee on Rules, as required, Counsel shall maintain any request
1241	1241	1232for accommodation pursuant to this rule as confidential.
1242	1242	1233 (h)(1) A member authorized to participate remotely in a formal session pursuant to subsection
1243	1243	1234(d) through subsection (f), inclusive, shall have the same privileges, rights and responsibilities as
1244	1244	1235if the member were physically present in the House Chamber, including without limitation, the
1245	1245	1236right, privilege and responsibility to cast votes on all questions or other matters brought to a vote
1246	1246	1237and the ability to take the oath required pursuant to Part the Second, Chapter VI, Article I of the
1247	1247	1238Constitution of the Commonwealth. 60 of 146
1248	1248	1239 (i) The Journal of the House for any formal session of the House where a member is
1249	1249	1240participating remotely in a formal session pursuant to this rule shall specify which members
1250	1250	1241participated remotely. [Amended April 18, 1979; Jan. 12, 1987; Jan. 9, 1991; Jan. 9, 2003; Jan.
1251	1251	124220, 2011; Feb. 11, 2009; Jan. 30, 2019; Feb. 1, 2023.]
1252	1252	1243 50. When a question is put, the sense of the House shall be taken by the voices of the
1253	1253	1244members, and the Speaker shall first announce the vote as it appears to the Speaker by the sound.
1254	1254	1245If the Speaker is unable to decide by the sound of the voices, or if the announcement made
1255	1255	1246thereupon is doubted by a member rising in their place for that purpose, the Speaker shall order a
1256	1256	1247division of the number voting in the affirmative and in the negative, without further debate upon
1257	1257	1248the question. [66.] (55.)
1258	1258	1249 [Amended Jan. 11, 1985; Feb. 11, 2009; Jan. 30, 2019.]
1259	1259	1250 51. When a return by division of the members voting in the affirmative and in the negative is
1260	1260	1251ordered, the members for or against the question, when called on by the Speaker, shall rise in
1261	1261	1252their places, and stand until they are counted. If, upon the taking of such a vote, the presence of a
1262	1262	1253quorum is doubted, a count of the House shall be had, and if a quorum is present the vote shall
1263	1263	1254stand. [67.]
1264	1264	1255 52. The sense of the House shall be taken by yeas and nays whenever required by ten percent
1265	1265	1256of the members elected. The Speaker shall, after waiting up to an interval of twelve minutes,
1266	1266	1257state the pending question and, after opening the electronic voting system, instruct the members
1267	1267	1258to vote for not less than two minutes and no more than twenty-two minutes, the Speaker shall
1268	1268	1259close said system and cause totals to be displayed and a record made of how each member
1269	1269	1260present voted; provided, that if at any time during said voting period any standing, joint or 61 of 146
1270	1270	1261conference committee is meeting in public or executive sessions, the Speaker shall leave the
1271	1271	1262electronic voting machine open for not less than 5 minutes.
1272	1272	1263 Any member desiring to be recorded as being “present” when a yea and nay vote is taken on
1273	1273	1264the electronic roll call system shall so notify the Clerk in person after said vote is ordered and
1274	1274	1265before the vote is announced.
1275	1275	1266 In the event the electronic voting system is not in operating order, the roll of the House shall
1276	1276	1267be called in alphabetical order; provided, however, that no member shall be allowed to vote or to
1277	1277	1268answer “present” who was not on the floor before the vote is declared; provided, however, that a
1278	1278	1269member, who was in the State House on a previous roll call, may be recorded by reporting to the
1279	1279	1270Clerk within five minutes after such vote is closed, unless objection is made thereto and it is
1280	1280	1271seconded; and provided further that the presiding officer shall not, for said purpose, interrupt the
1281	1281	1272member who is speaking on the floor; provided, however, that such request may be announced to
1282	1282	1273the House subsequent to the five minutes. The Speaker shall not entertain any requests beyond
1283	1283	1274said five-minute period. Once the voting has begun it shall not be interrupted except for the
1284	1284	1275purpose of questioning the validity of a member’s vote before the result is announced. Except as
1285	1285	1276heretofore provided, any member who shall vote or attempt to vote for another member or any
1286	1286	1277person not a member who votes or attempts to vote for a member, or any member or other person
1287	1287	1278who willfully tampers with or attempts to impair or destroy in any manner whatsoever the voting
1288	1288	1279equipment used by the House, or change the records thereon shall be punished in such manner as
1289	1289	1280the House determines; and provided further, that such a violation shall be reported to the Ethics
1290	1290	1281Committee. [68.] (56, 57.) 62 of 146
1291	1291	1282 Upon completion of the tally by the Clerk and the announcement of the vote by the Speaker,
1292	1292	1283the results of all roll calls conducted shall be conspicuously posted on the website of the General
1293	1293	1284Court.
1294	1294	1285 [Amended Jan. 12, 1983; Jan. 11, 1985; Jan. 12, 1987; Jan. 9, 1991; Jan. 24, 2001; Jan. 9,
1295	1295	12862003; Jan. 26, 2005; Feb. 11, 2009; Jan 20, 2011; Jul. 7, 2021; Feb. 1, 2023.]
1296	1296	1287 53. The call for yeas and nays shall be decided without debate. If the yeas and nays have been
1297	1297	1288ordered before the question is put, the proceedings under Rules 50 and 51 relative to verification
1298	1298	1289of the vote by the voices of the members or by a return of divisions shall be omitted; if not, they
1299	1299	1290may be called for in lieu of a return by divisions when the Speaker’s announcement is doubted
1300	1300	1291by a member rising in their place, and, if then ordered, the proceedings under Rules 50 and 51
1301	1301	1292shall be omitted. [69.] (52.)
1302	1302	1293 [Amended Jan. 26, 1999; Jan. 30, 2019.]
1303	1303	1294 Reconsideration.
1304	1304	1295 54. No motion to reconsider a vote shall be entertained unless it is made on the same day on
1305	1305	1296which the vote was taken, or before the Orders of the Day have been taken up on the next day
1306	1306	1297thereafter on which a quorum is present. If reconsideration is moved on the same day, the motion
1307	1307	1298shall be placed first in the Orders of the Day for the succeeding day; but, if it is moved on the
1308	1308	1299succeeding day, the motion shall be considered forthwith except that if said motion is moved on
1309	1309	1300a day on which an informal session has been designated, it shall be placed in the Orders of the
1310	1310	1301Day for the succeeding day. If reconsideration is moved after July first of the second annual
1311	1311	1302session and thereafter, on any main question, it shall be considered forthwith. This rule shall not
1312	1312	1303prevent the reconsideration of a vote on a subsidiary, incidental or dependent question at any 63 of 146
1313	1313	1304time when the main question to which it relates is under consideration; and provided, further,
1314	1314	1305that a motion to reconsider a vote on any subsidiary, incidental or dependent question shall not
1315	1315	1306remove the main subject under consideration from before the House, but shall be considered at
1316	1316	1307the time when it is made. This rule shall not be suspended unless by unanimous consent of the
1317	1317	1308members present. [70.] (53.)
1318	1318	1309 [Amended Jan. 12, 1981, Jan. 23, 2007.]
1319	1319	1310 55. When a motion for reconsideration is decided, that decision shall not be reconsidered, and
1320	1320	1311no question shall be twice reconsidered; nor shall any vote be reconsidered upon any of the
1321	1321	1312following motions:
1322	1322	1313 to recess,
1323	1323	1314 to adjourn,
1324	1324	1315 on sustaining a ruling of the Chair,
1325	1325	1316 to close debate at a specified time,
1326	1326	1317 to postpone if voted in the negative,
1327	1327	1318 to discharge or direct a committee to report,
1328	1328	1319 to commit or recommit,
1329	1329	1320 for second or subsequent legislative days,
1330	1330	1321 for the previous question, or
1331	1331	1322 for suspension of rules. 64 of 146
1332	1332	1323 This rule shall not be suspended unless by unanimous consent of the members present. [71.]
1333	1333	1324(53.)
1334	1334	1325 [Amended Jan. 12, 1981; Jan. 12, 1983; Jan. 9, 1991.]
1335	1335	1326 56. Debate on motions to reconsider shall be limited to fifteen minutes, and no member shall
1336	1336	1327occupy more than three minutes, but on a motion to reconsider a vote upon any subsidiary or
1337	1337	1328incidental question, debate shall be limited to ten minutes, and no member shall occupy more
1338	1338	1329than three minutes.
1339	1339	1330 If the House has voted to close debate on any question, a motion to reconsider said question
1340	1340	1331shall be decided without debate. [72.] (52.)
1341	1341	1332 [Amended Jan. 12, 1981; Jan. 12, 1987.]
1342	1342	1333 RULES OF DEBATE.
1343	1343	1334 57. Every member, when about to speak, shall rise and respectfully address the Speaker and
1344	1344	1335shall confine themselves to the question under debate. [73.] (39.)
1345	1345	1336 [Amended Jan. 11, 1985; Feb. 1, 2023.]
1346	1346	1337 58. Every member while speaking shall avoid personalities; and shall sit down when finished.
1347	1347	1338No member shall speak out of their place without leave of the Speaker. [73.] (39.)
1348	1348	1339 When two or more members rise at the same time, the Speaker shall name the member
1349	1349	1340entitled to the floor, preferring one who rises in their place to one who does not. [74.] (40.)
1350	1350	1341 [Amended Jan. 11, 1985; Jan. 30, 2019.] 65 of 146
1351	1351	1342 59. If a member repeatedly violates any of the rules of the House, or disrupts the orderly
1352	1352	1343procedure of the House, the Speaker, after warning the member of such violations, shall call the
1353	1353	1344member to order, and order that member to take their seat. A member so called to order shall lose
1354	1354	1345the right to speak on the pending subject-matter but shall not be debarred from voting. A member
1355	1355	1346so called to order shall remain seated until the House begins consideration of another subject-
1356	1356	1347matter or unless the Speaker earlier returns to the member their rights to the floor.
1357	1357	1348 If a member so called to order refuses to immediately take their seat, the Speaker shall
1358	1358	1349immediately name that member, who shall be escorted from the Chamber under escort of the
1359	1359	1350Sergeant-at-Arms. The matter shall thereupon, on motion, be referred to a special committee of
1360	1360	1351three to be appointed by the Speaker. Said special committee shall make a report to the House of
1361	1361	1352its recommendations, which report shall be read and accepted.
1362	1362	1353 Having been named, a member shall not be allowed to resume their seat until said member
1363	1363	1354has complied with the recommendations of the committee as accepted by the House.
1364	1364	1355 If, after a member is seated or named, the action of the Speaker is appealed, the House shall
1365	1365	1356decide the case by a majority vote of the members present and voting, but if there is no
1366	1366	1357immediate appeal, the decision of the Speaker shall be conclusive.
1367	1367	1358 [Amended Jan. 12, 1981; Jan. 11, 1985; Feb. 11, 2009; Jan. 30, 2019.]
1368	1368	1359 60. No member shall interrupt another while speaking except by rising to a point of order, to a
1369	1369	1360question of personal privilege, to doubt the presence of a quorum, or to ask the person speaking
1370	1370	1361to yield. 66 of 146
1371	1371	1362 Members may rise to explain matters personal to them by leave of the presiding officer, but
1372	1372	1363shall not discuss pending questions in such explanations.
1373	1373	1364 Questions of personal privilege shall be limited to questions affecting the rights, reputation,
1374	1374	1365and conduct of the member in their representative capacities.
1375	1375	1366 Members may rise to ask questions of parliamentary inquiry concerning the pending matter
1376	1376	1367by leave of the presiding officer, but shall not debate the pending questions. [75.] (42.)
1377	1377	1368 [Amended Jan. 12, 1981; Feb. 11, 2009; Jan. 30, 2019.]
1378	1378	1369 61. No member shall speak more than once to the prevention of those who have not spoken
1379	1379	1370and desire to speak on the same question.
1380	1380	1371 This prohibition shall not apply to those members designated by the committee or committees
1381	1381	1372reporting the bill.
1382	1382	1373 No member shall occupy more than thirty minutes at a time while speaking on any question
1383	1383	1374where debate is unlimited.
1384	1384	1375 Unless the operation of another rule provides to the contrary (such as previous question,
1385	1385	1376limitation of debate, etc.), no member shall be prohibited from speaking more than once on any
1386	1386	1377question when no other member who has not spoken is seeking recognition by the Chair. [76.]
1387	1387	1378(41.)
1388	1388	1379 Motions.
1389	1389	1380 62. Every motion shall be reduced to writing, if the Speaker so directs. [77.] (44.) 67 of 146
1390	1390	1381 63. A motion need not be seconded, except an appeal from the decision of the Chair, and may
1391	1391	1382be withdrawn by the mover if no objection is made. [78.] (44.)
1392	1392	1383 [Amended Jan. 12, 1981.]
1393	1393	1384 Limit of Debate.
1394	1394	1385 64. A motion to recess or adjourn shall always be first in order, and shall be decided without
1395	1395	1386debate; and on the motions to close debate at a specified time, to postpone to a time certain, to
1396	1396	1387commit or recommit, not exceeding ten minutes shall be allowed for debate, and no member
1397	1397	1388shall speak more than three minutes. On the motion to discharge any committee, or on a motion
1398	1398	1389directing any committee to report matters before it, not exceeding fifteen minutes shall be
1399	1399	1390allowed for debate, and no member shall speak more than three minutes.
1400	1400	1391 If the main motion is undebatable, any subsidiary or incidental motion made relating to it
1401	1401	1392shall also be decided without debate. [79.] (52.) [See Rules 56 and 83.]
1402	1402	1393 [Amended Jan. 12, 1981.]
1403	1403	1394 64A. Debate on the question on adoption of orders for second and subsequent legislative days
1404	1404	1395shall be limited to ten minutes, and no member shall speak more than three minutes. After
1405	1405	1396entering into a second or subsequent legislative day, the House shall immediately proceed to
1406	1406	1397consideration of engrossed bills, reports of committees, papers from the Senate or the Orders of
1407	1407	1398the Day. This rule shall not be suspended unless by unanimous consent of the members present.
1408	1408	1399 [Adopted Jan. 12, 1983.]
1409	1409	1400 65. When a question is before the House, until it is disposed of, the Speaker shall receive no
1410	1410	1401motion that does not relate to the same, except the motion to recess or adjourn or some other 68 of 146
1411	1411	1402motion that has precedence either by express rule of the House, or because it is privileged in its
1412	1412	1403nature; and the Speaker shall receive no motion relating to the same, except,—
1413	1413	1404 for the previous question, . . . . .
1414	1414	1405 to close debate at a specified time, . . . . .
1415	1415	1406 to postpone to a time certain, . . . . .
1416	1416	1407 to commit (or recommit), . . . . .
1417	1417	1408 to amend, . . . . . . . See Rules 66, 67 and 68
1418	1418	1409 See Rules 64, 69 and 70
1419	1419	1410 See Rules 64 and 70
1420	1420	1411 See Rules 64 and 71
1421	1421	1412 See Rules 72, 73, 74 and 75
1422	1422	1413 — which several motions shall have precedence in the order in which they are arranged in
1423	1423	1414this rule. [80.] (46.)
1424	1424	1415 [Amended Jan. 11, 1985.]
1425	1425	1416 Previous Question.
1426	1426	1417 66. Any member may call for the previous question on the main question. 69 of 146
1427	1427	1418 The previous question shall be put in the following form: “Shall the main question be now
1428	1428	1419put?” and all debate on the main question shall be suspended until the previous question is
1429	1429	1420decided.
1430	1430	1421 The adoption of the previous question shall require the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the
1431	1431	1422members present and voting and shall put an end to all debate, and bring the House to direct vote
1432	1432	1423upon pending amendments, if any, in their regular order, and then upon the main question.
1433	1433	1424 A motion to reconsider the vote on any of the pending amendments shall be decided without
1434	1434	1425debate. [81.]
1435	1435	1426 [Amended Jan. 12, 1981.]
1436	1436	1427 67. Any member may call for the previous question on any pending amendment.
1437	1437	1428 The previous question shall be put in the following form: “Shall the question on adoption of
1438	1438	1429the amendment be now put?” and all debate shall be suspended until the previous question is
1439	1439	1430decided.
1440	1440	1431 The adoption of the previous question on a pending amendment shall require the affirmative
1441	1441	1432vote of two-thirds of the members present and voting and shall put an end to all debate and bring
1442	1442	1433the House to a direct vote upon the pending amendment.
1443	1443	1434 A motion to reconsider the vote on the pending amendment shall be decided without debate.
1444	1444	1435 [Amended Jan. 12, 1981.]
1445	1445	1436 68. The previous question shall be decided without debate.
1446	1446	1437 Motion to Close Debate at a Specified Time. 70 of 146
1447	1447	1438 69. Debate may be closed at any time not less than thirty minutes from the adoption of a
1448	1448	1439motion to that effect. This rule shall not be suspended unless by unanimous consent of the
1449	1449	1440members present. [85.] (47.)
1450	1450	1441 Motion to Postpone to a Time Certain.
1451	1451	1442 70. When a motion is made to postpone to a time certain, and different times are proposed,
1452	1452	1443the question shall first be taken on the most remote time; and the time shall be determined before
1453	1453	1444the question is put on postponement, which may then be rejected if the House sees fit. [87.] (51.)
1454	1454	1445 Motion to Commit.
1455	1455	1446 71. When a motion is made to commit, and different committees are proposed, the question
1456	1456	1447shall be taken in the following order:
1457	1457	1448 a standing committee of the House,
1458	1458	1449 a select committee of the House,
1459	1459	1450 a joint standing committee,
1460	1460	1451 a joint selected committee;
1461	1461	1452and a subject may be recommitted to the same committee or to another committee at the pleasure
1462	1462	1453of the House. [88.] (48.)
1463	1463	1454 Motion to Amend.
1464	1464	1455 72. A motion to amend an amendment is a motion offering an amendment in the second
1465	1465	1456degree and may be received; a motion to amend an amendment in the second degree is a motion 71 of 146
1466	1466	1457offering an amendment in the third degree and shall not be allowed. This rule shall not be
1467	1467	1458suspended unless by unanimous consent of the members present. [89.]
1468	1468	1459 [Amended Jan. 12, 1983; Feb. 1, 2023.]
1469	1469	1460 73. No motion or proposition on a subject different from that under consideration shall be
1470	1470	1461admitted under color of amendment. This rule shall not be suspended unless by unanimous
1471	1471	1462consent of the members present. [90.] (50.)
1472	1472	1463 [Amended Jan. 12, 1987.]
1473	1473	1464 73A. No motion to amend a report from the committee on Ways and Means or a report from
1474	1474	1465the committee on Bills in the Third Reading, when such an amendment contains an expenditure
1475	1475	1466of public money or an increase or decrease in taxes, shall be considered unless a brief
1476	1476	1467explanation of the amendment is stated.
1477	1477	1468 [Adopted Jan. 17, 1995; Amended Jan. 26, 1999.]
1478	1478	1469 74. A question containing two or more propositions capable of division shall be divided
1479	1479	1470whenever desired by any member, if the question includes points so distinct and separate that,
1480	1480	1471one of them being taken away, the other will stand as a complete proposition. The motion to
1481	1481	1472strike out and insert shall be considered as one proposition and therefore indivisible. The
1482	1482	1473question on ordering a bill or resolve to a third reading, or to be engrossed, or to be enacted, or
1483	1483	1474similar main motions shall be considered as indivisible under this rule. This rule shall not be
1484	1484	1475suspended unless by unanimous consent of the members present. [91.] (45.)
1485	1485	1476 [Amended Jan. 12, 1983.] 72 of 146
1486	1486	1477 75. In filling blanks, the largest sum and longest time shall be put first. [92.] (51.) [See Rule
1487	1487	147870.]
1488	1488	1479 Declaration of Recess.
1489	1489	1480 76. The Speaker may declare a recess of 15 minutes duration, or less.
1490	1490	1481 [Amended Jan. 9, 1991; Jan. 29, 2015.]
1491	1491	1482 Appeal.
1492	1492	1483 77. No appeal from the decision of the Speaker shall be entertained unless it is seconded; and
1493	1493	1484no other business shall be in order until the question on the appeal has been disposed of. Debate
1494	1494	1485shall be limited to 15 minutes on the question of sustaining a ruling by the Chair, and no member
1495	1495	1486shall occupy more than three minutes. [94.] (43A.) [See Rule 2.]
1496	1496	1487 [Amended Jan. 9, 1989; Jan. 29, 2015.]
1497	1497	1488 Resolves.
1498	1498	1489 78. Such of these rules as are applicable to bills, whether of the House or of the Senate, shall
1499	1499	1490apply likewise to such resolves as require the concurrence of the Senate and approval by the
1500	1500	1491Governor in order to become law and have force as such. [95.]
1501	1501	1492 Seats.
1502	1502	1493 79. (1) The desk on the right of the Speaker shall be assigned to the use of the Clerk and such
1503	1503	1494persons as they may employ to assist said Clerk, and that on the left to the use of the chair and
1504	1504	1495vice-chair of the committee on Bills in the Third Reading. 73 of 146
1505	1505	1496 (2) The Speaker shall assign members to vacant seats. The seat assigned to any member, other
1506	1506	1497than seats assigned under paragraph (1) of this rule, shall be their seat for the year and for such
1507	1507	1498additional years as said member may elect so long as service in the House remains continuous.
1508	1508	1499An exchange of seats may be made with the approval of the Speaker. [98.]
1509	1509	1500 [Amended Jan. 11, 1985; May 5, 1993; Jan. 30, 2019.]
1510	1510	1501 Privilege of the Floor.
1511	1511	1502 80. The following persons shall be entitled to admission to the House of Representatives,
1512	1512	1503during the session thereof, to stand in an area designated by the Speaker in the rear of the
1513	1513	1504Chamber, unless otherwise invited by said Speaker to occupy seats not numbered:
1514	1514	1505 (1) The Governor and the Lieutenant-Governor, members of the Executive Council, Secretary
1515	1515	1506of the Commonwealth, Treasurer and Receiver-General, Auditor of the Commonwealth,
1516	1516	1507Attorney-General, Librarian and Assistant Librarian;
1517	1517	1508 (2) The members of the Senate;
1518	1518	1509 (3) Authorized employees of the House and persons in the exercise of an official duty directly
1519	1519	1510connected with the business of the House; or
1520	1520	1511 (4) Contestants for seats in the House, whose papers are in the hands of a special committee
1521	1521	1512of the House, may be admitted, while their cases are pending, to seats to be assigned by the
1522	1522	1513Speaker.
1523	1523	1514 No other person shall be admitted to the floor during the session, except upon the permission
1524	1524	1515of the Speaker. 74 of 146
1525	1525	1516 No legislative agent or counsel may be admitted to the floor of the House Chamber during a
1526	1526	1517session unless that part of the session is ceremonial in nature in which no other legislative
1527	1527	1518business is conducted.
1528	1528	1519 The legislative reporters shall be entitled to the privileges of the reporters’ galleries.
1529	1529	1520 This rule shall not be suspended unless by unanimous consent of the members present. [99.]
1530	1530	1521(60, 61.)
1531	1531	1522 [Amended Jan. 9, 1991, Jan. 23, 2007; Jan. 30, 2019.]
1532	1532	1523 Representatives’ Chamber and Adjoining Rooms.
1533	1533	1524 81. (a) Use of the Representatives’ Chamber members’ corridor or adjoining rooms shall be
1534	1534	1525for official business or educational purposes only and shall be subject to the approval of the
1535	1535	1526Speaker or the committee on Rules. The provisions of this paragraph shall not apply if the
1536	1536	1527purpose of admittance is to attend a meeting in an adjoining room to which members of the
1537	1537	1528general public are allowed to attend.
1538	1538	1529 (b) No legislative agent or counsel shall be admitted to the members’ corridor or adjoining
1539	1539	1530rooms. No other person shall be admitted to the members’ corridor or adjoining rooms, except
1540	1540	1531persons entitled to the privileges of the floor of the House unless upon written invitation of a
1541	1541	1532member bearing the name of the member and the person the member invites. Upon entering, the
1542	1542	1533invitation shall be given to the court officer assigned to the area. The provisions of this paragraph
1543	1543	1534shall not apply if the purpose of admittance is to attend a meeting in an adjoining room to which
1544	1544	1535members of the general public are allowed to attend. 75 of 146
1545	1545	1536 (c) No person shall be admitted to the north gallery of the House except upon a card of the
1546	1546	1537Speaker.
1547	1547	1538 (d) Subject to the approval and direction of the committee on Rules during the session and of
1548	1548	1539the Speaker after prorogation, the use of the reporters’ galleries of the House Chamber shall be
1549	1549	1540under the control of the organization of legislative reporters known as the Massachusetts State
1550	1550	1541House Press Association and the State House Broadcasters Association.
1551	1551	1542 (e) Every legislative reporter desiring admission to the reporters’ galleries shall state in
1552	1552	1543writing that they are not the agent or representative of any person or corporation interested in
1553	1553	1544legislation before the General Court, and will not act as representative of any such person or
1554	1554	1545corporation while retaining a place in the galleries; but nothing herein contained shall prevent
1555	1555	1546such legislative reporter from engaging in other employment, provided such other employment is
1556	1556	1547specifically approved by the committee on Rules and reported to the House.
1557	1557	1548 (f) All formal and informal sessions of the House of Representatives shall be open to both
1558	1558	1549commercial and public radio and television, except designated times during such sessions, as
1559	1559	1550determined by the House, reserved for the consideration of non-controversial business which
1560	1560	1551does not give rise to debate. The manner and conditions of such broadcasts shall be established
1561	1561	1552by the Speaker. Television, radio or web-broadcasts may be prohibited on any given day by the
1562	1562	1553Speaker.
1563	1563	1554 All formal and informal sessions shall be broadcast live on House television and livestreamed
1564	1564	1555on the General Court website. Audio or video recordings of prior formal and informal sessions
1565	1565	1556for the current biennial session shall be made available to the public on the official website of the
1566	1566	1557General Court. 76 of 146
1567	1567	1558 The Speaker may arrange for a limited number of remote connections at a location outside of
1568	1568	1559the House Chamber for commercial and public radio and television to obtain audio and visual
1569	1569	1560feeds of formal sessions being recorded or streamed by the House. Video or audio obtained from
1570	1570	1561such feed shall be used only for reporting purposes. Access to the connections provided shall be
1571	1571	1562on a first-come-first serve basis; provided, however, that commercial and public radio and
1572	1572	1563television acquiring access shall be required to share the audio or video feeds with other any
1573	1573	1564other commercial and public radio and television station seeking access. The manner and
1574	1574	1565conditions of access shall be established by the Speaker with the approval of the House. Access
1575	1575	1566may be prohibited by the Speaker with the approval of the House.
1576	1576	1567 Clauses (a) through (e) of this rule shall not be suspended unless by unanimous consent of the
1577	1577	1568members present. [100.] (59.)
1578	1578	1569 [Amended April 18, 1979; Jan. 12, 1983; Jan. 12, 1987; Jan. 9, 1991; Jan. 26, 1999, Jan. 23,
1579	1579	15702007; Jan. 30, 2019; Jul. 7, 2021.]
1580	1580	1571 Quorum.
1581	1581	1572 82. Eighty-one members present shall constitute a quorum for the organization of the House
1582	1582	1573and the transaction of business. [See amendments to the Constitution, Art. XXXIII.]
1583	1583	1574 In the event that a quorum is not present, the presiding officer shall compel the attendance of
1584	1584	1575a quorum. During the absence of a quorum, no other business may be transacted or motions
1585	1585	1576entertained except a declaration of adjournment or a recess by the Speaker. [105.]
1586	1586	1577 [Amended Jan. 12, 1981; Jan. 14, 1997.]
1587	1587	1578 Debate on Motions for Suspension of Rules. 77 of 146
1588	1588	1579 83. The question of suspension of House Rules 45, 47, 56, 61, 64, 66, 67, 68, 69, 77 and 83
1589	1589	1580shall be decided without debate. Debate upon the motion for the suspension of any other House
1590	1590	1581rule, unless otherwise indicated, or any joint rule shall be limited to fifteen minutes and no
1591	1591	1582member shall occupy more than three minutes. This rule shall not be suspended unless by
1592	1592	1583unanimous consent of the members present. [102.] (52.)
1593	1593	1584 [Amended Jan. 12, 1981; Jan. 9, 1989.]
1594	1594	1585 84. Unless otherwise indicated, nothing in the House rules or joint rules shall be suspended,
1595	1595	1586altered or repealed unless two-thirds of the members present and voting consent thereto. This
1596	1596	1587rule shall not be suspended unless by unanimous consent of the members present. [103.] (63.)
1597	1597	1588 [Amended Jan. 12, 1981.]
1598	1598	1589 84A. The Clerk may, due to technical limitations or upon exigent circumstances, elect to
1599	1599	1590waive any requirement relative to the electronic availability and posting on the website of the
1600	1600	1591General Court of any bills, resolves, summaries or other documents contained herein; provided,
1601	1601	1592however, that if the Clerk so waives any such requirement he shall make paper copies of the
1602	1602	1593documents available to all members and the public within the limitation established for the
1603	1603	1594electronic availability and posting on the website of the General Court of any bills, resolves,
1604	1604	1595summaries or other documents contained herein.
1605	1605	1596 [Adopted Feb. 11, 2009.]
1606	1606	1597 Reference to Committee on Rules.
1607	1607	1598 85. All motions or orders authorizing committees of the House to travel or to employ
1608	1608	1599stenographers, all propositions involving special investigations by committees of the House, all 78 of 146
1609	1609	1600resolutions presented for adoption by the House only, and all motions and orders except those
1610	1610	1601which relate to the procedure of the House or are privileged in their nature or are authorized by
1611	1611	1602Rule 65, shall be referred without debate to the committee on Rules, which shall report thereon,
1612	1612	1603recommending what action should be taken. The committee shall not recommend suspension of
1613	1613	1604Joint Rule 9, unless evidence satisfactory to the committee is produced that the petitioners have
1614	1614	1605previously given notice, by public advertisement or otherwise, equivalent to that required by
1615	1615	1606Chapter 3 of the General Laws. [104.] (13A.)
1616	1616	1607 [Amended Jan. 29, 2015; Feb. 1, 2023.]
1617	1617	1608 85A. (a) The committee on Operations, Facilities and Security, upon receipt of the
1618	1618	1609recommendation of the state auditor pursuant to subsection (b), shall provide that an outside,
1619	1619	1610independent financial audit of House financial accounts be conducted for each fiscal year upon
1620	1620	1611receipt of the fiscal year end appropriation activity with balance report from the comptroller of
1621	1621	1612the Commonwealth. The outside, independent financial audit shall be conducted in accordance
1622	1622	1613with the standards for audits of governmental organizations, programs, activities and functions,
1623	1623	1614commonly referred to as the “Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards (GAGAS)”
1624	1624	1615or “Yellow Book,” published by the Comptroller General of the United States. The committee on
1625	1625	1616Operations, Facilities and Security, with the assistance of the House Business Manager, shall
1626	1626	1617provide the independent auditor with requested financial documents for such financial audit. A
1627	1627	1618copy of the completed outside, independent financial audit shall be filed with the Clerk of the
1628	1628	1619House and the state auditor and shall be posted on the website of the General Court.
1629	1629	1620 (b) The committee on Operations, Facilities and Security shall annually request that the state
1630	1630	1621auditor recommend a private, independent auditing firm to conduct the independent financial 79 of 146
1631	1631	1622audit of House financial accounts required by subsection (a). The state auditor shall, within 30
1632	1632	1623days of the committee’s request, recommend to the committee a private, independent auditing
1633	1633	1624firm from the list of private, independent auditing firms on the appropriate statewide
1634	1634	1625procurement contract established by the operational services division. The committee shall direct
1635	1635	1626the House Business Manager to execute a contract with the private, independent auditing firm
1636	1636	1627recommended by the state auditor pursuant to a statewide procurement contract established by
1637	1637	1628the operational services division. If the state auditor fails to recommend a private, independent
1638	1638	1629auditing firm to serve as the independent auditor of House financial accounts within 30 days of
1639	1639	1630receiving a request from the committee, then the committee shall direct the House Business
1640	1640	1631Manager to retain a private, independent auditing firm from the appropriate statewide
1641	1641	1632procurement contract established by the operational services division.
1642	1642	1633 (c) The provisions of this rule shall apply to fiscal years beginning on July 1, 2025.
1643	1643	1634 [Adopted Jan. 11, 1985, Amended Jan. 20, 2011; Jan. 30, 2019.]
1644	1644	1635 Parliamentary Practice.
1645	1645	1636 86. The rules of parliamentary practice shall govern the House in all cases to which they are
1646	1646	1637applicable, and in which they are not inconsistent with these rules or the joint rules of the two
1647	1647	1638branches. (62.)
1648	1648	1639 Procurement.
1649	1649	1640 87. (a) All procurements for goods or services shall be completed by the House Business
1650	1650	1641Manager under the oversight of the committee on Operations, Facilities and Security, subject to
1651	1651	1642the provisions of this rule. The committee shall provide the House Business Manager with such 80 of 146
1652	1652	1643guidelines, policies and procedures as the committee deems necessary and appropriate to ensure
1653	1653	1644the effective and efficient procurement of goods and services under this rule.
1654	1654	1645 (b) (1) All procurements for goods or services shall, to the extent practicable, be made
1655	1655	1646pursuant to a statewide procurement contract established by the operational services division.
1656	1656	1647 (2) Before procuring goods or services pursuant to a statewide procurement contract under
1657	1657	1648this subsection in an amount of $10,000 or more, and before completing any joint procurement
1658	1658	1649under Joint Rule 36 on behalf of the House in an amount of $10,000 or more, including a joint
1659	1659	1650procurement not made pursuant to a statewide procurement contract, the House Business
1660	1660	1651Manager shall transmit to all the members of the committee on Operations, Facilities and
1661	1661	1652Security the House Business Manager’s recommendation for awarding the procurement and a
1662	1662	1653written summary identifying all steps taken by the House Business Manager for compliance with
1663	1663	1654this rule, or with Joint Rule 36 as applicable, and any other information the House Business
1664	1664	1655Manager deems necessary. The committee on Operations, Facilities and Security shall review the
1665	1665	1656recommendation and summary to ensure compliance with this rule or Joint Rule 36, as
1666	1666	1657applicable. Upon completion of the review by the committee on Operations, Facilities and
1667	1667	1658Security, if a majority of the committee agrees with the House Business Manager’s
1668	1668	1659recommendation, the committee shall approve the recommendation in writing and the House
1669	1669	1660Business Manager shall procure the goods or services.
1670	1670	1661 (c) (1) Upon written certification submitted to the chair of the committee on Operations,
1671	1671	1662Facilities and Security by the House Business Manager that a necessary procurement under this
1672	1672	1663rule cannot be made using a statewide procurement contract established by the operational 81 of 146
1673	1673	1664services division, the House Business Manager may procure the required goods or services,
1674	1674	1665subject to the provisions of this subsection.
1675	1675	1666 (2) For a procurement of goods or services in an amount of less than $10,000, the House
1676	1676	1667Business Manager shall use sound business practices.
1677	1677	1668 (3) For a procurement of goods or services in an amount of $10,000 or more, but less than
1678	1678	1669$100,000, the House Business Manager shall seek written or oral quotations from no fewer than
1679	1679	16703 persons customarily providing such goods or services. The House Business Manager shall
1680	1680	1671record the names and addresses of all persons from whom quotations were sought, the names and
1681	1681	1672addresses of all persons submitting quotations and the date and amount of each quotation. The
1682	1682	1673House Business Manager shall transmit all quotations received to the committee on Operations,
1683	1683	1674Facilities and Security, along with the House Business Manager’s recommendation as to what
1684	1684	1675quotation offers the needed quality of goods or services at the best value for the House and a
1685	1685	1676written summary identifying all steps taken by the House Business Manager for compliance with
1686	1686	1677this rule and any other information the House Business Manager deems necessary. The
1687	1687	1678committee on Operations, Facilities and Security shall review the quotations, the
1688	1688	1679recommendation and the written summary to ensure compliance with this rule. Upon completion
1689	1689	1680of the review by the committee on Operations, Facilities and Security, if the committee agrees
1690	1690	1681with House Business Manager’s recommendation, the committee shall approve the
1691	1691	1682recommendation in writing and the House Business Manager shall award the contract to the
1692	1692	1683responsible person whose quotation offers the needed quality of goods or services and which
1693	1693	1684represents the best value for the House. 82 of 146
1694	1694	1685 (4) For a procurement of goods or services in an amount exceeding $100,000, the House
1695	1695	1686Business Manager shall seek proposals or quotations through a competitive bid process wherein
1696	1696	1687the House Business Manager shall:
1697	1697	1688 (i) identify bidders capable and willing to provide the House with the best value of goods or
1698	1698	1689services by: (A) posting public notice on the Commonwealth’s electronic procurement system
1699	1699	1690(COMMBUYS) of the House’s request for proposals or quotations, which shall be approved by
1700	1700	1691House Counsel and the committee on Operations, Facilities and Security prior to posting; and
1701	1701	1692(B) whatever other means the House Business Manager deems appropriate;
1702	1702	1693 (ii) record the names of the responding bidders, the date of the response, a description of
1703	1703	1694goods or services and the amount of each quotation;
1704	1704	1695 (iii) have the right, for any reason, and at any time prior to the execution of a contract, and
1705	1705	1696without penalty, to notify bidders of a cancellation of procurement and the rejection of all bids
1706	1706	1697and shall include such right of cancellation on the public posting;
1707	1707	1698 (iv) review each bid to confirm that it satisfies the requirements of the House’s request;
1708	1708	1699 (v) determine, in consultation with the House office requesting the goods or services, which
1709	1709	1700bid satisfying the requirements of the House’s request also offers the needed quality of goods or
1710	1710	1701services and represents the best value to the House;
1711	1711	1702 (vi) transmit to each member of the committee on Operations, Facilities and Security: (A) all
1712	1712	1703bids submitted in response to the House’s request; (B) the House Business Manager’s
1713	1713	1704determination pursuant to clause (v) as to which bid satisfying the requirements of the House’s
1714	1714	1705request also offers the needed quality of goods or services and represents the best value to the 83 of 146
1715	1715	1706House; and (C) a written summary identifying all steps taken by the House Business Manager for
1716	1716	1707compliance with this rule and any other information the House Business Manager deems
1717	1717	1708necessary; and
1718	1718	1709 (vii) obtain the written approval of the committee on Operations, Facilities and Security
1719	1719	1710before any bid is selected and any procurement is made pursuant to this paragraph.
1720	1720	1711 (d) Notwithstanding subsections (a) through (c), all procurements for legal services and legal
1721	1721	1712resources shall be handled exclusively by Counsel in compliance with the provisions of this rule
1722	1722	1713to the extent practicable.
1723	1723	1714 (e) The House Business Manager shall maintain a separate file on each procurement made
1724	1724	1715under this rule and Joint Rule 36 and shall include in such file a copy of all documents
1725	1725	1716constituting the agreement for goods and services and all documents evidencing compliance with
1726	1726	1717this rule, including but not limited to any written approvals by the committee on Operations,
1727	1727	1718Facilities and Security required under this rule.
1728	1728	1719 (f) For each contract not executed using a statewide procurement contract established by the
1729	1729	1720operational services division and in excess of $10,000, the House Business Manager shall make
1730	1730	1721the file maintained pursuant to subsection (e) available for inspection within said office by
1731	1731	1722members of the House for at least 3 years from the date of final payment under the contract;
1732	1732	1723provided, however, that the House Business Manager, in consultation with Counsel, shall redact
1733	1733	1724from said file any information which (i) is legally privileged; (ii) is proprietary; (iii) is related to
1734	1734	1725individual members or House personnel; or (iv) is otherwise protected by state or federal law.
1735	1735	1726 (g) No member, officer or employee of the House shall execute a contract for the procurement
1736	1736	1727of goods or services under this rule without the prior written approval of House Counsel. 84 of 146
1737	1737	1728 (h) On or before the 15th calendar day of each month, the House Business Manager shall
1738	1738	1729transmit to the committee on Operations, Facilities and Security and House Counsel a written
1739	1739	1730report identifying all procurements of goods or services, including procurements made pursuant
1740	1740	1731to Joint Rule 36, made during the previous calendar month, regardless of the amount and
1741	1741	1732whether the procurement was made pursuant to a statewide procurement contract.
1742	1742	1733 (i) Whenever the time required to comply with a requirement of this rule would endanger the
1743	1743	1734health, safety or convenience of the members, staff or visitors to the House of Representatives,
1744	1744	1735the House Business Manager, or House Counsel in the case of a procurement for legal consulting
1745	1745	1736services and legal resources, may make an emergency procurement without satisfying the
1746	1746	1737requirements of subsections (b), (c) and (d); provided, however, that both the House Business
1747	1747	1738Manager, or House Counsel in the case of a procurement for legal consulting services and legal
1748	1748	1739resources, and the chair of the committee on Operations, Facilities and Security certify in
1749	1749	1740writing: (i) that an emergency exists and explain the nature thereof; (ii) that said emergency
1750	1750	1741procurement is limited to only supplies or services necessary to meet the emergency; (iii) that
1751	1751	1742said emergency procurement conforms to the requirements of this rule to the extent practicable
1752	1752	1743under the circumstances; (iv) each contractor’s name, the amount and the type of each contract,
1753	1753	1744the supplies or services provided under each contract, and (v) the basis for determining the need
1754	1754	1745for an emergency procurement. Such certification shall be filed with the Clerk of the House prior
1755	1755	1746to an emergency procurement.
1756	1756	1747[Adopted Jan. 20, 2011, Amended Jan. 23, 2013; Jan. 29, 2015; Feb. 19, 2015; Jan. 30, 2019;
1757	1757	1748Jul. 7, 2021; Feb. 1, 2023.]
1758	1758	1749 Professional Standards and Conduct. 85 of 146
1759	1759	1750 88. (a) As used in Rules 88 to 100, inclusive, the following terms shall, unless the context
1760	1760	1751clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:-
1761	1761	1752 “Authorized party”, a party authorized to receive a complaint of harassment or retaliation
1762	1762	1753pursuant to Rule 93.
1763	1763	1754 “Counsel”, Legal Counsel to the House appointed pursuant to Rule 13B.
1764	1764	1755 “Director”, the Director of Human Resources appointed pursuant to Rule 90.
1765	1765	1756 “Discriminatory harassment”, verbal or physical conduct that:
1766	1766	1757 (1) demeans, stereotypes, or shows hostility or aversion toward an individual or group because
1767	1767	1758of the individual's race, color, religion, national origin, sex, ancestry, sexual orientation, age,
1768	1768	1759disability status, genetic information, gender identity, active military personnel status,
1769	1769	1760transgender status or membership in any other protected class and;
1770	1770	1761 (2) (i) has the purpose or effect of creating an intimidating, hostile, humiliating or offensive
1771	1771	1762working environment;
1772	1772	1763 (ii) has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with a member, officer, intern or
1773	1773	1764employee's work performance or official duties; or
1774	1774	1765 (iii) otherwise adversely affects a member, officer, intern or employee's employment
1775	1775	1766opportunities or ability to fulfill their official duties or conduct business before the House.
1776	1776	1767 “EEO Officer”, the outside, independent Equal Employment Opportunity Officer contracted
1777	1777	1768by the House pursuant to Rule 89. 86 of 146
1778	1778	1769 “Harassment”, discriminatory harassment or sexual harassment engaged in by a member,
1779	1779	1770officer, intern or employee of the House or by a third party.
1780	1780	1771 “Sexual harassment”, sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and verbal or physical
1781	1781	1772conduct of a sexual nature when:
1782	1782	1773 (1) submission to or rejection of such advances, requests or conduct is made either explicitly or
1783	1783	1774implicitly a term or condition of employment or as a basis for employment decisions, or as a
1784	1784	1775term, condition or basis for the support of certain policy objectives, political aspirations or
1785	1785	1776business before the House; or
1786	1786	1777 (2) such advances, requests or conduct have the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering
1787	1787	1778with a member, officer, intern or employee's work performance or official duties by creating an
1788	1788	1779intimidating, hostile, humiliating or sexually offensive work environment.
1789	1789	1780 Under this definition, direct or implied requests for sexual favors in exchange for actual or
1790	1790	1781promised (i) employment benefits such as favorable reviews, salary increases, promotions,
1791	1791	1782increased benefits or continued employment or (ii) support for certain policy objectives, political
1792	1792	1783aspirations or business before the House, shall constitute sexual harassment.
1793	1793	1784 The definition of sexual harassment is broad and may include other sexually oriented conduct,
1794	1794	1785whether or not it is intended to violate this Rule, that is unwelcome and has the effect of creating
1795	1795	1786a workplace environment that is hostile, offensive, intimidating or humiliating to a member,
1796	1796	1787officer, intern or employee of the same or different gender, or those who do not identify as
1797	1797	1788gender binary. 87 of 146
1798	1798	1789 “Supervisor”, a member, officer or employee having direct authority or oversight over one or
1799	1799	1790more employees.
1800	1800	1791 “Third party”, any person visiting the House of Representatives, or conducting official
1801	1801	1792business or work with any member, officer or employee of the House.
1802	1802	1793 (b) The House is committed to providing fair and equal opportunity for employment and
1803	1803	1794advancement to all employees and applicants.
1804	1804	1795 It is the House’s policy and practice to assign, promote and compensate employees on the
1805	1805	1796basis of qualifications, merit, and competence. Employment practices shall not be influenced nor
1806	1806	1797affected by virtue of an applicant's or employee's race, color, religion, national origin, sex,
1807	1807	1798ancestry, sexual orientation, age, disability status, genetic information, gender identity, active
1808	1808	1799military personnel status, transgender status or membership in any other protected class.
1809	1809	1800 This policy governs all aspects of recruiting, hiring, training, on-the-job treatment, promotion,
1810	1810	1801transfer, discharge and all other terms and conditions of employment.
1811	1811	1802 Without limiting the applicability of the foregoing, the House is committed to creating and
1812	1812	1803maintaining a work environment in which all members, officers, interns and employees of the
1813	1813	1804House, and all third parties, are treated with respect and free from any form of harassment,
1814	1814	1805including harassment based on an individual's membership in any protected class. To that end,
1815	1815	1806the House will not tolerate harassment of any kind by any member, officer, intern, employee or
1816	1816	1807third party in the workplace or otherwise in connection with the official duties or employment
1817	1817	1808responsibilities of a member, officer, third party, intern or employee. Any individual who
1818	1818	1809believes that they may have been the object of harassment, or any individual who witnesses 88 of 146
1819	1819	1810something they think may be harassment, is strongly encouraged to report that information to an
1820	1820	1811authorized party.
1821	1821	1812 The House shall promote the safety and respectful treatment of all members, officers, interns
1822	1822	1813and employees of the House, and all third parties, by establishing uniform procedures for making
1823	1823	1814and receiving complaints of harassment and, in coordination with the EEO Officer, initiating,
1824	1824	1815conducting and concluding investigations into complaints of harassment.
1825	1825	1816 A violation of this policy will subject the member, officer, employee or intern to discipline
1826	1826	1817pursuant to Rule 95 and Rule 96.
1827	1827	1818 (c)(1) Discriminatory harassment may include, but is not limited to, the following conduct:
1828	1828	1819 (i) epithets, slurs, insults or negative stereotyping related to the protected classes;
1829	1829	1820 (ii) acts or jokes that are hostile or demeaning with regard to the protected classes;
1830	1830	1821 (iii) threatening, intimidating or hostile acts that relate to the protected classes;
1831	1831	1822 (iv) displays of written or graphic material that demean, ridicule or show hostility toward an
1832	1832	1823individual or group because of membership in a protected class, including material circulated or
1833	1833	1824displayed in the workplace, including District Offices, such as on an employee's desk or
1834	1834	1825workspace, or on House equipment or bulletin boards, including but not limited to House-issued
1835	1835	1826computers, laptops and personal device assistants;
1836	1836	1827 (v) verbal or non-verbal innuendo, and micro-aggressions; and
1837	1837	1828 (vi) other conduct that falls within the definition of discriminatory harassment set forth above.
1838	1838	1829 (2) Sexual harassment includes, but is not limited to, the following conduct: 89 of 146
1839	1839	1830 (i) gender-based bullying, including bullying based on transgender or non-gender binary status;
1840	1840	1831 (ii) attempts to coerce an unwilling person into a sexual relationship;
1841	1841	1832 (iii) repeatedly subjecting a person to unwelcome sexual or romantic attention;
1842	1842	1833 (iv) punishing a person's refusal to comply with a request for sexual conduct; and
1843	1843	1834 (v) conditioning a benefit on submitting to sexual advances.
1844	1844	1835 (3) Conduct that, if unwelcome, and depending upon the totality of the circumstances,
1845	1845	1836including the severity of the conduct and its pervasiveness, may constitute sexual harassment
1846	1846	1837includes, but is not limited to, the following:
1847	1847	1838 (i) unwelcome sexual advances, flirtations or propositions, whether they involve physical
1848	1848	1839touching or not;
1849	1849	1840 (ii) sexual “kidding,” epithets, jokes, written or oral references to sexual conduct;
1850	1850	1841 (iii) gossip regarding one's sex life;
1851	1851	1842 (iv) comment on a person’s body or an individual's sexual activity, deficiencies, or prowess;
1852	1852	1843 (v) displaying sexually suggestive objects, pictures, posters or cartoons;
1853	1853	1844 (vi) unwelcome leering or staring at a person;
1854	1854	1845 (vii) sexual gestures and suggestive or insulting sounds, such as whistling or comments with
1855	1855	1846sexual content or meaning;
1856	1856	1847 (viii) uninvited physical contact, such as touching, hugging, purposely brushing against the
1857	1857	1848body, patting or pinching; 90 of 146
1858	1858	1849 (ix) indecent exposure;
1859	1859	1850 (x) inquiries into one’s sexual experiences;
1860	1860	1851 (xi) discussion of one’s sexual activities;
1861	1861	1852 (xii) sexual emails; and
1862	1862	1853 (xiii) sexting, or sexual messages or images posted on social media, for example, texts, instant
1863	1863	1854messages, Facebook posts, tweets, Snapchat, Instagram or blog entries.
1864	1864	1855 (d) No member, officer or employee of the House shall retaliate, including against a member,
1865	1865	1856officer, intern, or employee of the House who has complained about harassment or participated
1866	1866	1857in an investigation into an allegation of harassment or retaliation. Any person who believes that
1867	1867	1858they may have been the subject of retaliation for having complained of harassment or retaliation,
1868	1868	1859or for having participated in an investigation related to an allegation of harassment or retaliation,
1869	1869	1860is strongly encouraged to report that information to an authorized party.
1870	1870	1861 [Added Mar. 15, 2018; Jan. 30, 2019; Feb. 1, 2023.]
1871	1871	1862 89. (a) The House shall contract with an EEO Officer, who shall not be an employee of the
1872	1872	1863General Court or any other Commonwealth entity or instrumentality. The committee on Human
1873	1873	1864Resources and Employee Engagement shall contract with a qualified person or entity with
1874	1874	1865expertise in conducting investigations to act as the EEO Officer pursuant to the procurement
1875	1875	1866procedures in Rule 87. The contract shall contain such terms as are, in the judgment of the
1876	1876	1867committee, necessary and appropriate to effectuate the goals of this Rule and related provisions
1877	1877	1868of Rules 93 to 100, inclusive. 91 of 146
1878	1878	1869 (b) The EEO Officer shall review and investigate complaints deemed plausible pursuant to
1879	1879	1870Rule 94 alleging a violation of Rule 88, the House Anti-Harassment Policy, or the House Equal
1880	1880	1871Employment Policy, including, but not limited to complaints alleging harassment or retaliation.
1881	1881	1872Complaints shall be received, reviewed and investigated pursuant to Rules 93 to 97, inclusive.
1882	1882	1873 [Adopted Mar. 15, 2018; Amended Jul. 7, 2021.]
1883	1883	1874 90. (a) The House shall employ a full-time Director of Human Resources. The committee on
1884	1884	1875Human Resources and Employee Engagement shall appoint a qualified person to act as the
1885	1885	1876Director at such compensation as the committee on Human Resources and Employee
1886	1886	1877Engagement shall approve.
1887	1887	1878 The Director shall serve a term of two years from the date of appointment, unless the Director
1888	1888	1879sooner resigns, retires or is removed; provided, however, that the Director may only be removed:
1889	1889	1880(i) for misfeasance, malfeasance or nonfeasance, as determined by Counsel and approved by a
1890	1890	1881majority vote of the committee on Human Resources and Employee Engagement ; or (ii) by a
1891	1891	1882majority roll call vote of the House.
1892	1892	1883 (b) The Director may employ such assistants as may be necessary in the discharge of the
1893	1893	1884Director’s duties, subject to the approval of the committee on Human Resources and Employee
1894	1894	1885Engagement, and may expend with like approval such sums as may be necessary for the
1895	1895	1886discharge of their duties.
1896	1896	1887 (c) The Director shall develop and oversee standardized practices and procedures, which shall
1897	1897	1888apply to all applications for employment. The practices and procedures shall include, but shall
1898	1898	1889not be limited to: (i) a standard application for employment; (ii) mandatory background and
1899	1899	1890reference checks, the results of which shall be reported by the Director to the applicant’s 92 of 146
1900	1900	1891prospective appointing authority; and (iii) a standard offer letter for each position within the
1901	1901	1892House.
1902	1902	1893 (d) The Director shall develop and oversee standardized practices and procedures, which shall
1903	1903	1894apply to all employees and appointed officers of the House. These practices and procedures shall
1904	1904	1895include or address, without limitation: (i) regular meetings between the Director and employees
1905	1905	1896who are supervisors, including an initial meeting within 14 days of the employee assuming such
1906	1906	1897a role; (ii) guidelines for conducting employee performance reviews; (iii) a program of
1907	1907	1898progressive discipline; and (iv) separations from employment including exit interviews for
1908	1908	1899terminated employees.
1909	1909	1900 (e) The Director and the Director of Employee Engagement, in consultation with Counsel,
1910	1910	1901shall develop employee classifications, which shall include written job descriptions, salary
1911	1911	1902ranges and schedules. The classifications shall be published in the employee and supervisor
1912	1912	1903handbooks. The Director may develop a seniority system on which employee salaries may be
1913	1913	1904based. A seniority system shall be published in the employee handbook.
1914	1914	1905 (f) The Director, in consultation with the Director of Employee Engagement and Counsel,
1915	1915	1906shall develop practices and procedures for receiving, investigating and resolving personnel
1916	1916	1907complaints unrelated to Rule 88, the House Anti-Harassment Policy, or the House Equal
1917	1917	1908Employment Policy.
1918	1918	1909 (g) The Director, in consultation with the Director of Employee Engagement and subject to
1919	1919	1910the approval of Counsel, shall develop and implement written policies and procedures for
1920	1920	1911receiving and maintaining records of complaints against members, officers, interns or employees
1921	1921	1912of the House, or against third parties, made in accordance with Rules 93 to 98, inclusive. 93 of 146
1922	1922	1913 (h) The Director shall annually publish: (i) an Employee Handbook; and (ii) an Intern
1923	1923	1914Handbook. Each handbook shall be developed with the advice and approval of Counsel, and
1924	1924	1915shall be submitted to the committee on Human Resources and Employee Engagement for review
1925	1925	1916and approval at least 14 days prior to publication.
1926	1926	1917 The handbooks shall be available as follows:
1927	1927	1918 (i) the Director shall post both handbooks on the human resources web portal;
1928	1928	1919 (ii) the Director shall email an electronic copy of the Employee Handbook to each employee
1929	1929	1920within 10 days of its publication and require that each employee sign a written acknowledgement
1930	1930	1921of receipt and return such acknowledgement to the Director within 5 days;
1931	1931	1922 (iii) the Director shall email an electronic copy of the Employee Handbook to each new
1932	1932	1923employee within 5 days of the employee's start date and require that the employee sign a written
1933	1933	1924acknowledgement of receipt and return such acknowledgement to the Director within 5 days;
1934	1934	1925 (iv) the committee on Human Resources and Employee Engagement shall provide an Intern
1935	1935	1926Handbook to each intern on the first day of their internship. Upon receipt of the Intern Handbook
1936	1936	1927the intern shall sign a written acknowledgement of receipt that day, which shall be maintained by
1937	1937	1928the committee, with a copy sent to the Director;
1938	1938	1929 (vi) hard copies of each handbook shall be available in the offices of the Director, the Director
1939	1939	1930of Employee Engagement, Counsel and the Clerk;
1940	1940	1931 (vi) the Director shall cause electronic copies of each handbook to be downloaded onto the
1941	1941	1932desktop of each House computer; and
1942	1942	1933 (vii) in formats accessible to all members, officers and employees. 94 of 146
1943	1943	1934 (i)(1) The committee on Human Resources and Employee Engagement, in consultation with
1944	1944	1935the Director, shall develop policies to address individuals who provide services to the House in a
1945	1945	1936volunteer capacity or otherwise without receiving compensation
1946	1946	1937 (2) The committee on Human Resources and Employee Engagement, in consultation with the
1947	1947	1938Director and subject to the approval of Counsel, shall develop policies to address pro-bono
1948	1948	1939service and charitable and community service activities by members, officers and employees of
1949	1949	1940the House.
1950	1950	1941 [Added Mar. 15. 2018; Amended Jan. 30, 2019; Jul. 7, 2021.]
1951	1951	1942 91. The Director shall, in consultation with the Director of Employee Engagement, create and
1952	1952	1943maintain an internal web portal for members, officers and employees. The web portal shall
1953	1953	1944provide relevant information on human resource policies and procedures, including, without
1954	1954	1945limitation, the Rules of the House, each handbook published by the Director, explanations of
1955	1955	1946complaint and investigation procedures, contact information for the Director, the Director of
1956	1956	1947Employee Engagement, and Counsel, training opportunities and schedules and the directory of
1957	1957	1948committee staff required pursuant to Rule 92.
1958	1958	1949 [Added Mar. 15, 2018; Amended Jul. 7, 2021; Feb. 1, 2023.]
1959	1959	1950 92. (a) The House shall employ a full-time Director of Employee Engagement. The
1960	1960	1951committee on Human Resources and Employee Engagement shall appoint a qualified person to
1961	1961	1952act as the Director of Employee Engagement at such compensation as the committee on Human
1962	1962	1953Resources and Employee Engagement shall approve. 95 of 146
1963	1963	1954 (b) The Director of Employee Engagement shall, in consultation with the Director of Human
1964	1964	1955Resources: (i) develop methods for enhancing the skills and professional development of
1965	1965	1956employees including skills for providing constituent services and engaging with, and ensuring
1966	1966	1957the privacy of, members of the public who visit the State House; (ii) explore and develop
1967	1967	1958partnerships with national trade organizations to maximize the opportunities for professional
1968	1968	1959development available to employees; and (iv) engage employees in roundtable discussions on
1969	1969	1960issues of importance or concern.
1970	1970	1961 (c) The Director of Employee Engagement shall assist the committee on Human Resources
1971	1971	1962and Employee Engagement with duties as may be assigned by the committee or the Director of
1972	1972	1963Human Resources.
1973	1973	1964 (d) The Director of Employee Engagement shall prepare and publish on the house intranet a
1974	1974	1965directory of committee staff.
1975	1975	1966 (e)(1) The Director of Employee Engagement, in conjunction with the committee on Human
1976	1976	1967Resources and Employee Engagement and Counsel, shall provide for training of members.
1977	1977	1968Training shall include, without limitation, instruction on: (i) House equal employment policies,
1978	1978	1969including the complaint and investigation process; (ii) workplace harassment specifically,
1979	1979	1970including techniques for bystander intervention and other best practices; (iii) prohibition on
1980	1980	1971retaliation; (iv) best management practices; (v) professionalism and respect; and (vi) practices for
1981	1981	1972monitoring the workplace for issues and identifying risk factors. Each member shall make a
1982	1982	1973signed, written acknowledgement of the member’s completion of the training, which shall be
1983	1983	1974maintained in the Director’s records. 96 of 146
1984	1984	1975 (2) The Director of Employee Engagement, in conjunction with the committee on Human
1985	1985	1976Resources and Employee Engagement and Counsel, shall provide for annual training for all
1986	1986	1977appointed officers and employees. Training shall include, without limitation, instruction on (i)
1987	1987	1978House equal employment policies, including the complaint and investigation process; (ii)
1988	1988	1979workplace harassment specifically, including techniques for bystander intervention and other
1989	1989	1980best practices; (iii) prohibition on retaliation; and (iv) professionalism and respect.
1990	1990	1981 Separate trainings shall be held for those appointed officers and employees who are
1991	1991	1982supervisors and those appointed officers and employees who are not supervisors. The content of
1992	1992	1983the training shall be tailored appropriately to the recipients. Supervisors shall be specifically
1993	1993	1984trained on best management practices.
1994	1994	1985 Each appointed officer and employee shall make a signed, written acknowledgement of their
1995	1995	1986completion of the training, who shall provide a copy to the Director to be maintained in their
1996	1996	1987personnel file.
1997	1997	1988 (3) The Director of Employee Engagement shall provide for appropriate additional training to
1998	1998	1989members, officers or employees at any time that the Director of Employee Engagement deems
1999	1999	1990necessary or appropriate, including upon the request of a member, officer or employee.
2000	2000	1991 (4) The Director of Employee Engagement shall provide for training for interns during the
2001	2001	1992intern orientation process. The training shall include without limitation, instruction on: (i) House
2002	2002	1993equal employment policies, including the complaint and investigation process; (ii) workplace
2003	2003	1994harassment specifically, including techniques for bystander intervention and other best practices;
2004	2004	1995(iii) prohibition on retaliation; and (iv) professionalism and respect. Each intern shall make a 97 of 146
2005	2005	1996signed, written acknowledgement of the intern’s completion of the training, which shall be
2006	2006	1997retained by the Director to be maintained in the Director's records.
2007	2007	1998 [Added Mar. 15, 2018; Amended Jul. 7, 2021.]
2008	2008	1999 93.(a)(1) A member who believes that they have been the object of harassment or retaliation,
2009	2009	2000who witnesses harassment or retaliation, or who becomes aware of harassment or retaliation may
2010	2010	2001make a complaint, either orally or in writing with the Director, the Director of Employee
2011	2011	2002Engagement or Counsel. Upon receipt of a complaint pursuant to this subsection, a recipient
2012	2012	2003other than the Director shall forthwith provide a detailed account of the complaint to the Director
2013	2013	2004for assessment pursuant to Rule 94.
2014	2014	2005 (2) An appointed officer, employee or intern of the House who believes that they have been
2015	2015	2006the object of harassment or retaliation, who witnesses harassment or retaliation, or who becomes
2016	2016	2007aware of harassment or retaliation may make a complaint, either orally or in writing, to any of
2017	2017	2008the officer’s, employee’s or intern’s supervisors, the Director, the Director of Employee
2018	2018	2009Engagement or Counsel. Upon receipt of a complaint pursuant to this subsection, a recipient
2019	2019	2010other than the Director shall forthwith provide a detailed account of the complaint to the Director
2020	2020	2011for assessment pursuant to Rule 94.
2021	2021	2012 (3) A third party who believes that they have been the object of harassment, or who witnesses
2022	2022	2013harassment or retaliation may make a complaint, either orally or in writing, with the Director.
2023	2023	2014Upon receipt of a complaint pursuant to this subsection, the Director shall assess the complaint
2024	2024	2015pursuant to Rule 94.
2025	2025	2016 (b) The Director, in consultation with the Director of Employee Engagement and subject to
2026	2026	2017the approval of Counsel, shall provide guidance for authorized parties who may receive 98 of 146
2027	2027	2018complaints under subsection (a), both in the form of the training referenced in Rule 92 and
2028	2028	2019otherwise. The guidance shall instruct authorized parties on the proper way to receive complaints
2029	2029	2020and to advise complainants on issues including, but not limited to, confidentiality, prohibition on
2030	2030	2021retaliation and the availability of additional resources and avenues for action for the complainant,
2031	2031	2022including possible criminal action where appropriate.
2032	2032	2023 (c) If a complaint made pursuant to subsection (a) is against the Director or EEO Officer, the
2033	2033	2024recipient of the complaint shall notify Counsel, rather than the Director, and Counsel shall then:
2034	2034	2025(i) refer the matter to the EEO Officer for investigation if the complaint is against the Director;
2035	2035	2026or (2) investigate the complaint pursuant to Rules 94 to 96, inclusive, if the complaint is against
2036	2036	2027the EEO Officer.
2037	2037	2028 (d) If, based on the nature and circumstances of the complaint, the EEO Officer believes that
2038	2038	2029they cannot objectively assess or investigate a complaint referred to them pursuant to Rule 94,
2039	2039	2030the EEO Officer shall immediately notify Counsel, who shall refer the complaint to outside
2040	2040	2031counsel for investigation. Counsel shall provide the EEO Officer with guidelines used to identify
2041	2041	2032matters that should be referred to Counsel or outside counsel pursuant to this subsection.
2042	2042	2033 [Added Mar. 15, 2018; Amended Jan. 30, 2019.]
2043	2043	2034 94. (a)(1) All complaints alleging harassment or retaliation by or against a member, officer,
2044	2044	2035intern or employee of the House, or by or against a third party, received by any member, officer
2045	2045	2036or employee of the House, shall be immediately referred to the Director for initial assessment.
2046	2046	2037 (2) Upon receiving a complaint alleging harassment or retaliation by or against a member,
2047	2047	2038officer, intern or employee of the House, or by or against a third party, the Director shall
2048	2048	2039promptly undertake an initial assessment to determine whether the complaint is plausible and 99 of 146
2049	2049	2040requires investigation. Such assessment shall be completed within two weeks from the date of
2050	2050	2041receiving a complaint.
2051	2051	2042 Upon a determination by the Director that a complaint is plausible and requires investigation,
2052	2052	2043the Director shall notify Counsel that a complaint is being referred to the EEO Officer and shall
2053	2053	2044then submit the complaint along with the Director’s initial assessment to the EEO Officer so that
2054	2054	2045the EEO Officer may commence an investigation of the complaint.
2055	2055	2046 (3) Upon a determination by the Director that a complaint is not plausible and does not
2056	2056	2047require investigation, the Director shall submit a report to Counsel describing the complaint and
2057	2057	2048the Director’s basis for determining that the complaint lacked plausibility and did not require
2058	2058	2049investigation. If Counsel objects to the Director’s determination, the Director shall then submit
2059	2059	2050the complaint to the EEO Officer so that the EEO Officer may commence an investigation of the
2060	2060	2051complaint.
2061	2061	2052 (4) Upon receiving a complaint submitted pursuant to (2), the EEO Officer shall confirm the
2062	2062	2053Director’s assessment that the Complaint is plausible. If the EEO Officer confirms that the
2063	2063	2054complaint is plausible, the EEO Officer will then commence an investigation. If the EEO Officer
2064	2064	2055assesses that the Complaint is not plausible, notwithstanding the Director’s initial assessment,
2065	2065	2056then the EEO Officer shall so notify Counsel. Counsel shall then review the complaint and the
2066	2066	2057basis for both the Director’s initial assessment and the EEO Officer’s contrary assessment and
2067	2067	2058shall determine whether or not the EEO Officer shall proceed with an investigation.
2068	2068	2059 (b) The EEO Officer shall conduct investigations pursuant to written policies and procedures,
2069	2069	2060which shall be established by the EEO Officer pursuant to Rule 98, as well as established best
2070	2070	2061practices. The policies and procedures shall ensure that all investigations and reports are 100 of 146
2071	2071	2062confidential to the fullest extent practicable under the circumstances and shall reflect well-
2072	2072	2063established industry best practices for EEO-related investigations.
2073	2073	2064 (c) The EEO Officer shall complete investigations within 90 days; provided, that the EEO
2074	2074	2065Officer may extend the investigation in extraordinary circumstances. The EEO Officer shall
2075	2075	2066regularly, but no less frequently than every 2 weeks, update the complainant on the status of the
2076	2076	2067investigation. If the EEO Officer believes that interim measures are warranted to protect
2077	2077	2068complainants during the investigation, then the EEO shall recommend such measures to Counsel,
2078	2078	2069who shall work with the appropriate supervisory individual or body to implement such interim
2079	2079	2070measures as necessary and appropriate.
2080	2080	2071 (d) Upon the conclusion of an investigation, the EEO Officer shall prepare a report
2081	2081	2072summarizing the complaint, the EEO Officer’s investigation, findings and recommendations, if
2082	2082	2073any, for disciplinary, remedial or preventative action, or any combination thereof. The EEO
2083	2083	2074Officer shall submit this report to Counsel, who shall share the conclusions of the report with the
2084	2084	2075appropriate supervisory individual or body as necessary and appropriate, and in such a manner to
2085	2085	2076maintain confidentiality regarding the information in the report to the greatest extent practicable.
2086	2086	2077 [Added Mar. 15, 2018.]
2087	2087	2078 95. (a) (1) If after completion of an investigation pursuant to Rule 94, the EEO Officer
2088	2088	2079determines that a member has violated Rule 88, the EEO Officer shall recommend disciplinary,
2089	2089	2080remedial or preventative action, or any combination thereof, as is appropriate and proportional
2090	2090	2081under the circumstances, subject to the limitations set forth in paragraphs (2) and (3).
2091	2091	2082 (2) Where the EEO Officer’s action recommended pursuant to paragraph (1) does not include
2092	2092	2083reprimand, censure, removal from position as a chair or other position of authority, or expulsion, 101 of 146
2093	2093	2084the EEO Officer shall notify Counsel and the member of the recommended action and provide
2094	2094	2085the member with a copy of the EEO Officer’s report. The member may, within 10 days of
2095	2095	2086receiving notice, request in writing that the Speaker and Minority Leader appoint a special
2096	2096	2087committee pursuant to Rule 96 to review the findings and recommendations of the EEO Officer.
2097	2097	2088 Upon receipt of said request, the Speaker and Minority Leader shall convene a special
2098	2098	2089committee pursuant to Rule 96.
2099	2099	2090 If the member fails to request the appointment of a special committee pursuant to Rule 96
2100	2100	2091within 10 days, then Counsel shall determine the parties who must be informed to implement the
2101	2101	2092recommended action, including but not limited to the Speaker or the Minority Leader, and those
2102	2102	2093parties shall implement the recommended action.
2103	2103	2094 (3) If the action recommended pursuant to subsection (a) includes reprimand, censure,
2104	2104	2095removal from position as a chair or other position of authority, or expulsion, the EEO Officer
2105	2105	2096shall submit, through Counsel, a request that the Speaker and Minority Leader convene a special
2106	2106	2097committee pursuant to Rule 96 to review the findings and recommendations of the EEO Officer.
2107	2107	2098Upon receipt of said request from the EEO Officer, the Speaker and Minority Leader shall
2108	2108	2099appoint a special committee pursuant to Rule 96.
2109	2109	2100 (4) Upon the request for a special committee made by the EEO Officer or a member pursuant
2110	2110	2101to this subsection, the EEO Officer shall provide the Speaker and Minority Leader with a copy of
2111	2111	2102the EEO Officer’s report.
2112	2112	2103 (b) (1) If after completion of an investigation pursuant to Rule 94 the EEO Officer concludes
2113	2113	2104that an appointed officer, intern or employee has violated Rule 88, the EEO Officer shall notify
2114	2114	2105Counsel, who shall then notify the appointing authority for the appointed officer, intern or 102 of 146
2115	2115	2106employee and recommend the implementation of remedial, preventative or disciplinary action, or
2116	2116	2107any combination thereof, as is appropriate and proportional under the circumstances, subject to
2117	2117	2108the limitations set forth in paragraph (2). Notwithstanding Rule 97, the appointing authority may
2118	2118	2109inform any other supervisors of the appointed officer, intern or employee of the remedial,
2119	2119	2110preventative or disciplinary action if the appointing authority believes that sharing such
2120	2120	2111information is necessary for maintaining proper supervision of the appointed officer, intern or
2121	2121	2112employee.
2122	2122	2113 (2) If after completion of an investigation pursuant to Rule 94 the EEO Officer concludes
2123	2123	2114that an appointed officer, intern or employee has violated Rule 88 and the EEO Officer’s action
2124	2124	2115recommended pursuant to paragraph (1) includes termination of employment or internship, the
2125	2125	2116EEO Officer shall forward the recommendation along with the report, with all supporting
2126	2126	2117documentation, to Counsel for review and approval. Counsel shall have two business days to
2127	2127	2118review the EEO Officer’s recommendation. If Counsel approves the recommendation, Counsel
2128	2128	2119shall forward the recommendation and report to the chair of the committee on Human Resources
2129	2129	2120and Employee Engagement for approval. If the chair approves, Counsel shall then notify the
2130	2130	2121Speaker, the appointing authority, and the Director, and the Director shall immediately terminate
2131	2131	2122the individual’s employment or internship. If Counsel rejects the EEO Officer’s
2132	2132	2123recommendation, or if the chair does not approve the recommendation after Counsel has
2133	2133	2124approved, then Counsel shall notify the Speaker and the Speaker shall determine the action to be
2134	2134	2125implemented.
2135	2135	2126 [Added Mar. 15, 2018.] 103 of 146
2136	2136	2127 96. (a) Upon receipt of a request pursuant to Rule 95, the Speaker and Minority Leader shall
2137	2137	2128confidentially convene a Special Committee on Professional Conduct, which shall consist of 7
2138	2138	2129members, 5 of whom shall be appointed by the Speaker and 2 of whom shall be appointed by the
2139	2139	2130Minority Leader. To the extent practicable, membership on the special committee shall be
2140	2140	2131apportioned in a way that takes into account the nature of the complaint and the commitment of
2141	2141	2132the House to providing fair and equal opportunity in employment. The Speaker shall appoint a
2142	2142	2133member to serve as chair. No member who has declared their candidacy for any other local, state
2143	2143	2134or federal office shall be appointed to a special committee. Upon appointment of members to the
2144	2144	2135committee, the Speaker and Minority Leader shall notify Counsel, the EEO Officer, and the
2145	2145	2136member who is the subject of the complaint of the identity of the members appointed. The
2146	2146	2137existence of the committee and the identity of the members appointed to the committee shall
2147	2147	2138otherwise remain confidential.
2148	2148	2139 (b) The EEO Officer shall provide the members of the special committee with all records
2149	2149	2140relevant to the investigation. The special committee shall review all records provided to them
2150	2150	2141and may further investigate, to the extent that it is necessary to resolve the complaint. The special
2151	2151	2142committee may summon witnesses, administer oaths, take testimony and compel the production
2152	2152	2143of books, papers, documents and other evidence in connection with its review.
2153	2153	2144 (c) In the case of a special committee convened under this section upon the request for a
2154	2154	2145review by a member pursuant to paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of Rule 95, the committee shall
2155	2155	2146determine whether the EEO Officer’s intended action is proportional and appropriate under the
2156	2156	2147circumstances. If a majority of the committee so finds, it shall order that the action recommended
2157	2157	2148by the EEO Officer be implemented, along with any additional disciplinary, remedial or
2158	2158	2149preventative action, or any combination thereof, the committee determines to be proportional and 104 of 146
2159	2159	2150appropriate under the circumstances, subject to the limitations set forth in subsection (d). If a
2160	2160	2151majority of the committee finds that the intended action was not proportional or appropriate
2161	2161	2152under the circumstances, it may make a new recommendation for disciplinary, remedial or
2162	2162	2153preventative action, or any combination thereof, subject to the limitations set forth in said
2163	2163	2154subsection (d). All determinations of the committee pursuant to this subsection shall be final.
2164	2164	2155 (d) (1) If a majority of the committee finds that a member has violated Rule 88, it may take
2165	2165	2156any disciplinary, remedial or preventative action, or any combination thereof, as it determines to
2166	2166	2157be proportional and appropriate under the circumstances; provided, however, that if the
2167	2167	2158committee determines that reprimand, censure, removal from position as a chair or other position
2168	2168	2159of authority, or expulsion is proportional and appropriate under the circumstances, it shall file a
2169	2169	2160report with the Clerk recommending that the House vote to implement the disciplinary action.
2170	2170	2161 (2) Upon the filing of a report pursuant to paragraph (1), the Clerk shall promptly: (i) make
2171	2171	2162the report available to all members electronically; (ii) cause the report to be posted on the
2172	2172	2163website of the General Court; and (iii) place the matter in first position in the Orders of the Day
2173	2173	2164for the next calendar day that the House is meeting; provided, however, that no business shall be
2174	2174	2165conducted on that calendar day or any day thereafter until the question of acceptance or rejection
2175	2175	2166of the special committee’s recommendation for discipline is decided by a majority of the
2176	2176	2167members present and voting by a recorded roll call vote. If a majority of the members vote to
2177	2177	2168accept the recommendation for discipline, the member shall be disciplined in the manner so
2178	2178	2169recommended. Unless a majority of the members vote to accept the report, the member shall not
2179	2179	2170be disciplined. 105 of 146
2180	2180	2171 (3) All findings and determinations of the committee, including instances where the special
2181	2181	2172committee does not file a report with the Clerk pursuant to paragraph (1), shall be reported to
2182	2182	2173Counsel and the EEO Officer and shall be final. The EEO Officer shall maintain confidential
2183	2183	2174records of such findings and determinations, except that a report filed pursuant to paragraph (1)
2184	2184	2175shall be public.
2185	2185	2176 (e) The committee may consult with Counsel, the EEO Officer or the Director in discharging
2186	2186	2177its duties pursuant to Rules 88 to 97, inclusive.
2187	2187	2178 [Added Mar. 15, 2018; Amended Jan. 30, 2019.]
2188	2188	2179 97. (a) Any information obtained by a member or employee in their official capacity and
2189	2189	2180relating to a complaint or investigation of harassment pursuant to Rules 93 to 96, inclusive, and
2190	2190	2181any records of such information shall be confidential to the fullest extent possible.
2191	2191	2182Confidentiality shall be specifically subject to subsections (b), (c), (d) and (e); provided that
2192	2192	2183nothing in this Rule shall prevent the EEO Officer or Counsel from sharing information
2193	2193	2184regarding a complaint or investigation, including but not limited to the report prepared by the
2194	2194	2185EEO Officer, to effectuate the requirements of Rules 88 through 97, inclusive.
2195	2195	2186 (b) The EEO Officer, in reviewing a complaint and conducting an investigation, shall keep
2196	2196	2187the complaint confidential and shall not disclose the identity of the complainant or the person
2197	2197	2188against whom the complaint is made or any other details of the complaint with any member or
2198	2198	2189employee; provided, however, that the EEO Officer may share information to the extent
2199	2199	2190necessary to interview witnesses or parties to the investigation, or to consult with Counsel if the
2200	2200	2191EEO Officer determines that such consultation is necessary or appropriate in connection with the
2201	2201	2192investigation. 106 of 146
2202	2202	2193 (c) (1) The establishment of a special committee pursuant to Rule 96 shall be completely
2203	2203	2194confidential, except as set forth in Rule 96.
2204	2204	2195 (2) All proceedings of a special committee convened pursuant to Rule 96 shall be confidential
2205	2205	2196and members of the committee shall not share any information about the complaint and
2206	2206	2197investigation for which the committee was convened with any other member or employee,
2207	2207	2198including their own appointed staff; provided, however, that the committee may consult with
2208	2208	2199Counsel or the EEO Officer if the chair of the committee determines that such consultation is
2209	2209	2200required in connection with the investigation.
2210	2210	2201 (3) A special committee convened pursuant to Rule 96 shall implement all actions short of
2211	2211	2202reprimand, censure, removal from position as a chair or other position of authority, or expulsion
2212	2212	2203of a member confidentially, except that the special committee shall submit a final report to
2213	2213	2204Counsel and the EEO Officer and may consult with Counsel if the chair of the committee
2214	2214	2205determines that such consultation is required in connection with their recommended action. The
2215	2215	2206committee's recommendation, if any, for reprimand, censure, removal from position as a chair or
2216	2216	2207other position of authority, or expulsion of a member, shall be a public document; provided,
2217	2217	2208however, that the committee may use pseudonyms to conceal the identity of the complainant if
2218	2218	2209the circumstances of the complaint so warrant.
2219	2219	2210 (d) All authorized parties shall keep complaints confidential, except to share the complaint
2220	2220	2211with the Director, Counsel and the EEO Officer as set forth in these Rules.
2221	2221	2212 (e) Nothing in this Rule shall limit the ability of the EEO Officer to share information with a
2222	2222	2213complainant, to the extent appropriate, in order to properly conclude the complaint or
2223	2223	2214investigation process. 107 of 146
2224	2224	2215 [Added Mar. 15, 2018; Amended Jan. 30, 2019.]
2225	2225	2216 98. The EEO Officer and the Director shall establish all policies, procedures and guidelines
2226	2226	2217required by Rules 88 to 97, inclusive, and may develop supplemental policies, procedures and
2227	2227	2218guidelines necessary to implement or enforce Rules 88 to 97, inclusive; provided, that no policy,
2228	2228	2219procedure or guideline shall take effect without the prior review and written approval of Counsel
2229	2229	2220and the committee on Human Resources and Employee Engagement. Where appropriate, these
2230	2230	2221policies, procedures and guidelines shall be included in the handbooks.
2231	2231	2222 The EEO Officer and the Director may consult with each other, Counsel, and the committee
2232	2232	2223on Human Resources and Employee Engagement to carry out the requirements of Rules 88 to 97,
2233	2233	2224inclusive.
2234	2234	2225 [Added Mar. 15, 2018; Amended Jul. 7, 2021.]
2235	2235	2226 99. [Added March 15, 2018; Amended Jul. 7, 2021; Omitted.]
2236	2236	2227 100. (a) No member, officer, intern or employee shall execute any agreement to settle any
2237	2237	2228legal claim or potential legal claim by any current or former member, officer, intern or employee
2238	2238	2229unless said agreement is executed pursuant to this rule.
2239	2239	2230 (b) No member, officer, intern or employee shall execute any agreement to settle any legal
2240	2240	2231claim or potential legal claim brought by any current or former member, officer, intern or
2241	2241	2232employee without the approval of Counsel. Counsel shall independently review the claim or
2242	2242	2233potential legal claim brought by any current or former member, officer, intern or employee and
2243	2243	2234confirm that the claim or potential claim does not relate to sexual harassment or retaliation based
2244	2244	2235on a claim of sexual harassment. Counsel shall not approve any settlement of a legal claim or 108 of 146
2245	2245	2236potential legal claim brought by any current or former member, officer, intern or employee
2246	2246	2237pursuant to this subsection if Counsel reasonably believes such legal claim or potential legal
2247	2247	2238claim relates to sexual harassment or retaliation based on a claim of sexual harassment.
2248	2248	2239 (c) No member, officer, intern or employee shall execute any agreement to settle any legal
2249	2249	2240claim or potential legal claim of sexual harassment, or retaliation based on a legal claim or
2250	2250	2241potential legal claim of sexual harassment, by any current or former member, officer, intern or
2251	2251	2242employee unless said agreement is executed pursuant to this subsection.
2252	2252	2243 No member, officer, intern or employee shall execute any agreement to settle a legal claim or
2253	2253	2244potential legal claim of sexual harassment, or retaliation based on a legal claim or potential legal
2254	2254	2245claim of sexual harassment, by any current or former member, officer, intern or employee unless:
2255	2255	2246 1. the request to negotiate said agreement was initiated, in writing, by the person filing or
2256	2256	2247eligible to file the legal claim or potential legal claim or a person legally authorized to represent
2257	2257	2248that person;
2258	2258	2249 2. the person filing the legal claim or eligible to file the legal claim is given 15 days to review
2259	2259	2250and consider the agreement;
2260	2260	2251 3. the duration of any non-disclosure or non-disparagement provision of the agreement to
2261	2261	2252settle the legal claim or potential legal claim is for a finite period of time as agreed to by the
2262	2262	2253parties;
2263	2263	2254 4. the agreement to settle the legal claim or potential legal claim specifically provides that no
2264	2264	2255provision of the agreement, including any non-disclosure or non-disparagement provision of the
2265	2265	2256agreement, shall preclude any party from participating in an investigation by Counsel, the 109 of 146
2266	2266	2257Director, the EEO Officer, a Special Committee on Professional Conduct or any law
2267	2267	2258enforcement agency; and
2268	2268	2259 5. the agreement is approved in writing by Counsel.
2269	2269	2260 (d) In the case of an agreement to settle any legal claim or potential legal claim of sexual
2270	2270	2261harassment pursuant to this Rule by a member, the Speaker and Minority Leader shall appoint a
2271	2271	2262Special Committee on Professional Conduct pursuant to Rule 96 to determine if the member
2272	2272	2263shall be required to personally reimburse the House for all or part of the settlement amount.
2273	2273	2264Upon a determination by the Special Committee that the member shall be required to personally
2274	2274	2265reimburse the House for all or part of the settlement amount, it shall determine the amount to be
2275	2275	2266reimbursed and immediately notify the member of that amount.
2276	2276	2267 (e) Upon request of the party described in paragraph numbered 1 above or the complainant,
2277	2277	2268Counsel shall waive any non-disclosure or non-disparagement provision of any agreement
2278	2278	2269executed prior to the effective date of this Rule by the House and any current or former member,
2279	2279	2270officer, intern or employee, to allow said current or former member, officer, intern or employee
2280	2280	2271to report or discuss a claim of sexual harassment or retaliation based on sexual harassment.
2281	2281	2272 [Added Mar. 15, 2018; Amended Jan. 30, 2019; Jul. 7, 2021.]
2282	2282	2273 101. Notwithstanding Rule 7C, the Speaker may, upon recommendation of a majority of the
2283	2283	2274committee on Rules, activate remote rules for the operation of the House of Representatives as
2284	2284	2275provided within this rule:
2285	2285	2276 Remote Rules for the Operation of the House of Representatives 110 of 146
2286	2286	2277 Remote Rule 1. As used in Remote Rules 1 through 16, inclusive, the following terms shall
2287	2287	2278have the following meanings:-
2288	2288	2279 “Clerk”, the Clerk of the House of Representatives.
2289	2289	2280 “Formal session”, a formal session of the House.
2290	2290	2281 “House”, the House of Representatives.
2291	2291	2282 “House Chamber”, the House Chamber within the Massachusetts State House in Boston or
2292	2292	2283the location to which the House at its previous formal or informal session adjourned to meet.
2293	2293	2284 “Member”, a member of the House of Representatives.
2294	2294	2285 “Monitor”, one of the members appointed by the Speaker pursuant to Standing Rule 8.
2295	2295	2286 “Participating remotely” or “remotely present”, participating by telephone, teleconference,
2296	2296	2287video conference or other means.
2297	2297	2288 “Present”, a member either physically present in the House Chamber for a formal session or
2298	2298	2289remotely present, and participating in a formal session.
2299	2299	2290 “Quorum”, eighty-one members present for a formal session.
2300	2300	2291 “Speaker”, the Speaker of the House or the member presiding at the formal session of the
2301	2301	2292House after being appointed by the Speaker to perform the duties of the Chair pursuant to
2302	2302	2293Standing Rule 5.
2303	2303	2294 “Standing rules”, House Rules 1 through 100, inclusive. 111 of 146
2304	2304	2295 Remote Rule 2. (a)(1) The House may assemble in a formal session with members
2305	2305	2296participating remotely. Members participating remotely in a formal session may vote on any
2306	2306	2297question or other matter before the House. Members participating remotely in a formal session
2307	2307	2298shall be considered present and in attendance at the formal session for all purposes, including for
2308	2308	2299purposes of determining a quorum pursuant to Article XXXIII of the Amendments to the
2309	2309	2300Constitution of the Commonwealth or any standing rules and for purposes of appearing before
2310	2310	2301the Governor and council pursuant to Part the Second, Chapter VI, Article I of the Constitution
2311	2311	2302of the Commonwealth.
2312	2312	2303 (2) A member participating remotely in a formal session shall have the same privileges, rights
2313	2313	2304and responsibilities as if the member were physically present in the House Chamber, including
2314	2314	2305without limitation, the right, privilege and responsibility to cast votes on all questions or other
2315	2315	2306matters brought to a vote and the ability to the take the oath required pursuant to Part the Second,
2316	2316	2307Chapter VI, Article I of the Constitution of the Commonwealth.
2317	2317	2308 (3) At the commencement of a formal session, the Speaker shall take the Chair at the hour to
2318	2318	2309which the House stands adjourned, call the House to order and immediately order a quorum roll
2319	2319	2310call.
2320	2320	2311 (4)(i) The House shall not be called to order before the hour of 10:00 A.M. nor meet beyond
2321	2321	2312the hour of midnight unless by unanimous consent of the members present.
2322	2322	2313 (ii) All votes taken on the enactment of any bill or resolve during any formal session where
2323	2323	2314members are participating remotely shall be by roll call vote.
2324	2324	2315 (5) The Clerk shall prepare a Journal for the House for any formal session of the House held
2325	2325	2316remotely. The Journal for the House may reflect that the formal session was convened pursuant 112 of 146
2326	2326	2317to remote rules, but shall not deviate in any substantive manner from the Journal of the House
2327	2327	2318required to be prepared by the Clerk pursuant to Standing Rule 10. The Journal of the House for
2328	2328	2319any formal session of the House held during the state of emergency within the House shall not
2329	2329	2320specify which members participated remotely.
2330	2330	2321 (b)(1) The Speaker shall preside from within the House Chamber over any formal session of
2331	2331	2322the House where any member is participating remotely. The Minority Leader, Chair of the
2332	2332	2323committee on Ways and Means, Ranking Minority Member of the committee on Ways and
2333	2333	2324Means, the House Chair and Ranking Minority Member of the joint committee from which any
2334	2334	2325bill being debated at the formal session has been reported, or their designees, and the division
2335	2335	2326monitors may also be physically present. All other members are strongly encouraged to
2336	2336	2327participate remotely in a formal session.
2337	2337	2328 (2) Officers and employees essential to the conduct of the formal session may be present in
2338	2338	2329the House Chamber during a formal session with the express authorization of the Speaker in
2339	2339	2330consultation with the Minority Leader. The Speaker and Minority Leader may have two
2340	2340	2331employees from their office present in the House Chamber during a formal session. No other
2341	2341	2332officer or employee shall be physically present in the House Chamber unless deemed essential to
2342	2342	2333the conduct of the formal session by the Speaker. [Amended Feb. 1, 2023.]
2343	2343	2334 (3) All members, officers and employees physically present in the House Chamber during a
2344	2344	2335formal session shall, at the direction of the Speaker, undertake any mitigation measures ordered
2345	2345	2336by the Speaker. Court Officers shall strictly enforce mitigation measures directed by the Speaker
2346	2346	2337by and between members, officers and employees in and around the House Chamber. Any 113 of 146
2347	2347	2338member, officer or employee in violation of the mitigation measures ordered by the Speaker
2348	2348	2339shall be removed from the House Chamber.
2349	2349	2340 Remote Rule 3. (a) A member participating remotely may make any motion authorized
2350	2350	2341pursuant to the standing rules, raise a point of order, raise a point of personal privilege, or raise a
2351	2351	2342point of parliamentary inquiry. Members participating remotely shall notify their division
2352	2352	2343monitor of their desire to make a motion, raise a point of order, raise a point of personal privilege
2353	2353	2344or raise a point of parliamentary inquiry. The division monitor shall immediately notify the
2354	2354	2345Speaker who shall recognize the member seeking to make a motion, raise a point of order, raise a
2355	2355	2346point of personal privilege or raise a point of parliamentary inquiry. No member shall interrupt
2356	2356	2347another member while that member is speaking, including to request that the member speaking
2357	2357	2348yield, except for the reasons authorized herein.
2358	2358	2349 (b) A vote on any motion made pursuant to subsection (a) shall be conducted by voice vote as
2359	2359	2350prescribed by subsection (b) of Remote Rule 5, unless the Constitution or the standing rules
2360	2360	2351specifically require a roll call vote.
2361	2361	2352 (c) A motion made by a member participating remotely may be made and submitted by the
2362	2362	2353division monitor for the floor division of the House wherein the seat assigned to said member
2363	2363	2354pursuant to Standing Rule 79 is located.
2364	2364	2355 Remote Rule 4. (a) A member participating remotely wishing to speak on any question before
2365	2365	2356the House shall notify the monitor for the floor division of the House wherein the seat assigned
2366	2366	2357to said member pursuant to Standing Rule 79 is located as follows:
2367	2367	2358 (i) A member wishing to speak on a bill, resolve or the General Appropriation Bill, or an
2368	2368	2359amendment thereto, shall notify their floor division monitor no later than 10:00 A.M. on the day 114 of 146
2369	2369	2360that the bill, resolve, General Appropriation Bill, or amendment thereto, is scheduled to be
2370	2370	2361considered by the House. Said notification shall include: (1) the number of the bill, resolve
2371	2371	2362General Appropriation Bill, or amendment thereto, that the member wishes to speak to; and (2)
2372	2372	2363whether the member wishes to speak in favor of or in opposition to the bill, resolve, General
2373	2373	2364Appropriation Bill, or amendment thereto.
2374	2374	2365 (ii) A member wishing to speak on a consolidated amendment shall notify their floor division
2375	2375	2366monitor no later than 45 minutes after the consolidated amendment shall have been first filed
2376	2376	2367with the Clerk and made available electronically to the members. Said notification shall include:
2377	2377	2368(1) the number or letter of the consolidated amendment the member wishes to speak to; and (2)
2378	2378	2369whether the member wishes to speak in favor of or in opposition to the consolidated amendment.
2379	2379	2370 (iii) A member wishing to speak on a conference committee report filed pursuant to Joint
2380	2380	2371Rule 11B shall notify their floor division monitor no later than 10:00 A.M. on the day the
2381	2381	2372conference committee report is scheduled to be considered by the House. Said notification shall
2382	2382	2373include: (1) the bill number of the conference committee report; and (2) whether the member
2383	2383	2374wishes to speak in favor of, or in opposition to the report. The provisions of this paragraph shall
2384	2384	2375be inoperative if the conference committee report is filed later than 8:00 P.M. on the day
2385	2385	2376preceding its consideration by the House.
2386	2386	2377 (b) The monitor for each division shall prepare a list of members of their division notifying
2387	2387	2378the monitor of said member’s desire to speak in favor of a question before the House and a list of
2388	2388	2379members of their division notifying the monitor of said member’s desire to speak in opposition
2389	2389	2380to a question before the House. Each list shall be arranged in order of the time the monitor
2390	2390	2381received the notification with the notification received the earliest being first. 115 of 146
2391	2391	2382 (c) Upon completion of the lists required pursuant to subsection (b), the monitors for each
2392	2392	2383division shall transmit the lists to the Speaker and the Minority Leader. The Speaker shall
2393	2393	2384combine the lists received from each of the division monitors and, in consultation with the
2394	2394	2385Minority Leader, shall prepare a consolidated list of members notifying their monitor of the
2395	2395	2386member’s desire to speak in favor of a question before the House and a consolidated list of
2396	2396	2387members of their division notifying the monitor of said member’s desire to speak in opposition
2397	2397	2388to a question before the House.
2398	2398	2389 (d) The Speaker shall distribute the lists compiled pursuant to subsection (c) to all members
2399	2399	2390electronically prior to the commencement of the formal session. The Speaker shall distribute the
2400	2400	2391list compiled pursuant to subsection (a)(ii) as soon as practicable upon completion.
2401	2401	2392 (e) The consolidated lists prepared by the Speaker pursuant to subsection (c) and distributed
2402	2402	2393to the membership pursuant to subsection (d) shall be the order in which members are recognized
2403	2403	2394during the debate of the respective question. In recognizing members from said lists, the Speaker
2404	2404	2395shall, to the extent practicable, alternate between members wishing to speak in favor of the
2405	2405	2396question and members wishing to speak in opposition to the question.
2406	2406	2397 (f) A member participating remotely may, in lieu of speaking on a bill, resolve, amendment,
2407	2407	2398consolidated amendment or a conference committee report, submit written remarks in favor of,
2408	2408	2399or in opposition to, any bill, resolve, amendment, consolidated amendment or conference
2409	2409	2400committee report to the Clerk before the adjournment of the formal session in which said bill,
2410	2410	2401resolve, amendment, consolidated amendment or conference committee report was considered by
2411	2411	2402the House. Said remarks shall be transmitted to the Clerk electronically in a format prescribed by
2412	2412	2403the Clerk. The Clerk shall include any remarks submitted by a member participating remotely 116 of 146
2413	2413	2404pursuant to this section in the Journal of the House required to be kept by the Clerk pursuant to
2414	2414	2405Standing Rule 10 and Remote Rule 2.
2415	2415	2406 Remote Rule 5. (a) Notwithstanding Standing Rules 50 through 52, inclusive, during a formal
2416	2416	2407session where members are participating remotely a vote on any question shall be by either a
2417	2417	2408voice vote of the members present and voting pursuant to subsection (b) or a roll call vote of the
2418	2418	2409members present and voting pursuant to subsection (c). Any question that would require a
2419	2419	2410standing vote under the standing rules shall be decided by a voice vote of the members present
2420	2420	2411and voting pursuant to subsection (b).
2421	2421	2412 (b) When a question is put, the sense of the House shall be taken by the voices of the
2422	2422	2413members, and the Speaker shall first announce the vote as it appears to the Speaker by the sound.
2423	2423	2414If the Speaker is unable to decide by the sound of the voices, or if the announcement made
2424	2424	2415thereupon is doubted by a member, the Speaker shall order the division monitors to ascertain the
2425	2425	2416number of members within in their division voting in the affirmative and the number of members
2426	2426	2417within in their division voting in the negative, without further debate upon the question. The
2427	2427	2418division monitors shall report the total vote of their division count to the Speaker. After receiving
2428	2428	2419the reports of the total vote counts from each of the division monitors, the Speaker shall tally said
2429	2429	2420votes and then announce the vote.
2430	2430	2421 (c) The sense of the House shall be taken by yeas and nays whenever required by 10 percent
2431	2431	2422of the members elected or when required pursuant to the Constitution of the Commonwealth.
2432	2432	2423The Speaker shall state the pending question and shall order the division monitors to commence
2433	2433	2424the roll call of the members. The division monitors shall call the roll of the members assigned to
2434	2434	2425said division in alphabetical order. The division monitors shall record the votes of each member 117 of 146
2435	2435	2426on a form prescribed by the Clerk. Upon completion of the roll call, the division monitors shall
2436	2436	2427sign the form upon which the roll call for their division was recorded and submit the completed
2437	2437	2428form to the Clerk. The Clerk shall tally the votes of the members of each division and shall enter
2438	2438	2429the votes into the electronic roll call machine. Upon completion of the tally and the entry of the
2439	2439	2430votes into the electronic roll call machine, the Clerk shall notify the Speaker that the vote has
2440	2440	2431been completed. Upon instruction from the Speaker, the Clerk shall display the tally of the vote
2441	2441	2432on the 2 monitors in the House Chamber. The Speaker shall then announce the vote.
2442	2442	2433 (d) If a member doubts the presence of a quorum, the Speaker shall order the division
2443	2443	2434monitors to ascertain the number of members within in their divisions who are present. Any
2444	2444	2435member confirmed by the division monitor to be participating remotely shall be considered
2445	2445	2436present. The division monitors shall report the total number of members present to the Speaker.
2446	2446	2437After receiving the reports of the total number of members present from each of the division
2447	2447	2438monitors, the Speaker shall tally the numbers and then announce the number of members present.
2448	2448	2439If, after tallying the numbers from each of the division monitors a quorum is not present, the
2449	2449	2440Speaker shall order a roll call vote pursuant to subsection (c).
2450	2450	2441 (e) The call for yeas and nays shall be decided without debate. If the yeas and nays have been
2451	2451	2442ordered before the question is put, the proceedings under subsection (b) shall be omitted.
2452	2452	2443(f) Except as heretofore provided, any member who shall vote or attempt to vote for another
2453	2453	2444member or any person not a member who votes or attempts to vote for a member, or any member
2454	2454	2445or other person who willfully tampers with or attempts to impair or destroy in any manner
2455	2455	2446whatsoever the voting equipment used by the House, or change the records thereon shall be 118 of 146
2456	2456	2447punished in such manner as the House determines; and provided further, that such a violation
2457	2457	2448shall be reported to the committee on Ethics.
2458	2458	2449 Remote Rule 6. No consolidated amendment to any bill offered by the committee on Ways
2459	2459	2450and Means shall be considered by the House until the expiration of at least 30 minutes after the
2460	2460	2451consolidated amendment shall have been first filed with the Clerk and made available
2461	2461	2452electronically to the members. This rule shall not be suspended unless by unanimous consent of
2462	2462	2453the members present.
2463	2463	2454 Remote Rule 7. No consolidated amendment to any bill offered by the committee on Ways
2464	2464	2455and Means shall be adopted except by a roll call vote.
2465	2465	2456 Remote Rule 8. Notwithstanding any standing rule to the contrary, with the approval of the
2466	2466	2457Speaker, a member, officer or employee may take photographs and videos of, and in, the House
2467	2467	2458Chamber provided said photographs or videos are to facilitate the remote participation in the
2468	2468	2459formal session by a member.
2469	2469	2460 Remote Rule 9. (a) Notwithstanding any standing rule to the contrary, unless authorized
2470	2470	2461pursuant to subsection (b) or subsection (c), no member participating in a formal session shall be
2471	2471	2462recognized more than once on any question before the House without unanimous consent or on
2472	2472	2463any question before the House for more than 10 minutes without unanimous consent.
2473	2473	2464 (b) The following members may, notwithstanding subsection (a), be recognized more than
2474	2474	2465once on any question before the House: (1) the Minority Leader; (2) the member carrying the
2475	2475	2466report of the committee; (3) and the Ranking Minority Member of the committee reporting the
2476	2476	2467bill. 119 of 146
2477	2477	2468 (c) Notwithstanding subsection (a), after all members have been recognized pursuant to
2478	2478	2469Remote Rule 4, a member who is the primary sponsor of a bill, resolve or an amendment, or a
2479	2479	2470designee of said member, may, in addition to being recognized pursuant to Remote Rule 4, be
2480	2480	2471recognized for purposes of providing rebuttal or further explanation. If a member who is the
2481	2481	2472primary sponsor of a bill, resolve or amendment or their designee is recognized pursuant to this
2482	2482	2473subsection a member from the opposite political party designated by the member carrying the
2483	2483	2474report of the committee or the Ranking Minority Member of the committee reporting the bill
2484	2484	2475may also be recognized in addition to being recognized pursuant to Remote Rule 4. No member
2485	2485	2476shall be recognized pursuant to this subsection for more than 5 minutes without unanimous
2486	2486	2477consent.
2487	2487	2478 Remote Rule 10. Notwithstanding any standing rule to the contrary, any formal session where
2488	2488	2479members are participating remotely shall be livestreamed on the General Court website. Audio or
2489	2489	2480video recordings of all such sessions shall be made available to the public on the General Court
2490	2490	2481website. All House sessions conducted by electronic means shall be broadcast on House
2491	2491	2482television.
2492	2492	2483 Remote Rule 11. Notwithstanding any standing rule to the contrary, no technical failure that
2493	2493	2484breaks the remote connection of a member or members of the House of Representatives
2494	2494	2485participating remotely in a formal session shall invalidate any action taken by the House of
2495	2495	2486Representatives.
2496	2496	2487 Remote Rule 12. Notwithstanding Standing Rule 49, members participating remotely may
2497	2497	2488vote in a quorum roll call. 120 of 146
2498	2498	2489 Remote Rule 13. Except as otherwise indicated, Remote Rules 1 through 16, inclusive, shall
2499	2499	2490not be suspended unless by a 2/3 vote of the members present and voting. Debate upon a motion
2500	2500	2491for the suspension of Remote Rules 1 through 16, inclusive, shall be limited to 15 minutes and
2501	2501	2492no member shall speak for more than 3 minutes.
2502	2502	2493 Remote Rule 14. The provisions of any standing or remote rules pertaining to procedures of
2503	2503	2494the House may be suspended and alternative procedures may be used if said alternative methods
2504	2504	2495are approved by a 2/3 majority of the committee on Rules and approved, in writing, by the
2505	2505	2496Speaker and the Minority Leader. The Clerk shall enter any such approvals in the House Journal
2506	2506	2497for the formal session required to be kept by the Clerk pursuant to Standing Rule 10.
2507	2507	2498 Remote Rule 15. Except to the extent that they conflict with Remote Rules 1 through 16,
2508	2508	2499inclusive, the standing rules shall remain in full force and effect.
2509	2509	2500 Remote Rule 16. Remote Rules 1 through 16, inclusive, shall remain activated for no longer
2510	2510	2501than 30 days after being activated by the Speaker; provided, that the House of Representative
2511	2511	2502shall not operate under remote rules beyond 30 days without the adoption of an Order by a
2512	2512	2503majority of the House.
2513	2513	2504 [Emergency remote rule historical notes: See House document numbered 4690 of the 191st
2514	2514	2505General Court; also see House documents numbered 59 and 3929 of the 192nd General Court;
2515	2515	2506Added to Rules Jul. 7, 2021; Amended Feb. 1, 2023.]
2516	2516	2507194th GENERAL COURT (2025-2026 SESSION).
2517	2517	2508INDEX TO THE HOUSE RULES
2518	2518	2509 [The figures refer to the numbers of the Rules.] 121 of 146
2519	2519	2510 Adjourn, motion to, 55, 64, 65, 82.
2520	2520	2511Adjournment at hour of midnight, unless by unanimous consent, 1A.
2521	2521	2512Admission to the floor, 80.
2522	2522	2513Advance Calendar, 12.
2523	2523	2514Advertising, Joint Rule 9, 85.
2524	2524	2515Advisory opinions of the Ethics Committee, 16.
2525	2525	2516AMENDMENTS:
2526	2526	2517 amendment to amendment, etc., 72.
2527	2527	2518 bill may be moved as, 36.
2528	2528	2519 committee changes, twenty-four hours, 33A.
2529	2529	2520 consolidated, 20A, 33E.
2530	2530	2521 engrossed bill not to be amended, except, 40.
2531	2531	2522 from Senate, sent back for concurrence, 22, 35, 40.
2532	2532	2523 in filling blanks, largest sum, etc., 75.
2533	2533	2524 motions to amend, 65, 72 to 75.
2534	2534	2525 not to be admitted of a different subject, 73.
2535	2535	2526 of rules, 84. 122 of 146
2536	2536	2527 striking out enacting clause, 40.
2537	2537	2528 submission to Clerk, 33A.
2538	2538	2529 to be reduced to writing, 62.
2539	2539	2530 to be referred to committee on Bills in the Third Reading, 22.
2540	2540	2531 to be reported by committee on Bills in the Third Reading, 22.
2541	2541	2532 to General Appropriation Bill, 20A.
2542	2542	2533 when previous question is in order, 66, 67.
2543	2543	2534 when question is divided, 74.
2544	2544	2535Appeals from the decision of the Speaker, 2, 55, 59, 77.
2545	2545	2536Appropriation bill, general, available seven days prior to debate, 20.
2546	2546	2537Appropriation bill, general, procedures for consideration, 20A, 20B.
2547	2547	2538Appropriation bill, general, time for reporting, 27.
2548	2548	2539Appropriation bills, explanations, 20B, 21.
2549	2549	2540Appropriation bills returned by the Governor, 30.
2550	2550	2541Attire, dress in proper and appropriate for all sessions, 2.
2551	2551	2542Audio/visual reproduction of
2552	2552	2543 committee meetings, 17A. 123 of 146
2553	2553	2544 House Chamber, 2.
2554	2554	2545Auditing of House accounts, 85A.
2555	2555	2546Ballot or acclamation ratification in caucus, 18B.
2556	2556	2547BILLS:
2557	2557	2548 1. Preliminary.
2558	2558	2549 accompanying petitions, 24.
2559	2559	2550 availability electronically and on General Court website, of, 13A, 20B (GAB).
2560	2560	2551 for special legislation, not to be reported if object is attainable by
2561	2561	2552 general or existing laws, 26.
2562	2562	2553 how to be drafted, 31.
2563	2563	2554how to be introduced, 36.
2564	2564	2555 motions contemplating legislation, etc., to be founded upon petition
2565	2565	2556 or upon bill or resolve, 30.
2566	2566	2557 summaries of to be made available prior to roll call, 33A
2567	2567	2558 to be deposited with Clerk, 24.
2568	2568	2559 to be read by titles only, unless, etc., 37.
2569	2569	25602. As reported by committees. 124 of 146
2570	2570	2561 copies, twenty-four hour availability, 17A, 33A.
2571	2571	2562 general rather than special, 26.
2572	2572	2563 restriction or regulation of reports, 17, 17B, 26, 33A, 38.
2573	2573	25643. Before the second reading.
2574	2574	2565 from the Senate, or from committees, 7A, 41.
2575	2575	2566 if opposed, question on rejection, etc.; otherwise, second reading,
2576	2576	2567 32, 41.
2577	2577	2568 involving expenditures of public money, referred to committee on
2578	2578	2569 Ways and Means, 33.
2579	2579	2570 involving policy changes, availability, 33A.
2580	2580	2571 referred to committee, etc., 34.
2581	2581	25724. Before the third reading.
2582	2582	2573 duties and powers of committee on Bills in the Third Reading, 22,
2583	2583	2574 79(1).
2584	2584	2575 referred to said committee, 22.
2585	2585	2576 placed in Orders of the Day, 43.
2586	2586	25775. After the third reading. 125 of 146
2587	2587	2578 not to be engrossed unless read on three several days, 39.
2588	2588	25796. After engrossment.
2589	2589	2580 certified by Clerk for final passage, 23.
2590	2590	2581 not to be amended, except, 40.
2591	2591	2582 returned by Governor with recommendations of amendment, 40.
2592	2592	25837. Provisions applicable at several stages.
2593	2593	2584 arrangement of matters in Orders of the Day, 12, 46.
2594	2594	2585 consideration of matters in Orders of the Day, 45.
2595	2595	2586final disposition precludes renewal of subject, 38.
2596	2596	2587 matters not to be discharged from Orders of the Day, 47.
2597	2597	2588 motion to strike out enacting clause, when receivable, 40.
2598	2598	2589 provisions respecting bills also applicable to resolves, 78.
2599	2599	2590Bills in the Third Reading, committee on, 17, 18A, 22, 28, 28A, 35, 45, 79(1).
2600	2600	2591 floor amendments, 73A.
2601	2601	2592 motion to discharge or report, 28, 55, 64.
2602	2602	2593 time for reporting, 28A.
2603	2603	2594 written explanation of changes, 22. 126 of 146
2604	2604	2595Blanks, filling of, 75.
2605	2605	2596Business Manager of the House
2606	2606	2597 financial account audits, 85A.
2607	2607	2598 procurement of goods and services, 87.
2608	2608	2599Calendar, 12, 13, 28A, 45, 46, 47.
2609	2609	2600Calendar, dispense with printing of, 12.
2610	2610	2601Capital outlay bills, 20, 21.
2611	2611	2602Caucuses and caucus groups, 17C, 18, 18A, 18B, 19, 19A, 19B.
2612	2612	2603Chairpersons and ranking members, appointment, etc.
2613	2613	2604 nomination and caucus approval, 18, 18A.
2614	2614	2605 removal of if criminally indicted, 18., 18A.
2615	2615	2606Chaplain, may be appointed by Speaker, 7.
2616	2616	2607Charitable and community service, 16A, 17C, 90.
2617	2617	2608Charts, displays, posters and visual aids, regulate use, 2.
2618	2618	2609CLERK, 7A, 10, 10A, 11, 12, 13A, 14, 16A, 17A, 17C, 20, 23, 24, 28, 30, 33B, 42A, 48, 79(1),
2619	2619	261084, 85A, 87A.
2620	2620	2611 amendments, submission to, 33A.
2621	2621	2612 announce members not voting prior to roll calls, 48. 127 of 146
2622	2622	2613 availability of bills, etc., by the, 7D, 10, 12, 17A, 20, 20A, 20B, 21, 24(5), 33A, 37, 42A, 84A,
2623	2623	261485A.
2624	2624	2615 cast votes for members due to malfunction of voting station, 49.
2625	2625	2616 certifying bills for final passage, 23.
2626	2626	2617 disable voting station of certain absent members, 48.
2627	2627	2618 keeper of records, 10B.
2628	2628	2619 Website of the General Court, internet posting, 12, 13A, 17A, 20B.
2629	2629	2620Code of Ethics, 16A, 16B.
2630	2630	2621Commit, motion to, 64, 65, 71.
2631	2631	2622COMMITTEES:
2632	2632	2623 Audio/visual reproduction of meetings of, 17A.
2633	2633	2624 bill summaries to be made available prior to roll calls, 33A.
2634	2634	2625 chairpersons of, ratification, 18.
2635	2635	2626 conference, minority member, 18A.
2636	2636	2627 duty of committee on Ways and Means, 20, 20A, 21, 27, 28, 30, 33.
2637	2637	2628 hearings and House sessions, scheduling, 7B, 7D, 17.
2638	2638	2629 Human Services and Employee Engagement committee, 16A, 16B, 17, 17C, 18A.
2639	2639	2630 members of, ratification, 18A. 128 of 146
2640	2640	2631 motions to discharge, etc., 28, 55, 64.
2641	2641	2632 no member to serve where their private right, etc., 16A(14).
2642	2642	2633 office space, 17C.
2643	2643	2634 on Bills in the Third Reading, 17, 18A, 22, 28, 28A, 45, 79(1).
2644	2644	2635 on each Floor Division, 9A, 17.
2645	2645	2636 on Ethics, 16, 16A.
2646	2646	2637 on Rules, 7B, 7C, 7D, 17, 85.
2647	2647	2638 on Steering, Policy and Scheduling, 7A, 7D, 17, 41, 42, 42A.
2648	2648	2639 open meetings, 17A.
2649	2649	2640 ought not to pass reports on bills, question on rejection, 32.
2650	2650	2641 ranking members of, appointment, etc., 18.
2651	2651	2642 records of to be maintained, 17A.
2652	2652	2643 records of to be published in LAWS and on website, 17B.
2653	2653	2644 remote participation in, 17A.
2654	2654	2645 reports, 17B.
2655	2655	2646 reports on local matters, 7A.
2656	2656	2647 staff directory, 91, 92. 129 of 146
2657	2657	2648 staffing, 17C.
2658	2658	2649 standing, to be appointed, 17.
2659	2659	2650 Testimony solicitation, 17A
2660	2660	2651 time for reporting appropriation bill, 27.
2661	2661	2652 to be appointed by Speaker and Minority Leader, 18.
2662	2662	2653 to discharge or direct to report, 7A, 28, 42A, 55, 64.
2663	2663	2654 to make report on all matters, except, 27.
2664	2664	2655 to report adversely in certain cases, 26, 32, 85.
2665	2665	2656 Travel, propositions for, to committee on Rules, 85.
2666	2666	2657 voting, 16A, 17B.
2667	2667	2658 Voting in House Chamber, period of time if committees are meeting, 52.
2668	2668	2659Community and charitable service, 16A, 17C, 90.
2669	2669	2660Conduct, standards of, 88 to 100.
2670	2670	2661Consolidated amendments, 20A, 33E, 33F.
2671	2671	2662Constitution, proposals for amendment, 42.
2672	2672	2663COUNSEL TO THE HOUSE
2673	2673	2664 Appointment, duties, removal and service of, 13B. 130 of 146
2674	2674	2665 Audits of House financial accounts, 85A.
2675	2675	2666 Procurement of goods and services, 87.
2676	2676	2667 Standards of conduct responsibilities, 88 to 91, 93, 94 to 100.
2677	2677	2668Credit, pledging of, 22, 23, 17A.
2678	2678	2669DEBATE, RULES OF, 57 to 61, 64.
2679	2679	2670 during informal sessions, prohibit, 44.
2680	2680	2671 matters to be disposed of without debate, 45, 47, 48, 50, 53, 56, 61, 64, 66 to 69, 77, 83.
2681	2681	2672 motions for suspension of rules, 83.
2682	2682	2673 motions to be decided without debate, 64, 83.
2683	2683	2674 motions to close debate, 55, 64, 65, 69.
2684	2684	2675 motions to commit or recommit, 64.
2685	2685	2676 motions to discharge or direct committee to report, 64.
2686	2686	2677 motions to postpone to a time certain, 55, 64, 70.
2687	2687	2678 motions to reconsider, 56.
2688	2688	2679 second, etc., legislative days, 55, 64A.
2689	2689	2680 Speaker may speak to points of order, etc., 2.
2690	2690	2681 thirty minute limit, 61, 77. 131 of 146
2691	2691	2682 yielding, 60.
2692	2692	2683Disabled members, voting by, 49.
2693	2693	2684Discharge of a committee, 7A, 24(6), 28, 55, 64.
2694	2694	2685Discharge reports, 7A, 42, 42A.
2695	2695	2686Discharges from Orders of the Day, 47.
2696	2696	2687Discrimination complaints, 99.
2697	2697	2688Displays, charts, posters and visual aids, regulate use, 2.
2698	2698	2689Division of a question, 74.
2699	2699	2690 Dockets, 13A, 24(7),
2700	2700	2691Elections, to fill vacancies, 6.
2701	2701	2692Electronic devices, 2.
2702	2702	2693Electronic mail and Legislative Web Page, 7D, 12, 17A, 42A.
2703	2703	2694Electronic voting system, 15, 49, 52.
2704	2704	2695Emergency preamble, 22, 23, 40.
2705	2705	2696Emergency Remote Rules, 101 (Historical note: see House document numbered 4690 of the
2706	2706	2697191st General Court, and House documents numbered 59 and 3929 of the 192nd General Court).
2707	2707	2698Employee Engagement Officer, 92
2708	2708	2699Employees, 132 of 146
2709	2709	2700 committee staff directory, 91.
2710	2710	2701 charitable and community service, 16A.
2711	2711	2702 classification plan, 17C(b).
2712	2712	2703 partnerships with national trade organizations, 92.
2713	2713	2704 training opportunities and professional development, 91, 92.
2714	2714	2705Enacting clause, when motion to strike out, receivable, 40.
2715	2715	2706Engrossed bills, 23, 28(6), 40.
2716	2716	2707Equal employment complaints, 99.
2717	2717	2708Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Officer, 13B, 89 to 100.
2718	2718	2709Ethics,16, 16A
2719	2719	2710 advisory opinions, 16.
2720	2720	2711 training, 16B.
2721	2721	2712Ethics, code of, 16A.
2722	2722	2713Ethics committee, 16, 16C, 17, 52.
2723	2723	2714 bills pertaining to certain subjects referred to after first reading, 16C.
2724	2724	2715 candidacy for state or federal office, 16.
2725	2725	2716 create committee bills, 16, 24(1). 133 of 146
2726	2726	2717 voting violations, referred to, 52.
2727	2727	2718Excused from voting, time for application for, 48.
2728	2728	2719Executive conference, 17A.
2729	2729	2720Executive session, 17A.
2730	2730	2721Federal Stimulus and Census Oversight committee, 17.
2731	2731	2722Files, taking of matters from, 24.
2732	2732	2723Final passage, to be certified by Clerk, 23.
2733	2733	2724Financial accounts, auditing, 85A.
2734	2734	2725Fiscal note, (on bills) 33. (on consolidated amendments) 20A.
2735	2735	2726Floor leaders, 18.
2736	2736	2727Formal session to consider veto, petition for, 44.
2737	2737	2728Formal sessions, dress code and cellular telephones, 2.
2738	2738	2729General appropriation bill, 20, 20A, 27.
2739	2739	2730General bill rather than special, 26.
2740	2740	2731Global Warming and Climate Change, committee on, 17.
2741	2741	2732GOVERNOR:
2742	2742	2733 messages from, to be referred, unless, 30. 134 of 146
2743	2743	2734 messages setting terms of de-authorizing or authorizing bonds and notes, 17A.
2744	2744	2735 messages or recommendations from, to be filed in a format determined by the Clerk, 30.
2745	2745	2736 return of appropriation bills by, 30.
2746	2746	2737 return of bills and resolves by, 40.
2747	2747	2738 Session to consider vetoes of, 44.
2748	2748	2739Harassment policies, complaints, etc., 88-100
2749	2749	2740Home rule matters, reports on to be considered, 7A.
2750	2750	2741House Chamber, photography or video recording, 2.
2751	2751	2742Hours of meetings, 1A.
2752	2752	2743Human Resources and Employee Engagement, committee on, 16A, 16B, 17, 17C, 18A, 89, 90,
2753	2753	274492, 98.
2754	2754	2745Human Resources Director, 13B, 88, 90, 92, 94.
2755	2755	2746Informal sessions, 12, 44, 54, 81.
2756	2756	2747Investigations, propositions involving special, by committees, to be referred to committee on
2757	2757	2748Rules, 85.
2758	2758	2749Journal, 10, 11, 24.
2759	2759	2750Leadership positions, removal upon indictment, 18.
2760	2760	2751Legal Counsel of the House, advisory opinions by, 16. 135 of 146
2761	2761	2752Legal counsel representation at executive conferences, 17A.
2762	2762	2753Legislative days, second or subsequent, 55, 64A.
2763	2763	2754Legislative or executive agents or counsels, 16A, 80, 81.
2764	2764	2755Legislative web page or Internet, 13A, 17A, 20B, 81, 84A.
2765	2765	2756Loan bills, 22, 23.
2766	2766	2757Local matters, reports on to be considered and to be filed in paper and electronic form, 7A.
2767	2767	2758Majority Leader, etc., Acting Speaker, 5.
2768	2768	2759Majority leaders, 18.
2769	2769	2760Meetings
2770	2770	2761 definition of, 17A.
2771	2771	2762 regulating hours of, 1A.
2772	2772	2763MEMBERS, 14, 15.
2773	2773	2764 about to speak, to rise and address the Speaker, etc., 57.
2774	2774	2765 attire of, 2.
2775	2775	2766 desiring to be excused from voting, etc., 48.
2776	2776	2767 first named, to be chair of committee, etc., appointment, 18A.
2777	2777	2768 journal, 10. 136 of 146
2778	2778	2769 may request an enactment, 28(6).
2779	2779	2770 may request the taking of matters from the files, 24.
2780	2780	2771 medical concerns, remote voting, 49.
2781	2781	2772 military obligations, remote voting 49.
2782	2782	2773 monitors, regulating voting, 9.
2783	2783	2774 naming or seating, 59.
2784	2784	2775 not to interrupt another, etc., 60.
2785	2785	2776 not to speak more than once, etc., 61.
2786	2786	2777 not to stand at Clerk's desk during roll call, 14.
2787	2787	2778 not to stand up, etc., 14.
2788	2788	2779 not to serve on committee where their private right, etc., 16A(14).
2789	2789	2780 not to vote for other members, 16A.
2790	2790	2781 not to vote where their private right, etc., 16A(14).
2791	2791	2782 notify Clerk of absences, 48.
2792	2792	2783 number of, on each standing committee, 17.
2793	2793	2784 photography during session, 2.
2794	2794	2785 privilege of the floor, 80. See Voting. 137 of 146
2795	2795	2786 ranking members, appointment, etc., 18.
2796	2796	2787ratification and removal, 18.
2797	2797	2788 remote voting, 49.
2798	2798	2789 seats, 79.
2799	2799	2790 Speaker, recognition of members, 58.
2800	2800	2791 stipends, prohibit more than one, 18.
2801	2801	2792 to deposit petition, etc., with the Clerk, 24.
2802	2802	2793 to endorse name on certain papers, 29.
2803	2803	2794 video recording during session, 2.
2804	2804	2795 voting, recording within five minutes, 52.
2805	2805	2796Messages from the Governor
2806	2806	2797 to be filed in a format determined by the Clerk, 30
2807	2807	2798 to be referred, etc., 30.
2808	2808	2799MINORITY LEADER:
2809	2809	2800 to call a caucus, 19.
2810	2810	2801 to nominate Assistant Minority Floor Leader, etc., 18.
2811	2811	2802 to nominate committee members, 18A. 138 of 146
2812	2812	2803Minority party, caucus rules, 19A.
2813	2813	2804Minority party, percentage of committee membership, 18A.
2814	2814	2805Mobile devices, 2.
2815	2815	2806Monitors, 8, 9.
2816	2816	2807Motions, 62 to 75, 83, 85.
2817	2817	2808 to be reduced to writing, 62.
2818	2818	2809Naming of members, 59.
2819	2819	2810Notice to parties, 85.
2820	2820	2811Office space, 17C.
2821	2821	2812Open meetings, 17A.
2822	2822	2813Operations, Facilities and Security committee, 17.
2823	2823	2814Order. See Questions of Order.
2824	2824	2815Orders:
2825	2825	2816 filing of, 24.
2826	2826	2817 involving expenditures for special committees, 33.
2827	2827	2818 once rejected or disposed of, not to be renewed, 38.
2828	2828	2819 providing that information be transmitted to the House, 85. 139 of 146
2829	2829	2820 reported by committees, 42.
2830	2830	2821Orders of the Day, 12, 13, 28, 41 to 47.
2831	2831	2822Parliamentarian, 10A.
2832	2832	2823Parliamentary inquiry, 60.
2833	2833	2824Personal privilege, 60.
2834	2834	2825PETITIONS, 24, 25, 29, 30.
2835	2835	2826 final disposition precludes renewal, 38.
2836	2836	2827Petitions and other papers, availability, 12, 20, 20A, 24, 33A.
2837	2837	2828Petition for formal session to consider veto, 44.
2838	2838	2829Petitions to discharge a committee, 28(6).
2839	2839	2830Photographs, taking of during session, 2.
2840	2840	2831Placed on file, 24(4), 42.
2841	2841	2832Pledging credit, bills providing for, 22, 23, 17A.
2842	2842	2833Points of order, 2, 11, 60, 77.
2843	2843	2834Political subdivisions, 17A.
2844	2844	2835Postage, regulating, 23A.
2845	2845	2836Post Audit and Oversight, committee on, 17. 140 of 146
2846	2846	2837Posters, charts, displays and visual aids, regulate use, 2.
2847	2847	2838Postpone to a time certain, motion to, 55, 64, 65, 70.
2848	2848	2839"Present", recording of members as being, 52.
2849	2849	2840Previous question, 55, 65 to 68.
2850	2850	2841Privilege of the floor, 80.
2851	2851	2842Procurements, 85A, 87.
2852	2852	2843Question of order, 2, 11, 60, 77.
2853	2853	2844Quorum, 1, 15, 17A, 49, 51, 82.
2854	2854	2845Radio, television broadcasting and web-broadcasting and access of sessions, 81.
2855	2855	2846Ratification in caucus, by ballot or acclamation, 18B.
2856	2856	2847Reading of papers, 24, 29, 37.
2857	2857	2848Recess, 55, 64, 65, 76, 82.
2858	2858	2849Recommendations and reports of state officials, etc., to be referred, etc., 24, 30.
2859	2859	2850Recommit, motion to, 42, 64, 65, 71.
2860	2860	2851Reconsideration, 54, 55, 56.
2861	2861	2852Records, Clerk official keeper of, 10B.
2862	2862	2853Redrafted bills to be voted on by Ways and Means, availability, 17A. 141 of 146
2863	2863	2854Rejected bills, 32, 38, 41.
2864	2864	2855Remote participation,
2865	2865	2856Committee meetings, 17A.
2866	2866	2857House sessions, 49.
2867	2867	2858Repealed laws not to be re-enacted by reference, 31.
2868	2868	2859Reporters' gallery, 80, 81.
2869	2869	2860Reports of committees, 17B, 26, 27, 41, 42. See Bills.
2870	2870	2861Representatives' Chamber and adjoining rooms, 80, 81.
2871	2871	2862Resolutions, 22, 24(2), 41, 85.
2872	2872	2863Roll calls, availability on website, 52.
2873	2873	2864Rules, observance, suspension or transgression of, 8, 9, 24, 55, 83, 84, 86.
2874	2874	2865Rules, committee on, 7B, 7C, 7D, 17, 24(2,3), 27, 28, 81, 85.
2875	2875	2866motion to discharge, 24, 28.
2876	2876	2867Rules, violations of, 59.
2877	2877	2868Rulings of the Chair, 2, 55, 77.
2878	2878	2869Schedule, House sessions, 7A, 7B, 7D, 44.
2879	2879	2870Seating of a member, 59. 142 of 146
2880	2880	2871Seats, 79.
2881	2881	2872Second, etc., legislative days, 55, 64A.
2882	2882	2873SENATE, papers from, 22, 34, 35, 36, 41, 42.
2883	2883	2874Sessions
2884	2884	2875 informal, 44, 54.
2885	2885	2876 radio, television and web broadcasting of, 81.
2886	2886	2877 regulating hours of, 1A.
2887	2887	2878Sessions and committees, scheduling, 7A, 7B, 7D, 44.
2888	2888	2879SPEAKER, 1 to 7.
2889	2889	2880 adjourn or recess, 2, 82.
2890	2890	2881 appeal of decisions, 77.
2891	2891	2882 Calendar of House, 12.
2892	2892	2883 casting of vote for, 49
2893	2893	2884 committee scheduling, 7D.
2894	2894	2885 consultation with Clerk, bill format and availability, 33A.
2895	2895	2886 consultation with Clerk, budget amendment format, 20A.
2896	2896	2887 consultation with Clerk, budget availability format, 20B. 143 of 146
2897	2897	2888 decorum and order, 2.
2898	2898	2889 income, earned and unearned, 4B.
2899	2899	2890 may declare a recess, 76.
2900	2900	2891 may direct motion to be reduced to writing, 62.
2901	2901	2892 may invite visitors to seats on the floor, 80.
2902	2902	2893remote rules activation, 101.
2903	2903	2894 shall assign seats, 79.
2904	2904	2895 to appoint monitors, 8.
2905	2905	2896 to approve reference of petitions, etc., and printing of certain documents, 24.
2906	2906	2897 to call a caucus, 19.
2907	2907	2898 to declare informal sessions, 44.
2908	2908	2899 to name member entitled to floor, 58.
2909	2909	2900 to nominate committee members, 18A.
2910	2910	2901 to nominate Majority Leader, etc., 18.
2911	2911	2902Speaker pro Tempore, 4A, 5, 18, 23A, 49.
2912	2912	2903Special bills reported by committee, 26.
2913	2913	2904Standing committees, staffing, 17C. 144 of 146
2914	2914	2905State Ethics Commission, 16B.
2915	2915	2906State finances, 33.
2916	2916	2907Steering, Policy and Scheduling, committee on, 7A, 42A.
2917	2917	2908Stenographers, employment of, by committees, 85.
2918	2918	2909Stipends, prohibit more than one, 18.
2919	2919	2910Strike out and insert, motion to, 74.
2920	2920	2911Strike out enacting clause, 40.
2921	2921	2912Summaries of bills, availability prior to roll calls, 33A.
2922	2922	2913SUSPENSION OF RULES, 55, 83, 84.
2923	2923	2914 limit of debate on motion for, 83.
2924	2924	2915Tampering with electronic voting system, 52.
2925	2925	2916Tape recordings, committees, 17A.
2926	2926	2917Television, radio and web broadcasting of all sessions and access, 81.
2927	2927	2918Third Reading, Bills in the, committee on, 17, 18A, 22, 28, 43, 45, 79(1).
2928	2928	2919 motions to discharge or report, 28, 55, 64.
2929	2929	2920 time for reporting, 28A.
2930	2930	2921Title, bills to be read by title only, 37. 145 of 146
2931	2931	2922Travel, orders authorizing committees to, referred to committee on Rules, 85.
2932	2932	2923Undebatable matters and motions, 64. See Debate, Rules of.
2933	2933	2924Unfinished business, 46.
2934	2934	2925Vacancies, filling of, 5, 6, 7.
2935	2935	2926Veto of bill or resolve, printing of Calendar, 12.
2936	2936	2927Veto, petition for formal session to consider, 44.
2937	2937	2928Videos/audio
2938	2938	2929 radio and television access, 81.
2939	2939	2930 recording of during session, 2.
2940	2940	2931 reproduction of committee meetings, 17A
2941	2941	2932Violations of rules and questions of conduct, 16, 52 (voting), 59.
2942	2942	2933Visual aids, charts, displays and posters, regulate use, 2.
2943	2943	2934Votes, roll calls made available on website, 52.
2944	2944	2935VOTING, 3, 4, 9, 16A, 48 to 53.
2945	2945	2936Warning a member, 59.
2946	2946	2937Ways and Means, committee on, 17, 17A, 20, 20A, 21, 27, 28, 30, 33, 45.
2947	2947	2938 consolidated amendments, 20A, 33E. 146 of 146
2948	2948	2939Floor amendments, 73A.
2949	2949	2940Motions directing, to report, etc., 28, 55, 64.
2950	2950	2941Redrafts of, availability, 17A.
2951	2951	2942Web-broadcasting, 81.
2952	2952	2943 Website availability of bills and notices, 13A, 17A, 20B, 84A.
2953	2953	2944Yeas and nays, 33F, 48 to 53.
2954	2954	2945Yeas and nays, during informal sessions, prohibition, 44.
2955	2955	2946Yielding floor in debate, 60.