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Massachusetts House Bill H2026

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H2026 Compare Versions

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22 HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4448 FILED ON: 2/24/2025
33 HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2026
44 The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
55 House of Representatives, February 24, 2025.
66 _______________
77 In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
88 (2025-2026)
99 _______________
1010 1 Ordered, That the joint rules of the Senate and House of Representatives for the 194th
1111 2General Court for the 2025-2026 legislative session be adopted, as follows:
1212 3Committees
1313 41. Joint standing committees shall be appointed at the beginning of the biennial session as
1414 5follows:-
1515 6A committee on Advanced Information Technology, the Internet and Cybersecurity;
1616 7A committee on Agriculture;
1717 8A committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets
1818 9A committee on Cannabis Policy;
1919 10A committee on Children, Families and Persons With Disabilities; 2 of 62
2020 11A committee on Community Development and Small Businesses;
2121 12A committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure;
2222 13A committee on Emergency Preparedness and Management;
2323 14A committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies;
2424 15A committee on Education;
2525 16A committee on Aging and Independence;
2626 17A committee on Election Laws;
2727 18A committee on Environment and Natural Resources;
2828 19A committee on Financial Services;
2929 20A committee on Health Care Financing;
3030 21A committee on Higher Education;
3131 22A committee on Housing;
3232 23A committee on the Judiciary;
3333 24A committee on Labor and Workforce Development;
3434 25A committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery;
3535 26A committee on Municipalities and Regional Government;
3636 27A committee on Public Health; 3 of 62
3737 28A committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security;
3838 29A committee on Public Service;
3939 30A committee on Racial Equity, Civil Rights and Inclusion;
4040 31A committee on Revenue;
4141 32A committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight;
4242 33A committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy;
4343 34A committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development;
4444 35A committee on Transportation; and
4545 36A committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs.
4646 37Each to consist of 6 members of the Senate, and 11 on the part of the House except the
4747 38committees on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets, Economic Development and
4848 39Emerging Technologies, Public Safety and Homeland Security, Mental Health, Substance Use
4949 40and Recovery, Health Care Financing and Transportation which shall consist of 7 members of
5050 41the Senate and 13 of the House.
5151 42Within 4 weeks of the appointment of joint standing committees in the first annual session of the
5252 43General Court, each joint standing committee shall adopt rules of procedure regarding its
5353 44conduct that are not inconsistent with the joint rules of the two branches or the rules of the
5454 45Senate or House of Representatives. Said rules of procedure, together with any amendments, 4 of 62
5555 46shall be filed with the Clerk of the Senate and the Clerk of the House and shall be available to the
5656 47public and members of the General Court on the official website of the General Court. The rules
5757 48of parliamentary practice as set forth in the 2020 Edition of Mason’s Manual of Legislative
5858 49Procedure shall govern each joint standing committee until such time as the joint standing
5959 50committee adopts rules of procedure.lxi
6060 51Except as provided by Joint Rule 1E or 1F, each matter shall be referred only to 1 joint
6161 52committee for consideration and all reports of matters by joint committees shall be made to the
6262 53House or the Senate, under Joint Rule 4, not to another joint committee. The committee to which
6363 54a matter is initially referred may discharge the matter to another committee with jurisdiction over
6464 55the matter.
6565 56Matters referred by either the Senate or the House to its committee on Ways and Means shall be
6666 57considered by the respective committees of the 2 branches, acting as a joint committee, when, in
6767 58the judgment of the chairs of the respective committees of the 2 branches, the interests of
6868 59legislation or the expedition of business will be better served by such joint consideration. Matters
6969 60may also be referred to the committees on Ways and Means, of the 2 branches, as a joint
7070 61committee.
7171 62The committees on Rules, together with the presiding officers of the 2 branches, acting
7272 63concurrently, may consider and suggest such measures as shall, in their judgment, tend to
7373 64facilitate the business of the session and a majority vote of the 2 branches shall be required to
7474 65approve such recommendations.
7575 66In order to assist the House and the Senate in their: (1) consideration and enactment of new
7676 67legislation and modifications of existing laws, when either are deemed to be appropriate; (2) 5 of 62
7777 68evaluation of the effectiveness and administration of laws and programs previously enacted; and
7878 69(3) appraisal of the conditions and circumstances which may indicate the desirability of enacting
7979 70new legislation, the various joint committees shall have the following oversight responsibilities:
8080 71(i) each joint committee shall review and study, on a continuing basis, the implementation,
8181 72administration, execution and effectiveness of those laws, or parts of law, the subject matter of
8282 73which is within the jurisdiction of that committee, the administrative regulations adopted to
8383 74implement those laws, and those state agencies or entities having responsibilities for the
8484 75administration and execution of such laws;
8585 76(ii) in carrying out these review and study activities, each committee shall determine whether
8686 77such laws, administrative regulations and programs under those laws are being implemented in
8787 78accordance with the intent of the General Court and whether such laws, administrative
8888 79regulations and programs should be continued, curtailed or eliminated;
8989 80(iii) each committee shall also review and study any conditions and circumstances which may
9090 81indicate the necessity or desirability of enacting new legislation within the jurisdiction of that
9191 82committee, regardless of whether any matter has been introduced on that subject, and shall, on a
9292 83continuing basis, undertake research on matters within the jurisdiction of that committee.
9393 84Committees shall coordinate oversight activities, under the direction of the presiding officers of
9494 85both branches, to achieve the maximum objectives of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii).
9595 86Each committee may, upon completion of its oversight hearings, report to the General Court the
9696 87results of its findings and recommendations together with accompanying corrective legislation, if
9797 88any, by filing the same with the Clerk of the House of Representatives or the Clerk of the Senate.
9898 89Copies of such reports shall be made available to all members electronically and to the public via 6 of 62
9999 90the official website of the General Court. The disposition of said reports shall be determined by
100100 91the Clerks with the approval of the Speaker and the President.
101101 92The Senate or House chair of a joint committee may appoint subcommittees to investigate and
102102 93study any matter referred to said subcommittee. Not less than 10 per cent of a Senate or House
103103 94subcommittee’s members shall be from the minority party. Chairs of subcommittees shall not be
104104 95considered chairs under section 9B of chapter 3 of the General Laws. A subcommittee may, upon
105105 96completion of an investigation and study, report the results of the investigation and study
106106 97together with legislation, if any, by filing the same with the appointing chair of the joint
107107 98committee.
108108 99Temporary employees of the general court assigned to a joint committee who are students at an
109109 100accredited education institution or employees or grantees of other non-profit organizations under
110110 101section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code may receive compensation from such
111111 102organization, according to that organization’s regular program of providing such compensation
112112 103for temporary governmental or public service employment. A temporary employee’s Senate or
113113 104House supervisor shall establish the employee’s total compensation, shall verify that the sum of
114114 105the employee’s state compensation, if any, and that any outside compensation the employee is to
115115 106receive under this rule would not exceed this total compensation, and shall file the written terms
116116 107of the employee’s compensation with the Senate or House Human Resources Office, where it
117117 108shall be available for public inspection. The temporary employee shall sign an ethics agreement
118118 109provided by the Senate Personnel Office or House Human Resources Office.
119119 110The Senate and House Offices of Human Resources shall publish an employee handbook for
120120 111joint employees of both branches of the General Court and the responsibilities associated with 7 of 62
121121 112the supervision of joint employees, including payroll, shall be shared equally between said
122122 113offices. The handbook shall be developed with the advice and approval of both the Counsel to
123123 114the Senate and the Counsel to the House. The handbook shall address access by joint employees
124124 115to the human resource related services and programs of each branch of the General Court. Joint
125125 116employees shall complete any training required by either branch of the General Court, as may be
126126 117agreed upon by the Senate and House Offices of Human Resources.
127127 118[Amended Jan. 6, 1882; Jan. 5, 18 83; Jan. 7, 18 84; Jan. 8 and 26, 1885; Jan. 8, 18 86; Jan. 12,
128128 11918 87; Jan. 9, 18 88; Jan. 28, 18 89; Jan. 8, 18 90; Feb. 2, 18 91; Jan. 11 and Feb. 10, 18 92; Feb.
129129 1207, 18 93; Jan. 8. 1894; Jan. 7, 18 95; Jan. 7, 18 96; Jan. 11, 18 97; Jan. 10, 18 98; Jan. 9, 18 99;
130130 121Jan. 22 and 29, 1901; Jan. 6, 19 02; Jan. 9, 19 03; Jan. 8, 19 04; Jan. 6, 19 05; Jan. 4, 19 07; Jan.
131131 1225, 19 10; Jan. 4, 19 11; Jan. 1, 19 13; Jan. 12, 19 14; Jan. 2, 19 18; Jan. 1 and 8 and Feb. 21,
132132 1231919; Jan. 7, 19 20; Jan. 5, 19 21; April 17 and 30, 1925; Jan. 5, 19 27; Jan. 7, 19 31; Jan. 6, 19
133133 12437; Jan. 4, 19 39; Jan. 1, 19 41; Jan. 3, 19 45; Jan. 2, 19 46; Jan. 6, 19 47; Feb. 1, 19 49; Jan. 7,
134134 12519 53; Jan. 7, 19 59; Jan. 30, 19 61; Jan. 7, 19 63; Jan. 12, 19 65; Feb. 24, 19 65; Mar. 10, 19 66;
135135 126Jan. 30, 19 67; Jan. 7, 1971 ; July 23, 1974 ; Sept. 30 and Oct. 12, 1976 ; Nov. 3, 1981 ; Dec. 21,
136136 1271981 ; Mar. 15, 1982 ; Oct. 3, 1983 ; June 3, 1985 ; Jan. 25 and Mar. 14, 1988 ; Mar. 27, 1995 ,
137137 128June 12, 1995 ; July 17, 2003 ; Jan. 26, 2005; July 21 and September 20, 2005; Feb. 20, 2007;
138138 129Feb 12, 2009; Feb. 15, 2017; Mar 7, 2019; Mar. 25, 2021; Feb. 16, 2023.]
139139 1301A. All meetings of joint committees acting concurrently, Senate and House standing
140140 131committees, special committees of the Senate and House of Representatives, and joint special
141141 132committees and committees of conference on the disagreeing votes of the 2 branches shall be
142142 133open to the public, unless a majority shall vote otherwise. [Adopted July 17, 1973. Amended
143143 134July 18, 1974; Feb. 12, 2009.] 8 of 62
144144 1351B. A joint standing committee shall hold a public hearing on each matter referred to it in each
145145 136legislative session. [Adopted June 3, 1985; Amended Feb. 12, 2009.]
146146 1371C. (1) All joint standing committees shall schedule committee hearings and executive sessions
147147 138upon agreement of the chairs and so as not to conflict, to the extent feasible, with the schedules
148148 139of other committees and, to the extent feasible, the day of the week and times during that day set
149149 140aside for formal sessions by the respective branches. The chairs shall record the attendance of
150150 141members during committee hearings and shall cause the attendance to be published on the
151151 142official website of the General Court alongside the livestream of the hearing archived on said
152152 143website pursuant to paragraph (3). [Adopted June 3, 1985; Amended June 12, 1995; Mar. 7,
153153 1442019.]
154154 145(2) The schedule of committee hearings shall designate which branch will preside over each
155155 146hearing, and the chairs shall ensure, to the extent practicable, that each branch presides over an
156156 147equal number of hearings. The committee staff of the branch presiding over the hearing shall be
157157 148responsible for the administrative work necessary to conduct the hearing, including, but not
158158 149limited to, securing a hearing location, arranging for the publication of the agenda and
159159 150instructions for public participation, recording the attendance of committee members, and
160160 151processing the individuals seeking to testify at the hearing either physically or remotely. Prior to
161161 152the hearing, the staff of each branch shall produce a plain-language summary of each bill to be
162162 153heard from their respective branches, which shall be made available on the official website of the
163163 154General Court.
164164 155(3) All hearings of joint standing committees shall be conducted in-person with the option of
165165 156remote participation available to the public; provided, however, that the members of said joint 9 of 62
166166 157standing committees shall be physically present at the hearing location where in-person public
167167 158testimony is offered. All joint standing committees, in the conduct of their hearings, shall utilize,
168168 159to the extent practicable, online platforms or systems that allow for synchronous, audio-visual
169169 160communication between the members of the committee and individuals offering testimony
170170 161remotely. All hearings of joint standing committees shall be publicly livestreamed on the official
171171 162website of the General Court which shall display and transmit, in real-time, the audio-visual
172172 163attributes of public testimony offered remotely; provided further, that said livestream shall be
173173 164archived on the official website of the General Court for the duration of the legislative session.
174174 165Members of the Senate and House of Representatives may offer remote testimony before joint
175175 166standing committees of which they are not a member. The chairs of the joint standing
176176 167committees shall use best efforts to prioritize the testimony of those physically present at the
177177 168hearing location and may, in their discretion, allow individuals participating in-person a greater
178178 169amount of time to testify than those participating remotely. All notices of hearings of joint
179179 170standing committees issued pursuant to Joint Rule 1D at which public testimony is being
180180 171solicited shall include instructions on how to offer testimony both in-person and remotely.
181181 1721D. All meetings of joint standing committees, and special joint committees of the Senate and
182182 173House of Representatives, and joint special committees and committees of conference on the
183183 174disagreeing votes of the 2 branches shall be open to the public, and any person shall be permitted
184184 175to attend any such meeting unless such committee convenes in executive session, as provided
185185 176herein. All joint standing committees shall determine a schedule for committee hearings to be
186186 177held from the beginning of the first annual session through the third Wednesday in December in
187187 178said session. These committee schedules shall be submitted to the Clerks of the Senate and
188188 179House of Representatives who shall cause them to be published on the official website of the 10 of 62
189189 180General Court. Establishment of such schedules shall not preclude joint standing committees
190190 181from scheduling additional hearings or meetings as needed. No executive session shall be held
191191 182until after the committee has first convened in an open session for which notice has been given,
192192 183the presiding officer has stated the purpose of the executive session, a majority of the committee
193193 184members present has voted to go into executive session, the vote of each member has been
194194 185recorded on a roll call vote, and the presiding officer has stated before the executive session if
195195 186the committee will reconvene after the executive session. The records of all such roll calls shall
196196 187be kept in the offices of the committee for the duration of the General Court during which said
197197 188vote was recorded, and the committee shall cause the record of such roll call to be available on
198198 189the official website of the General Court within 48 hours of such roll call.
199199 190All joint standing committees, and special joint committees of the Senate and House of
200200 191Representatives, shall notify the Sergeant-at-Arms of the time, place and agenda of all public
201201 192hearings and executive sessions not less than 72 hours prior to the time of such meetings. If
202202 193public testimony is being solicited, agendas shall include: (i) an electronic mail address and
203203 194physical mail address for the submission of testimony, (ii) instructions on how the public may
204204 195participate remotely, and (iii) the committee reporting deadline under Joint Rule 10 for the
205205 196matters being heard. The Sergeant-at-Arms shall notify the Clerks, who shall inform all members
206206 197electronically and publish such information on the official website of the General Court
207207 198whenever practicable.
208208 199Committees shall make written testimony received by the committee publicly available;
209209 200provided, however, that the committee shall adopt rules relative to the public availability of
210210 201written testimony received by the committee and such rules shall contain limitations on the
211211 202sharing of testimony that includes sensitive personal information or information that may 11 of 62
212212 203jeopardize the health, wellness or safety of the testifier or others. The rules relative to the public
213213 204availability of written testimony adopted by the committee shall be disclosed in the hearing
214214 205agendas and shall inform testifiers that their written testimony may be made publicly available
215215 206by the committee.
216216 207Nothing contained in this rule shall prohibit a joint standing committee or special joint
217217 208committee of the Senate and the House of Representatives from taking appropriate action
218218 209including, but not limited to, the exclusion of a person from a committee meeting in order to
219219 210prevent the disruption of or interference with committee proceedings. All meetings of joint
220220 211standing committees, and special joint committees of the Senate and House of Representatives,
221221 212shall be limited to no more than 50 bills to be discussed in a hearing, unless it can be determined
222222 213that all of the bills being considered are of the same subject matter.
223223 214The 72-hour requirement shall be suspended in an emergency only after all reasonable efforts
224224 215have been made to contact all committee members and upon a recorded vote of at least a
225225 216majority of the members of each branch appointed to the committee, but not less than two-thirds
226226 217of the members of each branch voting.
227227 218A meeting of a committee may be recorded by a person in attendance by means of a recorder or
228228 219any other means of audio/visual reproduction except when a meeting is held in executive session;
229229 220provided, that a person seeking to record a meeting of a committee notifies the chairs of the
230230 221committee prior to commencing such recording; and provided further that during such recording
231231 222there is no interference with the conduct of the meeting.
232232 223The chairs of each committee shall preserve decorum and order during each committee hearing.
233233 224Persons attending hearings shall be required to refrain from the use of cellular telephones, 12 of 62
234234 225beepers and pagers. The use of visual aids including, without limitation, posters, displays, or
235235 226charts shall be permitted only upon approval of the chairs.
236236 227At any time after a matter has had a hearing, a chair of a committee may initiate a vote thereon if
237237 228the matter is filed in the branch of said chair. Said vote shall be taken from each member of the
238238 229branch of said chair, and if a majority of the members of said branch voting on the matter vote in
239239 230support of the matter, then the matter shall be reported favorably and referred to the branch in
240240 231which the matter was filed. The Senate chair and the Senate members of the committee shall
241241 232have no authority or ability to impede the vote on a bill in the committee that was filed in the
242242 233House, and the House chair and the House members shall have no authority or ability to impede
243243 234the vote on a bill in the committee that was filed in the Senate.
244244 235A chair of the committee shall provide to the members of their branch on the committee a
245245 236comprehensive summary of each matter prior to a vote thereon, and all matters receiving a
246246 237favorable report shall contain, in addition to a summary, (i) a document clearly marking any
247247 238changes made by the committee to the underlying matter, and (ii) a document clearly marking
248248 239any changes to any general or special law proposed by the matter, which shall be made publicly
249249 240available. Any vote of a committee on a matter shall be taken by roll call or electronic poll of
250250 241each member of the branch calling the vote; provided, however, that the committee shall cause
251251 242the record of such roll call to be available on the official website of the General Court within 48
252252 243hours of such roll call along with a notation indicating whether a committee member voting on
253253 244the matter attended the committee hearing at which the matter was heard. [Adopted June 3, 1985.
254254 245Amended June 12, 1995; Feb. 20, 2007; Mar. 14, 2013; Mar. 7, 2019.] 13 of 62
255255 2461E. The joint standing committee on Health Care Financing shall review all legislation relating
256256 247to health care to evaluate the appropriateness and fiscal effect of such legislation. A matter
257257 248within the jurisdiction of said committee may, if appropriate, initially be referred to another joint
258258 249standing committee sharing jurisdiction of the subject-matter. Any matter reported favorably by
259259 250such joint standing committee shall be referred to the joint committee on Health Care Financing;
260260 251provided, however, that notwithstanding any rule to the contrary, any such matter so reported
261261 252shall not be read a first time in the branch in which the report was received. The next favorable
262262 253report on any such matter, if made by a joint committee, shall be made in accordance with Joint
263263 254Rule 1D. Such next favorable report shall be considered the first reading. The branch of origin
264264 255for any such bill so reported shall be the branch receiving such favorable report.
265265 256In compliance with section 38A of chapter 3 of the General Laws, the joint committee on Health
266266 257Care Financing when reporting on bills shall include a fiscal note prepared under section 3A of
267267 258chapter 29 of the General Laws, showing the estimated cost or the fiscal effect of the proposed
268268 259legislation, if, in the opinion of said committee, such cost or fiscal effect exceeds the sum of
269269 260$100,000; provided, however, that any matter reported by the committee on Health Care
270270 261Financing with a fiscal effect of less than $100,000 shall not be referred, under the rules, to the
271271 262committee on Ways and Means.[Adopted Jan. 26, 2005; Amended May 19, 2005; Feb. 20, 2007;
272272 263Feb. 12, 2009.]
273273 2641F. The joint committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets shall review all
274274 265legislation providing for the giving, loaning or pledging of the credit of the Commonwealth (see
275275 266Article LXII of the Amendments to the Constitution, as amended by Article LXXXIV). Said
276276 267committee shall be responsible for evaluating such legislation and determining the
277277 268appropriateness of enacting legislation containing increased bond authorizations for the 14 of 62
278278 269Commonwealth. The committee shall periodically review and hold open public hearings,
279279 270accepting oral and written testimony on the status of the bonds and notes of the Commonwealth,
280280 271including (1) general obligation debt; (2) dedicated income tax debt; and (3) special obligation
281281 272debt. The committee shall also, in its continuing study of the state’s bonding practices, review
282282 273the Commonwealth’s liabilities relative to (a) state-supported debt; (b) state-guaranteed debt; and
283283 274(c) indirect obligations.
284284 275Any bill providing for borrowing for new projects and requiring the Commonwealth to issue
285285 276bonds for such purpose shall, prior to its reference to the committee on Ways and Means, be
286286 277referred to the committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets for report on its
287287 278relationship to the finances of the Commonwealth. A measure may initially be referred to
288288 279another joint committee with jurisdiction over the subject matter before being referred to the
289289 280committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets; provided, however, that
290290 281notwithstanding any rule to the contrary, any such matter so reported shall not be read a first time
291291 282in the branch in which the report was received. The next favorable report on any such matter by
292292 283the committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets shall be considered the first
293293 284reading. The branch of origin for any such bill so reported shall be the branch receiving such
294294 285favorable report.
295295 286The provisions of Joint Rule 4 shall apply to all matters referred to the joint committee on
296296 287Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets, except that where constitutionally prohibited.
297297 288The joint committee shall consult with the various agencies of the Executive branch and the
298298 289office of the Treasurer and Receiver-General relative to project expenditures, availability of
299299 290funds, the sale of new bonds and the resultant debt obligations, federal reimbursements and other
300300 291related funding and bonding issues. 15 of 62
301301 292The joint committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets shall be authorized to
302302 293conduct hearings relative to the statutory authority of the Executive branch and the Treasurer and
303303 294Receiver-General in the issuance and sale of bonds and notes and the expenditure of capital
304304 295funds by the various agencies and authorities of the Commonwealth. The committee shall
305305 296determine whether such laws, administrative regulations and programs are being implemented in
306306 297accordance with the intent of the General Court.
307307 298The committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets shall be authorized to report
308308 299to the General Court from time to time on the results of its hearings and to file drafts of
309309 300legislation necessary to carry its recommendations into effect.
310310 301Messages from the Governor setting terms of bonds and notes, or for the de-authorization or
311311 302authorization of bonds and notes, shall be referred to the committee on Bonding, Capital
312312 303Expenditures and State Assets.
313313 3041G. The President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Minority Leader
314314 305of the Senate, Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, the Senate and House chairs and
315315 306the Senate and House ranking minority members of the joint committee on Public Safety and
316316 307Homeland Security may receive security clearance from federal and state homeland security
317317 308officials in order to be granted access to confidential homeland security briefings, information
318318 309and materials. The President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the
319319 310Senate and House committee chairs and the Senate and House ranking minority members may
320320 311designate 1 or more members of their staff who may receive such security clearance.
321321 312Any person who receives security clearance under this rule shall sign all confidentiality
322322 313agreements required by homeland security officials. The breach of any such confidentiality 16 of 62
323323 314agreement shall constitute a violation of the Joint Rules of the Senate and House of
324324 315Representatives. Any alleged violation of a confidentiality agreement shall be referred for
325325 316investigation to the Senate committee on Ethics and Rules or the House committee on Ethics,
326326 317respectively, and, if appropriate, to law enforcement authorities for potential criminal
327327 318prosecution. [Adopted Jan. 26, 2005; Amended Feb. 12, 2009; Mar. 7, 2019.]
328328 3192. No member of either branch shall act as counsel for any party before any committee of the
329329 320Legislature.
330330 3212A. No member of either branch shall purchase, directly or indirectly, the stock or other
331331 322securities of any corporation or association knowing that there is pending before the General
332332 323Court any measure specially granting to such corporation or association any immunity,
333333 324exemption, privilege or benefit or any measure providing for the creation of, or directly affecting
334334 325any, contractual relations between such corporation or association and the Commonwealth. This
335335 326rule shall not apply to the purchase of securities issued by the Commonwealth or any political
336336 327subdivision of the Commonwealth. [See G.L. chapter 268, section 10.] [Adopted Jan. 16, 1922.]
337337 3283. When the General Court is in session, authorization for any joint standing committee to travel
338338 329during the session of the General Court shall be approved by a vote of two-thirds of the
339339 330committees on Rules of the two branches, acting concurrently. [Adopted Feb. 7, 1890; Amended
340340 331Feb. 2, 1891 ; Jan. 20, 1904 ; April 17, 1925 ; March 2, 1943 ; July 27, 1950 ; Oct. 18, 1971 ;
341341 332March 28, 1972 ; Jan. 15, 1973; Feb. 12, 2009.]
342342 3333A. A joint standing committee may, upon the written and signed report of two-thirds of the
343343 334members of the Senate and two-thirds of the members of the House appointed to said committee,
344344 335report a bill or other form of legislation without said legislation being founded upon petition; 17 of 62
345345 336provided, however, that matters so reported shall be germane to the subject matters regularly
346346 337referred to the committee. The committee shall hold a public hearing on such bill or other form
347347 338of legislation before it is reported. A bill or other form of legislation so reported shall be placed
348348 339in the Orders of the Day by the Clerk of the respective branch to which it is reported or referred
349349 340to a standing committee of said branch under the rules. All reports of committees not founded
350350 341upon petition shall bear the designation ‘committee bill’, ‘resolve’, ‘order’ or ‘resolution’, as the
351351 342case may be, in the Orders of the Day. Committees to which messages from the Governor,
352352 343reports of state officers, boards, committees, commissions and others authorized to report to the
353353 344General Court, may report by bill or otherwise such legislation as may be germane to the subject
354354 345matter referred to them. [Adopted June 3, 1985 .]
355355 3464. Favorable reports, and adverse reports on subjects of legislation other than petitions, by joint
356356 347committees shall be made to the branch in which the matter was originally introduced, except
357357 348that reports on money bills shall be made to the House and if adverse reports on matters other
358358 349than petitions which are accompanied by money bills are accepted by the House, this shall
359359 350constitute final rejection. Adverse reports by joint committees on petitions shall be made to the
360360 351branch in which the petition was originally introduced, except that such adverse reports on
361361 352petitions accompanied by proposed money bills shall be made to the House; and, if accepted by
362362 353the branch in which they are made, shall be considered as a final rejection. When a report is
363363 354made from any committee to either branch, and the subject-matter of the report is subsequently
364364 355referred to a joint committee, such committee, shall report its action to the branch in which the
365365 356reference originated. [See also Joint Rule 5.]
366366 357All committee members shall have an opportunity to sign a form accompanying a report of the
367367 358committee signifying approval of, dissent or abstention from a report of a joint standing 18 of 62
368368 359committee before the report is final or filed. No signature shall be valid unless the report to
369369 360which the signature is affixed includes the substantially complete text of the legislation being
370370 361reported. [Amended Jan. 3, 1952; April 8, 1959; June 7, 1965; Jan. 7, 1971; March 11, 1974;
371371 362June 3, 1985; Feb. 20, 2007; Feb. 15, 2017.]
372372 3634A. In compliance with section 38A of chapter 3 of the General Laws, all joint committees of the
373373 364General Court when reporting on bills referred to them shall include a fiscal note prepared under
374374 365section 3A of chapter 29 of the General Laws, showing the estimated cost or the fiscal effect of
375375 366the proposed legislation, if, in the opinion of said committee, such cost exceeds $100,000. Such
376376 367fiscal note shall be filed electronically in the office of the clerk to which the report is being
377377 368made, and shall be promptly made available on the official website of the General Court.
378378 369[Adopted Jan. 15, 1973.]
379379 3705. Matters reported adversely by joint committees and the committees on Rules of the two
380380 371branches, acting concurrently, may be recommitted to the same committees at the pleasure of the
381381 372branch acting on the report, and bills or resolves may be recommitted in either branch. If a bill or
382382 373resolve is laid aside in either branch for the reason that it is declared to be broader in its scope
383383 374than the subject-matter upon which it is based, the subject-matter shall be recommitted to the
384384 375committee. A concurrent vote shall, however, be necessary for re-committal, with instructions.
385385 376After recommitment, report shall, in all cases, be made to the branch originating the
386386 377recommitment. [Amended Feb. 2, 1891; April 11, 1935; Jan. 6, 1947; May 7, 19 53; March 26,
387387 3781963; Jan. 30, 1967; Jan. 7, 1971; March 11, 1974.]
388388 3796. Bills and resolves reported by joint committees shall be presented with spaces between the
389389 380several sections and shall be made available to all members electronically and to the public on 19 of 62
390390 381the official website of the General Court. [Amended Jan. 28, 1889; Jan. 9, 1941; Feb. 8, 1949;
391391 382Feb. 12, 2009.]
392392 383Joint Petitions.
393393 3846A. A member of the Senate and a member of the House of Representatives may file a joint
394394 385petition in either branch and shall endorse their name on the petition and a brief statement of the
395395 386nature and object of the instrument and the reading of the instrument shall be dispensed with,
396396 387unless specially ordered. The petition shall be filed in the office of the clerk of either the Senate
397397 388or House of Representatives, depending on whether it is a ‘Joint Senate/House Petition’ or a
398398 389‘Joint House/Senate Petition’ but the Journal records in the Senate and House of Representatives
399399 390shall carry both members’ names as presenters of the petition. [Adopted Jan. 15, 1973.]
400400 3917. Whenever, upon any application for an act of incorporation or other legislation, the purpose
401401 392for which such legislation is sought can be secured without detriment to the public interests by a
402402 393general law or under existing laws, the committee to which the matter is referred shall report
403403 394such general law, or ‘ought not to pass’. [Amended Feb. 2, 1891; Feb. 7, 18 93; Jan. 7, 1971.]
404404 3957A. A petition for legislation to authorize a county to reinstate in its service a person formerly
405405 396employed by it, or to retire or pension or grant an annuity to any person, or to increase any
406406 397retirement allowance, pension or annuity, or to pay any sum of money in the nature of a pension
407407 398or retirement allowance, or to pay any salary which would have accrued to a deceased official or
408408 399employee but for their death, or to pay any claim for damages or otherwise, or to alter the
409409 400benefits or change the restrictions of any county retirement or pension law, shall, subsequently to
410410 401the procedure required by Senate Rule No. 20 and by House Rule No. 24, be reported adversely,
411411 402unless, when filed it be the petition of, or be approved by, a majority of the county 20 of 62
412412 403commissioners. [Adopted April 29, 1915. Amended Jan. 13, Feb. 19 and Dec. 22, 1920; May 24,
413413 4041926; April 11, 1935; April 22, 1937; Jan. 12, 1939; Jan. 15, 1945; Feb. 20, 1951; Jan. 30, 1967;
414414 405Jan. 7, 1971; Jan. 15, 1973; Mar. 7, 2019.]
415415 4067B. A petition, the operation of which is restricted to a particular city or town (and which does
416416 407not affect the powers, duties, etc., of state departments, boards, commissions, etc., or which does
417417 408not affect generally the laws of the Commonwealth) and which is not filed in conformity with
418418 409Section 8 of Article LXXXIX of the Amendments to the Constitution shall, subsequent to the
419419 410procedure required by Senate Rule 20 and House Rule 24, be reported adversely, unless it be on
420420 411petition filed or approved by the voters of a city or town, or the mayor and city council, or other
421421 412legislative body, of a city, or the town meeting of a town. A joint committee to which is
422422 413inadvertently referred a petition or other subject of legislation the operation of which is restricted
423423 414to a particular city or town and which is not in conformity with Section 8 of Article LXXXIX of
424424 415the Amendments to the Constitution shall report a general law which applies alike to all cities, or
425425 416to all towns, or to all cities and towns, or to a class of not fewer than 2; or shall report ‘ought not
426426 417to pass’, with the further endorsement that it ‘would be unconstitutional to enact such special
427427 418law’.
428428 419Any petition that subsequently conforms to Section 8 of Article LXXXIX of the Amendments to
429429 420the Constitution after filing, which have followed the procedures set forth in Senate Rule 20 or
430430 421House Rule 24, shall be forthwith reported from the committee on Rules and be referred by the
431431 422Clerk to an appropriate committee.[Adopted Jan. 13, 1920. Amended Feb. 19 and Dec. 22, 1920;
432432 423May 24, 1926; April 11, 1935; April 22, 1937; Jan. 12, 1939; Jan. 9, 1941; Jan. 15, 1945; Feb.
433433 42420, 1951; Jan. 30, 1967; Jan. 7 and Mar. 22, 1971 ; Jan. 15, 1973; March 14, 2013.] 21 of 62
434434 4257C. The approval vote required to file a petition, the operation of which is restricted to a
435435 426particular city or town under Section 8 of Article LXXXIX of the Amendments to the
436436 427Constitution of the Commonwealth, shall not expire prior to the final day of the next immediate
437437 428biennial session in which the petition was filed and no additional vote shall be required to file a
438438 429petition unless a vote to rescind such approval is passed by the voters of a city or town, or the
439439 430mayor and city council or other legislative body of a city, or the select board and the town
440440 431meeting or other legislative body of the town. [Adopted, Mar. 14, 2013; Amended Feb. 15,
441441 4322017.]
442442 4337D. The approval of a substantive amendment to a petition restricted to a single city or town and
443443 434requiring a vote of the city of town before enactment of the petition shall be provided to the
444444 435General Court before the enactment of the petition and shall be reviewed by House Counsel and
445445 436Senate Counsel prior to the enactment of the petition in either branch. [Adopted , Feb. 15, 2017.]
446446 437Notice to Parties Interested.
447447 4388. No legislation affecting the rights of individuals or the rights of a private or municipal
448448 439corporation, otherwise than as it affects generally the people of the Commonwealth or the people
449449 440of the city or town to which it specifically applies, shall be proposed or introduced except by a
450450 441petition, nor shall any bill or resolve embodying such legislation be reported by a committee
451451 442except upon a petition duly referred, nor shall such a bill or resolve be reported by a committee,
452452 443whether on an original reference or on a re-committal with instructions to hear the parties, until it
453453 444is made to appear to the satisfaction of the committee that proper notice of the proposed
454454 445legislation has been given by public advertisement or otherwise to all parties interested, without
455455 446expense to the Commonwealth, or until evidence satisfactory to the committee is produced that 22 of 62
456456 447all parties interested have in writing waived notice. A committee reporting adversely due to lack
457457 448proper notice or of a waiver of proper notice shall so state in its report and no bill or resolve shall
458458 449be in order as a substitute for, or amendment of, such report. Objection to the violation of this
459459 450rule may be taken at any stage prior to that of the third reading. [Adopted Feb. 7, 1890. Amended
460460 451Dec. 22, 1920 ; Jan. 12, 1939 ; Jan. 15, 1945; Jan. 7, 1971.]
461461 4529. A petition for the incorporation of a city or town, for the annexation of 1 municipality to
462462 453another, for the consolidation of 2 or more municipalities or for the division of an existing
463463 454municipality, or for the incorporation or revival of a railroad, street railway, elevated railroad,
464464 455canal, telephone, telegraph, water, gas, electric light, power or other public service corporation,
465465 456for the amendment, alteration or extension of the charter or corporate powers or privileges, or for
466466 457the change of name, of any such company, whether specially incorporated or organized under the
467467 458General Laws, or for authority to take water for a water supply, or relative to building structures
468468 459in or over navigable or tide waters, shall be placed on file, and not referred to a committee,
469469 460unless the petitioner has given the notice and followed the procedure required by section 5 of
470470 461chapter 3 of the General Laws. But, if no objection being raised, any such petition is referred to a
471471 462committee without such required notice or procedure, the committee shall forthwith report
472472 463adversely, setting forth as the reason for such report failure to comply with the law, unless
473473 464evidence satisfactory to the committee is produced that all parties interested have in writing
474474 465waived notice. In case a bill or resolve is reported upon such a petition, after proof of such
475475 466waiver of notice, this fact shall be set forth in the report of the committee. When an adverse
476476 467report is made by a committee, on account of failure to give the required notice, no bill or resolve
477477 468shall be substituted for such report, nor shall such report be recommitted or referred to another
478478 469committee. 23 of 62
479479 470A petition for the establishment or revival, or for the amendment, alteration or extension of the
480480 471charter or corporate powers or privileges, or for the change of name, of any corporation, except a
481481 472petition subject to the preceding paragraph, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the branch in
482482 473which it is filed to the office of the State Secretary. If such a petition is returned by said
483483 474Secretary with a statement that the petitioner has failed to comply with the requirements of
484484 475section 7 of chapter 3 of the General Laws, said petition shall be placed on file, and shall not be
485485 476referred to a committee.
486486 477Any petition placed on file for want of proper notice or procedure under this rule shall not affect
487487 478action upon any other measure involving the same subject matter. [Adopted Feb. 7, 1890.
488488 479Amended Feb. 2, 1891; Feb. 3, 1898; Jan. 16, 1903; Feb. 19 and Dec. 22, 1920; May 24, 1926;
489489 480Feb. 27, 1929; April 11, 1935; Jan. 6, 1938; Jan. 12, 1939; Jan. 9, 1941; Jan. 15, 1945; April 8,
490490 4811959; Jan. 7, 1963; Jan. 7, 1971 ; Jan. 15, 1973 , June 12, 1995; Feb. 12, 2009; Mar. 7, 2019.]
491491 482Limit of Time allowed for Reports of Committees.
492492 48310. All joint committees and the committees on Rules of the two branches, acting concurrently,
493493 484shall make final report on all matters referred to and heard by them prior to the third Wednesday
494494 485of December of the first annual session of the General Court by not later than 60 calendar days
495495 486after the matter is heard; provided, however, that an additional 30 calendar days may be granted
496496 487on a matter by the chair of the committee on the part of the branch in which the matter was
497497 488respectively filed who shall notify the clerk of their respective branch of said extension. After the
498498 489expiration of such 90-day period, the branch in which a matter was filed shall approve by
499499 490unanimous consent an extension order submitted by the members of the joint committee from
500500 491their respective branch for any additional time for further consideration of the matter. However, a 24 of 62
501501 492committee shall not make final report after, and a branch shall not approve of an extension order
502502 493that extends consideration of a matter beyond, the third Wednesday in March of the second
503503 494annual session of the General Court. For matters referred to a committee and heard by said
504504 495committee after the third Wednesday of December of the first annual session, the committee
505505 496shall make final report by not later than 60 calendar days after the matter is heard, or by the third
506506 497Wednesday in March of the second annual session, whichever occurs later. For all matters
507507 498referred to the committee on Health Care Financing after the third Wednesday in March of the
508508 499second annual session which were initially referred to another joint standing committee, the
509509 500committee shall make final report not later than the last Wednesday of May of the second annual
510510 501session.
511511 502When the time within which said committees are required to report has expired, all matters upon
512512 503which no report has then been made shall forthwith be reported by the chair of the committee on
513513 504the part of the branch in which they were respectively introduced, with a recommendation to
514514 505study under this rule.
515515 506Matters which have been referred under Joint Rule 29, upon which the chairs of the committees
516516 507on Rules fail to make a report, shall be placed by the respective Clerks in the Orders of the Day
517517 508of the branch in which the subject matter was referred to said committees.
518518 509Committees to whom are referred subjects of legislation may combine petitions of similar
519519 510subject matter, or other forms of legislation of similar subject matter, into 1 adverse report, and
520520 511the report on the petition shall be that said petitions or other forms of legislation ‘ought NOT to
521521 512pass,’ and if the report is accepted, all the matters contained in the report shall be disposed of.
522522 513However, petitions upon which an adverse report is accepted in only 1 branch may not be 25 of 62
523523 514combined with other subjects of legislation upon which adverse reports must be accepted, in
524524 515concurrence. This rule shall not apply to petitions referred to the committees on Rules of the two
525525 516branches, acting concurrently, under the second paragraph of Joint Rule 12.
526526 517This rule shall not be rescinded, amended or suspended, except by a concurrent vote of four-
527527 518fifths of the members of each branch present and voting thereon. Notwithstanding Joint Rule 30,
528528 519this rule shall not be rescinded, amended or suspended more than 3 times except by unanimous
529529 520consent. [Amended Feb. 2, 1891; Jan. 25, 1894; Jan. 16, 1903; Jan. 20, 1904; Dec. 22, 1920;
530530 521April 17, 1925; Jan. 12, 1939; Jan. 15, 1945; Jan. 6, 1947; May 7, 1953; Jan. 27, 1955; Jan. 30,
531531 5221967; Jan. 7, 1971; Feb. 4, 1974, June 12, 1995; July 17, 2003; Feb. 20, 2007; Feb. 12, 2009;
532532 523Feb. 15, 2017; Mar. 7, 2019.]
533533 52410A. The form for all subjects of legislation receiving a favorable report shall be ‘ought to pass.’
534534 525The form for all subjects of legislation receiving an adverse report shall be ‘ought NOT to pass.’
535535 526A committee to whom is referred any other matter may report recommending that the same be
536536 527placed on file. [Adopted Jan. 7, 1971.]
537537 528Committees of Conference.
538538 52911. Committees of conference shall consist of 3 members on the part of each branch, one
539539 530member of each branch being a member of the minority party representing its vote; and their
540540 531report, if agreed to by a majority of each committee, shall be made to the branch asking for the
541541 532conference, and may be either accepted or rejected, but no other action shall be had, except
542542 533through a new committee of conference.
543543 534Committees of conference to whom are referred matters of difference in respect to bills or
544544 535resolves, shall, after filing their reports, but before consideration by either branch, have the same 26 of 62
545545 536approved or discharged by each committee on Bills in the Third Reading. [Amended April 22,
546546 5371937; Feb. 12, 2009; Feb. 3, 2011; Feb. 15, 2017; Mar. 7, 2019.]
547547 53811A. Committees of conference to whom are referred matters of difference in respect to
548548 539appropriation bills, including capital outlay programs, shall, after filing their reports but before
549549 540consideration by either branch have the same approved or discharged by each committee on Bills
550550 541in the Third Reading.
551551 542Upon the appointment of a committee of conference to whom matters of difference in respect to
552552 543any appropriation bill or in respect to any bill providing for capital outlay programs and projects
553553 544are referred, the clerk of the branch requesting said committee of conference shall make
554554 545available to members of the General Court a list of the matters in disagreement identified by item
555555 546number and item purpose and showing the amount made available by each branch of the General
556556 547Court, and any other matters in disagreement and the position of each of the said branches.
557557 548The report of said committee of conference shall consist of the matters of difference so referred
558558 549and so identified, showing the amounts appropriated by each of the said branches and other
559559 550matters in disagreement and the position of each branch with respect to those matters, and shall
560560 551state said committee's recommendations with respect to the matters so referred. Matters on which
561561 552there exists no disagreement between the branches shall not be disturbed by the committee of
562562 553conference.
563563 554The committees on ways and means of each branch of the General Court shall assist such
564564 555committee of conference in any and all matters necessary to the preparation and completion of its
565565 556report. [Adopted July 30, 1974; Amended Oct. 3, 1983; Feb. 3, 2011.] 27 of 62
566566 55711B. No report from a committee of conference shall be considered or acted upon by either
567567 558branch until the calendar day following the day on which said report shall have been available to
568568 559the public and to the members of the General Court. The committee shall file its report no later
569569 560than 8 p.m. on the day preceding its consideration and the General Court shall not consider said
570570 561report before 1 p.m. on the following day, except that a report from such committee of
571571 562conference that it is unable to agree may be considered and acted upon at the time that such
572572 563report is filed. [Adopted Oct. 3, 1983. Amended July 17, 2003; July 21 and September 20, 2005;
573573 564Feb. 3, 2011.]
574574 56511C. Reports, other than those filed under Rule 11A, from a committee of conference shall be
575575 566accompanied by a summary which shall describe the matters in disagreement, the position of
576576 567each branch with respect to those matters, and the committee’s recommendations with respect to
577577 568the matters so described, and shall be filed with the clerk. [Adopted Feb. 12, 2009; Feb. 3, 2011.]
578578 56911D. Upon the filing of a report by a committee of conference the clerk of the branch in which
579579 570the committee of conference filed its report shall make the report and the summary of the report
580580 571available to all members electronically and to the public on the official website of the General
581581 572Court. [Adopted Feb. 12, 2009; Feb. 3, 2011.]
582582 57311E. Subsequent to the filing of a report of a committee of conference, an addendum may be
583583 574submitted to the clerk of the branch in which the report had been filed. The addendum shall
584584 575indicate that it contains only matters inadvertently omitted from or included in the report, and
585585 576shall be signed by all of members of the House and Senate who had signed the conference
586586 577committee report. The addendum shall be approved by both the Counsel to the House and the
587587 578Counsel to the Senate. The addendum, having been approved by both the Counsel to the House 28 of 62
588588 579and the Counsel to the Senate, shall be posted to the official website of the General Court
589589 580immediately upon receipt by the clerk of the branch to which it was submitted. [Adopted Mar.14,
590590 5812013.]
591591 582Limit of Time allowed for New Business.
592592 58312. Resolutions intended for adoption by both branches of the General Court, petitions, and all
593593 584other subjects of legislation, shall be deposited with the Clerk of either branch prior to 5 p.m. on
594594 585the third Friday in January of the first annual session of the General Court.
595595 586All such matters except messages from the Governor, reports required or authorized to be made
596596 587to the General Court and petitions filed or approved by the voters of a city or town, or the mayor
597597 588and city council, or other legislative body of a city, or the town meeting of a town, for the
598598 589enactment of a special law under Section 8 of Article LXXXIX of the Amendments to the
599599 590Constitution and which do not affect the powers, duties, etc., of state departments, boards,
600600 591commissions, etc., or which do not affect generally the laws of the Commonwealth deposited
601601 592with the respective clerks subsequent to 5 p.m. on the third Friday of January of the first annual
602602 593session of the General Court shall be referred by the Clerks to the committees on the Rules of the
603603 594two branches, acting concurrently. No such matter shall be admitted for consideration except on
604604 595report of the committees on Rules of the two branches, acting concurrently, and then upon
605605 596approval of two-thirds of the members of each branch voting thereon. Matters upon which
606606 597suspension of Joint Rule 12 has been negatived shall be placed on file.
607607 598At any special session called under Rule 26A, however, matters relating to the facts constituting
608608 599the necessity for convening such session shall, if otherwise admissible, be admitted as though
609609 600filed seasonably under the first sentence of this rule. Any recommendations from the Governor 29 of 62
610610 601shall be similarly considered. This rule shall not be rescinded, amended or suspended, except by
611611 602a concurrent vote of two-thirds of the members of each branch present and voting thereon.
612612 603[Amended Feb. 7, 18 90; Feb. 2, 18 91; Feb. 7, 18 93; Jan. 10, 18 98; Jan. 9, 18 99; Feb. 15, 19
613613 60401; May 4, 19 04; Jan. 31, 19 10; Feb. 2, 19 17; Dec. 22, 19 20; March 30, 19 21; Jan. 30, 19 23;
614614 605Feb. 15, 19 33; Jan. 12 and Aug. 7, 19 39; Jan. 15, 19 45; Jan. 6, 19 47; May 27, 19 48; Jan. 30,
615615 60619 67; March 26, 19 69; Jan. 7, 1971 ; Jan. 15 and Oct. 2, 1973 ; Oct 3, 1983 , June 12, 1995 ;
616616 607Jan. 26, 2005; July 17, 2003; Jan. 26, 2005; July 21, 2005; Sept. 20, 2005; Feb. 12, 2009.]
617617 60812A. All formal business of the first annual session of the General Court shall be concluded not
618618 609later than the third Wednesday in December of that calendar year and all formal business of the
619619 610second annual session shall be concluded not later than the last day of July of that calendar year;
620620 611provided, however, that the Senate and House of Representatives may convene for formal
621621 612business solely for the purposes of considering: (i) reports of committees of conference formed
622622 613on or before the last day of July of the second annual session, (ii) appropriation bills filed after
623623 614the last day of July of said second annual session, (iii) passage of legislation, notwithstanding the
624624 615objections of the Governor, that was enacted after acceptance of a report of a committee of
625625 616conference but was returned by the Governor with the Governor’s objections pursuant to Article
626626 617II of Section I of Chapter I of Part the Second of the Constitution of the Commonwealth; or (iv)
627627 618re-enactment of legislation that was originally enacted after acceptance of a report of a
628628 619committee of conference but was returned by the Governor with a recommendation to amend
629629 620pursuant to Article LVI of the Amendments to the Constitution. This rule may be suspended by
630630 621either branch by a vote of a majority of members present and voting in that branch.
631631 622In order to assist the Senate and House in its analysis and appraisal of laws enacted by the
632632 623General Court, each joint standing committee, upon conclusion of the formal business of the 30 of 62
633633 624annual sessions, shall, as authorized by Joint Rule 1, initiate oversight hearings to evaluate the
634634 625effectiveness, application and administration of the subject matter of laws within the jurisdiction
635635 626of that committee. [Adopted June 12, 1995.]
636636 627Unfinished Business of the Session.
637637 62812B. Any matter pending before the General Court at the end of the first annual session and any
638638 629special session held in the same year shall carry over into the second annual session of the same
639639 630General Court in the same legislative status as it was at the conclusion of the first annual session
640640 631or any special session held during that year; provided, however, that any measure making or
641641 632supplementing an appropriation for a fiscal year submitted to or returned to the General Court by
642642 633the Governor, under Article LXIII of the Amendments to the Constitution, in the first annual
643643 634session or in a special session held during that year shall cease to exist upon the termination of
644644 635the first annual session. [Adopted June 12. 1995.]
645645 636Papers to be deposited with the Clerks.
646646 63713. Information intended for presentation to the General Court by any Representative or Senator
647647 638shall be deposited with the Clerk of the branch to which the member belongs; and all such
648648 639information, unless they be subject to other rules or of the rules of the Senate or House, shall be
649649 640referred by the Clerk, with the approval of the President or Speaker, to appropriate committees,
650650 641subject to such changes as the Senate or House may make. The reading of information so
651651 642referred may be dispensed with, but they shall, except as provided in these rules, be entered in
652652 643the Journal of the same on the next legislative day after such reference.
653653 644A member may include a brief statement of intent with all papers intended for presentation to the
654654 645General Court. Upon a favorable report by a joint standing committee, a committee may include 31 of 62
655655 646a brief written statement of intent. Said statement shall be dated and shall include the scope of
656656 647the matter presented for consideration; provided, however, this rule shall not be construed to
657657 648require the presentation of such statement of intent under this rule. [Adopted Feb. 7, 1890.
658658 649Amended Feb. 2, 1891; Feb. 7, 1893; Jan. 25, 1894; Dec. 22, 1920; May 25, 1923; Feb. 15,
659659 6501933; Jan. 12, 1971; June 3, 1985; Feb. 12, 2009.]
660660 651Dockets of Legislative Counsel and Agents.
661661 65214. The committees on Rules of the two branches, acting concurrently, may prescribe the manner
662662 653and form of keeping the dockets of legislative agents which are required by law. [Adopted Feb.
663663 6542, 1891; Amended Feb. 19, 1920.]
664664 655Duties of the Clerk.
665665 65615. If any part of the report of a committee over the signature of the chair or members of the
666666 657committee is amended in either branch, the Clerk of that branch shall endorse upon the report
667667 658such amendment. [Amended Mar. 7, 2019.]
668668 65916. All papers, while on their passage between the 2 branches, may be under the signature of the
669669 660respective Clerks, except as to the adopting of emergency preambles and the final passage of
670670 661bills and resolves. Messages may be sent by such persons as each branch may direct. [Amended
671671 662Feb. 21, 1919.]
672672 66317. After bills and resolves have passed both branches to be engrossed, they shall be in the
673673 664charge of the Clerks of the 2 branches, who shall prepare the same for final passage in the
674674 665manner prescribed by law; and when so prepared the same shall be delivered to the Clerk of the
675675 666House of Representatives; and when the bills have been passed to be enacted or the resolves have 32 of 62
676676 667been passed in the House, they shall, in like manner, be delivered to the Senate Clerk and
677677 668Parliamentarian. If a bill or resolve contains an emergency preamble, it shall be delivered in like
678678 669manner, to the Senate after the preamble has been adopted by the House of Representatives and
679679 670before the bill or resolve is put upon its final passage in that branch. If the Senate concurs in
680680 671adopting the preamble, the bill or resolve shall be returned to the House to be there first put upon
681681 672its final passage, under Joint Rule No. 22. [Amended Feb. 24, 1914; Feb. 21, 1919; Jan. 7, 1971.]
682682 67318. [Omitted in 1971.]
683683 67419. The Clerk of the branch in which a bill or resolve originated shall make an endorsement on
684684 675the envelope of the engrossed copy of the bill, certifying in which branch the bill originated,
685685 676which endorsement shall be entered on the journals by the Clerks respectively. [Amended Jan.
686686 67728, 1889; Feb. 24, 1914.]
687687 67820. Bills, resolves and other papers requiring the approval of the Governor shall be laid before
688688 679the Governor for the Governor’s approbation by the Senate Clerk and Parliamentarian, who shall
689689 680enter upon the journal of the Senate the day and date on which the same were so laid before the
690690 681Governor. [Amended Jan. 28, 1889; Jan. 7, 1971.]
691691 682Presentation and Distribution of Documents.
692692 68321. The committees on Rules of the two branches, acting concurrently, may establish regulations
693693 684for the distribution of bills, reports or other documents. Bills, reports or other documents shall be
694694 685made available to members electronically and, except for petitions or other documents not
695695 686assigned bill numbers, published on the Internet. The committees on Rules of the two branches,
696696 687acting concurrently, may make such changes pertaining to the availability of bills, reports or
697697 688other documents as they deem necessary for expediting the work of the legislature. 33 of 62
698698 689The Clerks of the House of Representatives and the Senate shall be responsible for publishing
699699 690the journals of their respective chamber, the book Public Officers of Massachusetts, the
700700 691committee book and any other publications per order of the committees on Rules. [Amended Jan.
701701 6928, 1886 ; Jan. 28, 1889 ; Jan. 27, 1911 ; Feb. 19, 1920 ; Jan. 6, 1947 ; Apr. 5, 19 67 ; Jan. 7,
702702 6931971; Feb. 12, 2009; Mar. 14, 2013.]
703703 694Emergency Measures.
704704 69522. The vote on the preamble of an emergency law, which under the requirements of Article
705705 696XLVIII, as amended by Article LXVII of the Amendments of the Constitution shall, upon
706706 697request of 2 members of the Senate or of 5 members of the House of Representatives, be taken
707707 698by call of the yeas and nays, shall be had after the proposed law has been prepared for final
708708 699passage; and neither branch shall vote on the enactment of a bill or on the passage of a resolve
709709 700containing an emergency preamble until it has been determined whether the preamble shall
710710 701remain or be eliminated. If the bill contains an emergency preamble, a motion to amend the bill
711711 702may be received in either branch before the adoption of the emergency preamble, and the
712712 703amendment may contain a new emergency preamble. If the 2 branches concur in adopting the
713713 704preamble, the bill or resolve shall first be put upon its final passage in the House of
714714 705Representatives. If either branch fails to adopt the preamble, notice of its action shall be sent to
715715 706the other branch; and the bill or resolve, duly endorsed, shall again be prepared for final passage
716716 707without the preamble and without any provision that the bill or the resolve shall take effect
717717 708earlier than 90 days after it has become law. Procedure shall be otherwise under the joint rules
718718 709and the rules of the Senate and the House of Representatives. [Adopted Feb. 21, 1919. Amended
719719 710Jan. 30, 1923; Jan. 7, 1971; Feb. 20, 2007; Feb. 12, 2009.] 34 of 62
720720 71122A. Bills and resolves passed to be engrossed by both branches and before being transmitted by
721721 712the clerks to the Legislative Engrossing Division shall be made available to the committees on
722722 713Bills in the Third Reading of the two branches, acting jointly, who shall examine them to ensure
723723 714accuracy in the text; that the legislation is correct as to form; that references to previous
724724 715amendments to any particular law are correct and to ensure proper consistency with the language
725725 716of existing statutes. These committees, with the approval of the majority and minority leadership
726726 717of both branches may make corrections which are not substantive in nature. The clerks of both
727727 718branches shall be immediately notified, in writing, of any such changes. Errors discovered by the
728728 719committees of a substantive nature shall be reported to the General Court, which in turn shall
729729 720take appropriate action under its rules. Upon completion of examination and possible correction
730730 721of any such bills and resolves, the bills and resolves shall be returned to the clerks, who in turn,
731731 722shall transmit them to the Legislative Engrossing Division to be prepared for final passage.
732732 723[Adopted Sept. 16, 1971.]
733733 724Legislative Amendments to the Constitution.
734734 72523. All proposals for amendments to the Constitution referred to a joint committee on the first
735735 726annual session of the General Court shall be reported by said committee not later than the last
736736 727Wednesday of April in said year, and proposals for amendments to the Constitution referred to a
737737 728joint committee subsequent to the last Wednesday in April of the first annual session shall be
738738 729reported by said committee not later than the last Wednesday of April in the second session of
739739 730the same General Court. The committee shall file its report, either recommending that the
740740 731proposal ought to pass or ought not to pass, with any official papers in its possession that relate
741741 732thereto, with the Clerk of the Senate. When the time within which said committees are required
742742 733to report has expired, all matters upon which no report has been made shall forthwith be placed 35 of 62
743743 734in the Journal of the respective branches, with an adverse report under this rule; and shall then be
744744 735placed on file in the office of the Clerk of the Senate. For further information of the members of
745745 736the Senate and House of Representatives, the respective Clerks shall also place all such matters
746746 737under a separate heading in the Calendar of each branch, as soon as is practicable. In each branch
747747 738the report shall be read and forthwith placed on file; and no further legislative action shall be
748748 739taken on the measure unless consideration in joint session is called for by vote of either branch,
749749 740under Section 2 of Part IV of Article XLVIII (as amended by Article LXXXI) of the
750750 741Amendments to the Constitution. A joint committee to which is referred any recommendation for
751751 742an amendment to the Constitution made by the Governor or contained in a report authorized to
752752 743be made to the General Court may report on the recommendation a proposal for a legislative
753753 744amendment, which shall be deemed to have been introduced by the member of the Senate who
754754 745reports for the committee; and the procedure as regards reporting, filing and subsequent action
755755 746shall be that provided for legislative amendments by this rule. Or the joint committee may report
756756 747ought not to pass for the reason that no legislation is necessary or that the recommendation ought
757757 748not to pass; and in such cases the usual procedure as regards similar reports by joint committees
758758 749shall be followed. If such an adverse report is amended in the Senate by substituting a proposal
759759 750for a legislative amendment, notice of the Senate’s action shall be sent to the House and said
760760 751proposal, together with the official papers relating to the subject, shall be in the custody of the
761761 752Clerk of the Senate; and if said report is so amended in the House, the proposal, duly endorsed,
762762 753together with the other papers, shall be sent to the Senate for its information and shall be kept in
763763 754the custody of its Clerk. No further legislative action shall be taken in either branch on a proposal
764764 755so substituted unless consideration in joint session is called for under the Constitution. If either
765765 756branch calls for the consideration of any proposal in joint session, notice of its action shall be 36 of 62
766766 757sent to the other branch; and it shall then be the duty of the Senate and the House of
767767 758Representatives to arrange for the holding of the joint session not later than the second
768768 759Wednesday in May. Subject to the requirements of the Constitution, joint sessions or
769769 760continuances of joint sessions of the 2 branches to consider proposals for specific amendments to
770770 761the Constitution, and all rules or procedures, shall be determined only by concurrent votes of the
771771 7622 branches. The rules relative to joint conventions shall apply to the joint sessions of the 2
772772 763houses. [Adopted Feb. 21, 1919. Amended March 30, 1921; April 11, 1935; Jan. 12, 1939; Jan.
773773 76415, 1945; Nov. 9, 1951; Jan. 15, 1973; July 1, 1974; Feb. 12, 2009.]
774774 765Executive Reorganization Plans.
775775 76623A. Any reorganization plan, accompanied by a bill, submitted by the Governor under Article
776776 767LXXXVII of the Amendments to the Constitution shall be referred by the Clerks of the Senate
777777 768and the House, with the approval of the President and Speaker, to a joint standing committee
778778 769within 5 days of the presentation of the reorganization plan.
779779 770Said committee, to which is referred any such reorganization plan, shall, as required by said
780780 771Article, not later than 30 days after the presentation of such plan by the Governor, hold a public
781781 772hearing on the reorganization plan; and shall not later than 10 days after such hearing report that
782782 773it either approves or disapproves such plan.
783783 774When recommending action, the committee shall make, in each branch, a separate report of its
784784 775recommendations, and shall file said report together with the committee's recommendations and
785785 776the reasons for those recommendations, in writing. Majority and minority reports shall be signed
786786 777by the members of said committee. Any official papers in the possession of said committee that
787787 778relate thereto shall be filed with the Clerk of the Senate. 37 of 62
788788 779If the committee recommends favorable action, the report shall be that the reorganization plan
789789 780‘ought to be approved’. If the committee recommends adverse action, the report shall be that the
790790 781reorganization plan ‘ought NOT to be approved’. In each instance, the question shall be ‘Shall
791791 782this reorganization plan be approved?’
792792 783In each branch, the report shall be read and forthwith recorded in the Journal. On the legislative
793793 784day next following the Journal record, the report shall be placed in the Orders of the Day of the
794794 785Senate and the House.
795795 786When the time within which a joint committee is required to report on a reorganization plan has
796796 787expired, a matter upon which no report has been made shall forthwith be placed in the Orders of
797797 788the Day by the Clerks of each branch and the question shall be ‘Shall this reorganization plan be
798798 789approved?’.
799799 790When such plan is before either branch, no motion relating to said plan shall be allowed except
800800 791the motions to lay on the table (only in the Senate), to postpone to a time certain, or to commit or
801801 792recommit (at the pleasure of either branch). The motions to take a recess, to adjourn, the previous
802802 793question (if provided in the branch debating the issue), to close debate at a specified time, and
803803 794the motion to reconsider shall also be in order.
804804 795A motion to discharge any committee to which is referred or to which is recommitted a
805805 796reorganization plan shall not be in order prior to the expiration of 40 days after the Governor’s
806806 797presentation of such plan. After the expiration of said 40 days, a motion to discharge a committee
807807 798shall be decided by a majority vote of the branch in which the motion is made.
808808 799Unless disapproved by a majority vote of the members of either of the 2 branches of the General
809809 800Court present and voting, the General Court not having prorogued within 60 days from the date 38 of 62
810810 801of presentation by the Governor, the plan shall be approved and shall take effect as provided by
811811 802Article LXXXVII of the Amendments to the Constitution.
812812 803Within 7 days of the expiration of the 60 days from the date of presentation of said plan by the
813813 804Governor, unless the question has already been decided, the Clerks of the Senate and House of
814814 805Representatives shall place the plan in the Orders of the Day; and no motions except the motions
815815 806to take a recess, to adjourn, and previous question, or to close debate at a specified time, shall be
816816 807in order.
817817 808No such reorganization plan presented to the General Court shall be subject to change or
818818 809amendment before expiration of such 60 days. [Adopted June 13, 1967; Amended March 27,
819819 8101969; June 12, 1995; Feb. 12, 2009.]
820820 811Joint Conventions.
821821 81224. The President of the Senate shall preside in Conventions of the 2 branches, and such
822822 813Conventions shall be held in the Representatives’ Chamber; the Senate Clerk and
823823 814Parliamentarian shall be the Clerk of the Convention, and a record of the proceedings of the
824824 815Convention shall be entered at large on the journals of both branches. [Amended Feb. 20, 2007.]
825825 81625. When an agreement has been made by the 2 branches to go into Convention, such agreement
826826 817shall not be altered or annulled, except by concurrent vote, excepting that it shall be in order to
827827 818recess the convention from time to time upon a majority vote of said convention. [Amended Jan.
828828 8197, 1971 .]
829829 82026. No business shall be entered on, in Convention, other than that which may be agreed on
830830 821before the Convention is formed. 39 of 62
831831 822Special Sessions.
832832 82326A. If written statements of 21 members of the Senate and 81 members of the House of
833833 824Representatives, that in their opinion it is necessary that the General Court assemble in special
834834 825session on a particular date and time specified in their statements during a recess of the General
835835 826Court, are filed with their respective Clerks, such Clerks shall forthwith notify all the members
836836 827of their respective branches to assemble at the State House in Boston, on said date at the time so
837837 828specified. When so assembled, the first business to be taken up shall be the question of the
838838 829necessity of so assembling, under Article I of Section I of Chapter I of Part the Second of the
839839 830Constitution of the Commonwealth. If 21 members of the Senate and 81 members of the House
840840 831of Representatives judge by vote taken by call of the yeas and nays that such assembling of the
841841 832General Court is necessary, specifying in such vote the facts constituting such necessity, the
842842 833General Court shall then complete its organization as a special session, proceed to the
843843 834consideration of the suspension of Joint Rule 12A which if suspended by the required two-thirds
844844 835of the members of both branches shall permit the General Court to proceed to the consideration
845845 836of matters properly before it. Nothing in this rule shall prevent the General Court from
846846 837assembling in any other constitutional manner when it judges necessary. [Adopted Aug. 7, 1939.
847847 838Amended March 2, 1943; March 27, 19 69; May 5, 1979; July 17, 2003; July 21 and September
848848 83920, 2005.]
849849 840Joint Elections.
850850 84127. In all elections by joint ballot a time shall be assigned for such election at least 1 day
851851 842previous to such election. 40 of 62
852852 84327A. In all cases of elections by ballot a majority of the votes cast shall be necessary for a
853853 844choice, and where there shall be no such a majority on the first ballot the ballots shall be repeated
854854 845until a majority is obtained; and in balloting, blanks shall be rejected and not taken into the count
855855 846in the enumeration of votes, excepting that when the number of blanks shall be more than the
856856 847number of votes received by the candidate having the highest number of votes, then the election
857857 848shall be declared void and the balloting shall be repeated as provided herein. [Adopted March 27,
858858 8491969 .]
859859 85028. [Omitted March 28, 1972 .]
860860 851References to the Committees on Rules.
861861 85229. All motions and orders authorizing joint committees to travel or to employ stenographers, or
862862 853authorizing joint committees or special commissions composed as a whole or in part of members
863863 854of the General Court to make investigations or to file special reports, all propositions reported by
864864 855joint committees which authorize investigations or special reports by joint committees or by
865865 856special commissions composed as a whole or in part of members of the General Court, all
866866 857motions or orders proposed for joint adoption which provide that information be transmitted to
867867 858the General Court, and all matters referred under the second paragraph of Joint Rule 12, shall be
868868 859referred without debate to the committees on Rules of the two branches acting concurrently, who
869869 860shall report on the matter, under Joint Rule 10. All matters which have been referred under this
870870 861rule shall, in each instance, be reported back into the branch making such reference. [Adopted
871871 862Jan. 10, 1898. Amended Jan. 20, 1904; Jan. 28, 1913; Feb. 19 and Dec. 22, 1920; April 11, 1935;
872872 863April 22, 1937; Jan. 27, 1955; Jan. 30, 1967; Oct. 18, 1971.] 41 of 62
873873 86429A. Meetings of any special commission, special legislative commission, task force or other
874874 865group authorized or required by a statute, resolve, rule, or order to make or conduct an
875875 866investigation or study of any issue shall be conducted openly and transparently. Meetings of any
876876 867special commission, special legislative commission, task force or other group authorized or
877877 868required by a statute, resolve, rule, or order to make or conduct an investigation or study of any
878878 869issue and which are chaired by members of the general court shall be posted and conducted
879879 870pursuant to the rules of the senate and house of representatives and shall be conducted according
880880 871to the following requirements:
881881 872a.)Meetings shall be open to the public;
882882 873b.)Meetings shall be announced by appropriate notice at least 72 hours in advance;
883883 874c.)Any documents used in a meeting be provided to the public upon request in a manner to
884884 875be determined by the chair;
885885 876d.)Public testimony shall be accepted in a manner to be determined by the chair;
886886 877e.)The chair shall maintain a summary of the subjects discussed at each meeting, a list of
887887 878documents and other exhibits used at the meetings, and shall maintain a record of proceedings,
888888 879including a record of all votes. For the purposes of this rule a video or audio recording made
889889 880available to the public shall be considered an adequate record of the proceedings. [Adopted, Feb.
890890 88115, 2017; Amended Mar. 7, 2019.]
891891 88230. Omitted.
892892 883Members. 42 of 62
893893 88431. A member of either branch who directly or indirectly solicits for such member or others any
894894 885position or office within the gift or control of a railroad corporation, street railway company, gas
895895 886or electric light company, telegraph or telephone company, aqueduct or water company, or other
896896 887public service corporation, shall be subject to suspension for such solicitation, or to such other
897897 888penalty as the branch of which the person is a member may see fit to impose. [See G. L. 271, sec.
898898 88940.] [Adopted May 22, 1902.]
899899 890Accommodations for Reporters.
900900 89132. Subject to the approval and direction of the committees on Rules of the two branches, acting
901901 892concurrently, during the session, and of the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House
902902 893of Representatives after prorogation, the use of the rooms and facilities assigned to reporters in
903903 894the State House shall be under the control of the organizations of legislative reporters known as
904904 895the Massachusetts State House Press Association and the State House Broadcasters Association.
905905 896No person shall be permitted to use such rooms or facilities who is not entitled to the privileges
906906 897of the reporters’ galleries of the Senate or of the House. Within 10 days after the General Court
907907 898convenes the Massachusetts State House Press Association and the State House Broadcasters
908908 899Association shall each transmit to the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of
909909 900Representatives and the Sergeant-at-Arms a list of the legislative reporters with the principal
910910 901publication or news service which each represents. [Adopted Jan. 27, 1911. Amended Feb. 24,
911911 9021914; Feb. 19, 1920; April 17, 1925; May 23, 1979; Feb. 12, 2009.]
912912 903Suspension of Rules.
913913 90433. Any joint rule except Rule 10, 12A and Rule 30 may be altered, suspended or rescinded by a
914914 905concurrent vote of two-thirds of the members of each branch present and voting thereon. 43 of 62
915915 906[Amended Feb. 7, 1893. Adopted in revised form Jan. 9, 1899. Amended Jan. 16, 1903; Jan. 26,
916916 9072005.]
917917 908Audit of Accounts.
918918 90934. (a) The committees on Rules of the two branches, acting concurrently, shall, upon receipt of
919919 910the recommendation of the state auditor pursuant to subsection (b), provide that an outside,
920920 911independent financial audit of joint financial accounts be conducted for each fiscal year upon
921921 912receipt of the fiscal year end appropriation activity with balance report from the comptroller of
922922 913the Commonwealth. The outside, independent financial audit shall be conducted in accordance
923923 914with the standards for audits of governmental organizations, programs, activities and functions,
924924 915commonly referred to as the “Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards (GAGAS)”
925925 916or “Yellow Book,” published by the Comptroller General of the United States. The committees
926926 917shall provide the independent auditor with requested financial documents for such financial
927927 918audit. A copy of the completed outside, independent financial audit shall be filed with the Clerks
928928 919of the Senate and the House of Representatives and the state auditor, and shall be posted on the
929929 920official website of the General Court.
930930 921(b) The committees on Rules of the two branches, acting concurrently, and with the assistance of
931931 922the House Business Manager and the Chief Financial Officer of the Senate, shall annually
932932 923request that the state auditor recommend a private, independent auditing firm to conduct the
933933 924independent financial audit of joint financial accounts required by subsection (a). The state
934934 925auditor shall, within 30 days of the committees’ request, recommend to the committees a private,
935935 926independent auditing firm from the list of private, independent auditing firms on the appropriate
936936 927statewide procurement contract established by the operational services division. The committees 44 of 62
937937 928shall cause a contract to be executed with the private, independent auditing firm recommended
938938 929by the state auditor pursuant to a statewide procurement contract established by the operational
939939 930services division. If the state auditor fails to recommend a private, independent auditing firm to
940940 931serve as the independent auditor of joint financial accounts within 30 days of receiving a request
941941 932from the committees, then the committees shall retain a private, independent auditing firm from
942942 933the appropriate statewide procurement contract established by the operational services division.
943943 934(c) The provisions of this rule shall apply to fiscal years beginning on July 1, 2025.
944944 935[Adopted May 30, 1985.]
945945 93635. The committees on Rules of the two branches, acting concurrently, shall conduct a
946946 937comprehensive review of the joint rules adopted by the Senate and the House of Representatives
947947 938for the 194th General Court. The committees may conduct public hearings and solicit public
948948 939testimony from interested parties. The committees shall submit a report to both branches at the
949949 940conclusion of their review by no later than December 31, 2026.
950950 941[Adopted June 12, 1995.]
951951 942Procurement.
952952 94336. (a) The House Business Manager and Chief Financial Officer of the Senate shall complete
953953 944the procurement of all goods and services from the joint legislative accounts. Procurements for
954954 945goods or services shall be made pursuant to a statewide procurement contract established by the
955955 946operational services division, to the extent practicable, as determined by the House Business
956956 947Manager and the Chief Financial Officer of the Senate. If the Business Manager and the Chief
957957 948Financial Officer determine that a procurement cannot be made using a statewide procurement 45 of 62
958958 949contract established by the operational services division, they may procure the required goods or
959959 950services under subsections (b), (c) or (d).
960960 951(b) Procurement of a supply or service from a vendor not on a statewide procurement contract
961961 952valued at less than $10,000 shall be made at the discretion of the House Business Manager and
962962 953the Chief Financial Officer of the Senate.
963963 954(c) If the House Business Manager and the Chief Financial Officer of the Senate seek to procure
964964 955a supply or service from a vendor not on a statewide procurement contract valued at $10,000 or
965965 956more, but less than $100,000, they shall seek written or oral quotations from not fewer than 3
966966 957persons customarily providing such supply or service. The House Business Manager and the
967967 958Chief Financial Officer of the Senate shall record the names and addresses of all persons from
968968 959whom quotations were sought, the names and addresses of all persons submitting quotations and
969969 960the date and amount of each quotation. The House Business Manager and the Chief Financial
970970 961Officer of the Senate shall transmit said records to House and Senate Counsel for review with a
971971 962recommendation as to what quotation offers the needed quality of supply or service at the best
972972 963value for the General Court. Upon completion of the review by the House and Senate Counsels,
973973 964the House Business Manager and the Chief Financial Officer of the Senate shall award the
974974 965contract to the responsible person whose quotation offers the needed quality of supply or service
975975 966and which represents the best value for the General Court.
976976 967(d) If the House Business Manager and the Chief Financial Officer of the Senate seek to procure
977977 968a supply or service from a vendor not on a statewide procurement contract valued at $100,000 or
978978 969more, the House Business Manager and the Chief Financial Officer of the Senate shall seek
979979 970proposals through a competitive bid process, which shall be established by the House and Senate 46 of 62
980980 971Counsel; provided, however, that House and Senate Counsel shall file the competitive bid
981981 972process with the Clerk of the House and the Clerk of the Senate no later than March 31st of the
982982 973first year of the session.
983983 974(e) The House Business Manager and the Chief Financial Officer of the Senate shall maintain a
984984 975file on each procurement not executed using a statewide procurement contract established by the
985985 976operational services division and in excess of $10,000 and shall include in such file all
986986 977documents constituting the agreement for goods and services and all documents required by
987987 978subsection (c) or (d). The files maintained shall be available for inspection by members of the
988988 979General Court during regular business hours unless the information is otherwise protected by
989989 980state or federal law.
990990 981(f) Whenever the time required to comply with a requirement of this rule would endanger the
991991 982health, safety or convenience of the members, staff or visitors to the House of Representatives or
992992 983Senate the House Business Manager and the Senate Chief Financial Officer may make an
993993 984emergency procurement without satisfying the requirement of this rules; provided, however, that
994994 985both the House Business Manager and the Senate Chief Financial Officer certify in writing that:
995995 986(i) an emergency exists and explain the nature thereof; (ii) the emergency procurement is limited
996996 987to only supplies or services necessary to meet the emergency; (iii) shall conform to the
997997 988requirements of rule to the extent practicable under the circumstances; (iv) each contractor’s
998998 989name, (v) the amount and the type of each contract; (vi) the supplies or services provided under
999999 990each contract; (vii) and basis for determining the need for an emergency procurement. 47 of 62
10001000 991(g) Notwithstanding subsection (a) and (d), all procurements for legal consulting services and
10011001 992legal resources shall be handled exclusively by House and Senate Counsel in compliance with
10021002 993the provisions of this rule.
10031003 994(h) If, in the determination of the House Business Manager and the Chief Financial Officer of the
10041004 995Senate, an emergency procurement of greater than $10,000 is necessary, the House Business
10051005 996Manager and the Chief Financial Officer of the Senate may procure the goods or services
10061006 997immediately and create and maintain a file explaining the nature of the emergency and the goods
10071007 998or services that were procured as a result. The House Business Manager and the Chief Financial
10081008 999Officer of the Senate shall document the goods or services that were procured, the process used
10091009 1000to procure the goods or services, the vendors that were contacted and any other information
10101010 1001relevant to the procurement, and make that information available to members of the General
10111011 1002Court during regular business hours, unless the information is otherwise protected by state or
10121012 1003federal law. [Adopted Mar. 14, 2013; Amended Feb. 15, 2017; Mar. 7, 2019].
10131013 1004INDEX TO JOINT RULES
10141014 1005OF THE TWO BRANCHES
10151015 1006[The figures refer to the numbers of rules.]
10161016 1007Accounts, audit, 34.
10171017 1008AMENDMENTS:
10181018 1009 of rules, vote required, 10, 12, 30, 33.
10191019 1010 to Constitution, procedure, 23. 48 of 62
10201020 1011 to engrossed Bills, 22.
10211021 1012BILLS AND RESOLVES:
10221022 1013 after passage to be engrossed, to be in charge of Clerks, etc., 17.
10231023 1014 carry over, first to second session, 12B.
10241024 1015 committee bills, 3A.
10251025 1016 containing emergency preambles, procedure, 22.
10261026 1017 enacted, to be laid before the Governor by Clerk of the Senate, 20.
10271027 1018 for special legislation, not to be reported if object is attainable by general or existing
10281028 1019laws, 7.
10291029 1020 how to be written, 6.
10301030 1021 how printed, etc., 21.
10311031 1022 may be reported to either branch except, etc., 4.
10321032 1023 money, to be reported to the House, 4.
10331033 1024 recommittal of, 5.
10341034 1025 specially affecting rights of individuals or corporations, not to be reported except on
10351035 1026petition, etc., 8.
10361036 1027Bills in the Third Reading, committee on.
10371037 1028 may make non-substantive changes after bill engrossed in both branches, 22A. 49 of 62
10381038 1029 to approve reports of conference committees, 11.
10391039 1030Blank ballots not to be counted in elections, etc., 27A.
10401040 1031Cities, petitions affecting, 7B, 12.
10411041 1032CLERKS:
10421042 1033 papers deposited late with, disposition, 12.
10431043 1034 papers on passage between the two branches to be under signature of, except, etc., 16.
10441044 1035 papers to be deposited with, and referred to committees, 13
10451045 1036 Senate Clerk shall be Clerk of joint Convention, 24.
10461046 1037 Senate Clerk shall lay enacted bills, etc., before Governor, 20.
10471047 1038 shall endorse amendments or reports of committees, 15.
10481048 1039 shall endorse where bill or resolve originated, 19.
10491049 1040 shall have charge of bills, etc., after passage to be engrossed, etc., 17.
10501050 1041 to certify bills and resolves to rightly and truly prepared for final passage, 17.
10511051 1042 to notify members to assemble for special sessions, 26A.
10521052 1043 to place unreported matters in the Orders of the Day when time for reporting expires, 10.
10531053 1044 to submit certain petitions to State Secretary, 9.
10541054 1045COMMITTEES: 50 of 62
10551055 1046 bills specially affecting individuals or corporations not to be reported when notice, etc., 8.
10561056 1047 bills reported by joint, how to be written, 6.
10571057 1048 Cannabis Policy committee, 1.
10581058 1049
10591059 1050 Cellular telephones, etc., prohibit, 1D.
10601060 1051 decorum, chairs of each committee preserve, 1D.
10611061 1052 fiscal notes, 4A.
10621062 1053 Export Development committee, 1.
10631063 1054 form of reports, 10A.
10641064 1055 if report is amended in either branch, to be endorsed by Clerk, 15.
10651065 1056 Health Care Financing
10661066 1057 deadline for reporting, 10.
10671067 1058 reports not to be read prior to reference to, 1E.
10681068 1059 limit of time for reports, etc., 10, 30.
10691069 1060 limit number of bills to be heard, 1D.
10701070 1061 members of Legislature not to act as counsel before, 2.
10711071 1062 motions and orders extending time within which, may report, to be referred to
10721072 1063committees on Rules, 30. 51 of 62
10731073 1064 not to sit during recess of General Court unless authorized by the two branches, 3.
10741074 1065 notice of hearings, 1D.
10751075 1066 of conference, 1A, 11, 11A, 11B.
10761076 1067 on Rules to regulate distribution of documents, 21.
10771077 1068 open meetings, 1A, 1D.
10781078 1069 orders authorizing joint, to travel or employ stenographers, to be referred to committees
10791079 1070on Rules, 29.
10801080 1071 executive sessions, 1D,
10811081 1072 oversight activities and Internet posting, 1.
10821082 1073 posters, etc. prohibit, 1D.
10831083 1074 proposals for amendments to the Constitution, reports of, on, 23.
10841084 1075 public hearings, 1B.
10851085 1076 public testimony, physical address and e-mail, 1D.
10861086 1077 recording of meetings of, 1D.
10871087 1078 report of, without being founded upon petition, 3A.
10881088 1079 reports of, recommittal of, 5.
10891089 1080 reports of, 4, 10. 52 of 62
10901090 1081 reports of, subsequently referred to a joint committee (except for Health Care Financing),
10911091 1082to be reported to branch in which original report was made, 4.
10921092 1083 reports of, may be made to either branch, except, etc., 4.
10931093 1084 roll call votes, 4.
10941094 1085 rules of procedure and Internet posting, 1.
10951095 1086 schedule of hearings, 1C, 1D.
10961096 1087 special legislation to be reported against, if purpose can be secured by general or existing
10971097 1088law, 7.
10981098 1089 standing, appointment, number of members, etc., 1.
10991099 1090 Summaries of bills, etc., prior to executive sessions, 1D.
11001100 1091 testimony before, physical addresses and e-mail, 1D.
11011101 1092 to report money bills to House, 4.
11021102 1093 to report adversely on petitions not advertised according to law, etc., 9.
11031103 1094 travel of, 3.
11041104 1095 visual aides, posters, etc., prohibit, 1D.
11051105 1096 written statement of intent, 13.
11061106 1097CONFERENCE, COMMITTEES OF, 1A, 11, 11A, 11B, 11C, 11D, 11E.
11071107 1098 addendum procedures, 11E. 53 of 62
11081108 1099 appropriation bills, 11A.
11091109 1100 availability, etc., 11B.
11101110 1101 committee on Bills in the Third Reading approval, etc., 11.
11111111 1102 conference to consist of 3 members, 11.
11121112 1103 errata procedures, 11E.
11131113 1104 internet posting, 11D.
11141114 1105 may be accepted or rejected, 11.
11151115 1106 minority party members, 11.
11161116 1107 open to the public, except, 1A.
11171117 1108 shall be made to the branch in which the matter was introduced, 4.
11181118 1109 summary to be filed with the clerk, 11C.
11191119 1110
11201120 1111Constitution, amendments to, procedure relative to, 23.
11211121 1112CONVENTIONS OF BOTH BRANCHES:
11221122 1113 agreement to go into Convention shall not be altered except by concurrent vote, 25.
11231123 1114 Clerk of Senate to be Clerk; record to be made in journals of both branches, 24.
11241124 1115 held in Representatives' Chamber, 24. 54 of 62
11251125 1116 no business to be transacted except that before agreed upon, 26.
11261126 1117 President of Senate shall preside, 24.
11271127 1118Corporations, legislation affecting, 8, 9.
11281128 1119Counsel, no member shall act as, before committees, 2.
11291129 1120Counsels to Senate and House, 1.
11301130 1121Counties, certain petitions to require approval of county commissioners, 7A, 7B.
11311131 1122Documents, distribution, printing and publishing, etc., 21.
11321132 1123Elections by joint ballot, to be assigned one day previous, 27.
11331133 1124 blank ballots not to be counted, etc., 27A.
11341134 1125Emergency laws, 16, 17, 22.
11351135 1126Employee handbook, 1.
11361136 1127Engrossed bills
11371137 1128 amendments to, 22.
11381138 1129 in charge of Clerks; to be prepared for final passage and certified by Clerks, 17.
11391139 1130Evidence, printing of extended reports, 21.
11401140 1131Executive reorganization plans, 23A.
11411141 1132Fiscal notes, 4A. 55 of 62
11421142 1133General law to be preferred to special legislation, 7.
11431143 1134GOVERNOR:
11441144 1135 executive reorganization plans, 23A.
11451145 1136 may submit recommendations during special sessions, 12.
11461146 1137 papers requiring approval of, to be submitted to, by Clerk of the Senate, 20.
11471147 1138 recommendations of, for amendments to the Constitution, 23.
11481148 1139Home rule legislation, 7B, 12.
11491149 1140Human Resources offices, Senate and House, employee handbook, 1.
11501150 1141Individuals, legislation affecting, 8.
11511151 1142Information, motions and orders for joint adoption providing that, be transmitted to the General
11521152 1143Court, 29.
11531153 1144Intent statement, petitioners and committees. 13.
11541154 1145Internet, posting of certain information on, 1.
11551155 1146Investigations, propositions involving special, to be referred to committees on Rules, acting
11561156 1147concurrently, 29.
11571157 1148Joint conventions and joint sessions of the two houses, 23-26.
11581158 1149Joint petitions, 6A.
11591159 1150JOURNALS OF THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: 56 of 62
11601160 1151 papers deposited to be entered in, 13.
11611161 1152 proceedings of joint conventions to be recorded in, 24.
11621162 1153 record of date bills laid before Governor, 20.
11631163 1154LEGISLATION:
11641164 1155 affecting rights of individuals or corporations, must be introduced by petition, 8.
11651165 1156 intent statements, petitioners, 13.
11661166 1157 subjects of, to be deposited with Clerks, 12, 13.
11671167 1158 Legislative accounts, audits, 34.
11681168 1159 Legislative sessions, limit, 12A.
11691169 1160LIMITS OF TIME:
11701170 1161 for filing statements calling for special sessions during recess, 26A.
11711171 1162 for holding of joint session for consideration of Amendments to the Constitution, 23.
11721172 1163 for introduction of new business, 12.
11731173 1164 for legislative sessions, first and second year of General Court, 12A.
11741174 1165 for reports, 10, 30.
11751175 1166 for transmission of list of legislative reporters, 32.
11761176 1167LOCAL APPROVAL 57 of 62
11771177 1168 compliance subsequent to filing, 7B.
11781178 1169 substantive amendments to filed with House and Senate counsels, 7D.
11791179 1170 valid until end of next biennial session, 7C.
11801180 1171MEMBERS:
11811181 1172 majority may assemble in special session, 26A.
11821182 1173 not to act as counsel before committees, 2.
11831183 1174 not to purchase stock or other securities of corporations or associations when legislation
11841184 1175affecting such corporations or associations is pending, 2A.
11851185 1176 not to solicit employment for themselves or others, 31.
11861186 1177 written statement of intent of legislation, 13.
11871187 1178Memorials contemplating legislation deposited with Clerks late, disposition, 12.
11881188 1179Messages between the two branches, 16.
11891189 1180Motions, certain, to be referred to the committee on Rules, 29, 30.
11901190 1181New business, limit of time allowed for, 12.
11911191 1182Notice of legislation specially affecting the rights of individuals or corporation to be given, 8.
11921192 1183Orders, certain, to be referred to the committees on Rules, 29, 30.
11931193 1184Orders of the Day, unreported matters to be placed in, by Clerks, 10.
11941194 1185PAPERS: 58 of 62
11951195 1186 certain, to be printed in advance, 13.
11961196 1187 on passage between the two branches to be under Clerks' signatures, except, etc., 16.
11971197 1188 reading may be dispensed with, 13.
11981198 1189 requiring approval of Governor to be laid before him by Clerk of the Senate, 20.
11991199 1190 to be deposited with Clerks, etc., 13.
12001200 1191 written statements of intent, 13.
12011201 1192PETITIONS.
12021202 1193 adverse reports on, to be made to branch in which introduced, 4.
12031203 1194 deposited with Clerks subsequently to last hour for filing, to be referred to the
12041204 1195committees on Rules of the two branches, acting concurrently, 12.
12051205 1196 for amendments to Constitution, 23.
12061206 1197 for legislation affecting a particular city or town, 7B, 12.
12071207 1198 for the establishment or revival, or for the amendment, alteration or extension of the
12081208 1199charter or corporate powers or privileges, or for the change of name, of any corporation (except a
12091209 1200public service corporation) to be transmitted to State Secretary, etc., 9.
12101210 1201 for the incorporation of a city or town, for the annexation, consolidation or division of
12111211 1202municipalities, for the incorporation, revival, amendment of corporate powers or change of name
12121212 1203of public service corporations, for authority to take water for water supply, or relative to building
12131213 1204structures in or over navigable or tide waters, to be placed on file, unless, etc., 9. 59 of 62
12141214 1205 intent statements, 13.
12151215 1206 that a county be authorized to retire or pension or grant an annuity, or to pay any accrued
12161216 1207salary or claim for damages, or to alter any county or municipal retirement law, or to reinstate
12171217 1208former employees, to be reported adversely, unless, etc., 7A.
12181218 1209 to be admitted during special sessions, 26A.
12191219 1210 to be deposited with Clerks and referred to committees, 13.
12201220 1211Placed on file, 10A, 12.
12211221 1212Preambles, emergency, vote on, 22.
12221222 1213Procurement contracts , 36.
12231223 1214PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE:
12241224 1215 approval of facilities used by legislative reporters, 32.
12251225 1216 to approve references to committees, 13.
12261226 1217 to preside in joint session, 24.
12271227 1218Printing, how ordered, provided, etc., 13, 21.
12281228 1219Public service corporations, penalty for members soliciting position within control of, 31.
12291229 1220Publishing of documents, how ordered, provided, etc., 21.
12301230 1221Reading of papers, may be dispensed, 13.
12311231 1222Recess committees, 3. 60 of 62
12321232 1223Recommitment of reports, bills and resolves, 5.
12331233 1224Reporters, use of rooms and facilities assigned to, to be under control of State House Press
12341234 1225Association, etc., 32.
12351235 1226Reports made to Legislature not to be referred to the committees on Rules of the two branches,
12361236 1227acting concurrently, under the rule, 12.
12371237 1228 number to be published, 21.
12381238 1229Reports of committees. See Committees.
12391239 1230 form of, 10A.
12401240 1231Recision of rules, vote required, 10, 12, 30, 33.
12411241 1232Resolutions, certain, deposited with Clerks late, disposition, 12.
12421242 1233Resolves: See Bills and Resolves.
12431243 1234RULES, COMMITTEE ON:
12441244 1235 authority to prescribe manner and form of keeping dockets of legislative counsel and
12451245 1236agents, 14.
12461246 1237 certain motions and orders to be referred to, 29, 30.
12471247 1238 formal sessions, establish schedule, 1.
12481248 1239 limit of time for reports, 10, 30.
12491249 1240 may make regulations for distribution of documents, 21. 61 of 62
12501250 1241 may suggest measures to facilitate business, 1.
12511251 1242 recommend rules changes, every four years, 35.
12521252 1243 rooms and facilities assigned to reporters subject to approval of, 32.
12531253 1244SECRETARY OF THE COMMONWEALTH:
12541254 1245 legislation affecting corporations, 9.
12551255 1246SERGEANT-AT-ARMS:
12561256 1247 duties relative to travel of committees, 3.
12571257 1248 to receive list of legislative reporters, 32.
12581258 1249SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:
12591259 1250 approval of facilities used by legislative reporters, 32.
12601260 1251 to approve references to committees, 13.
12611261 1252Special commissions or task forces, transparency, etc., 29A.
12621262 1253SPECIAL LEGISLATION:
12631263 1254affecting individuals or corporations, must be based on petition, 8.
12641264 1255 affecting particular cities and towns, 7B, 12.
12651265 1256 not to be granted if object is attainable under general or existing laws, 7.
12661266 1257SPECIAL SESSIONS: 62 of 62
12671267 1258 matters to be considered at, 12.
12681268 1259 method of assembling, 26A.
12691269 1260Standing committees, appointment and number, 1.
12701270 1261State House Press Association, legislative reporters, 32.
12711271 1262Stenographers, motions or orders authorizing committees to employ, to be referred to committees
12721272 1263on Rules, 29.
12731273 1264Suspension of rules, vote required, 10, 12, 30, 33.
12741274 1265Task forces and commissions, transparency, etc., 29A.
12751275 1266Towns, petitions affecting, 7B, 12.
12761276 1267Travel and traveling expenses of committees, 3, 29.
12771277 1268Ways and Means, committee on, matters referred to either may be