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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2615 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3403
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Edward R. Philips
_________________
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act establishing a holiday known as "John F. Kennedy Day" to promote civic engagement
and voter participation in the Commonwealth.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Edward R. Philips8th Norfolk1/16/2025James C. Arena-DeRosa8th Middlesex2/13/2025 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2615 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3403
By Representative Philips of Sharon, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3403) of
Edward R. Philips and James C. Arena-DeRosa for legislation to establish a John F. Kennedy
day holiday commission. State Administration and Regulatory Oversight.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 3099 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act establishing a holiday known as "John F. Kennedy Day" to promote civic engagement
and voter participation in the Commonwealth.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Section 7 of chapter 4 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018
2Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “October,”, in line 100, the
3following words:- John F. Kennedy Day.
4 SECTION 2. Section 15L of chapter 6 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby
5amended by inserting after the word “November”, in line 2, the following words:- in all odd-
6numbered years and the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in all even-numbered
7years.
8 SECTION 3. Said chapter 6 is hereby further amended by adding the following section:- 2 of 2
9 Section 220. There shall be a commission on the celebration of John F. Kennedy Day.
10The commission shall consist of: 2 persons to be appointed by the governor; 2 persons to be
11appointed by the state secretary, 1 of whom shall be designated to serve as chair; 1 person to be
12appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; 1 person to be appointed by the
13minority leader of the house of representatives; 1 person to be appointed by the president of the
14senate; 1 person to be appointed by the minority leader of the senate; 1 person to be appointed by
15the executive director of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation; 1 person to be appointed by
16the president of the John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum Foundation, Inc.; and 1 person to be
17appointed by the president of the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate.
18 The commission shall recommend activities that promote civic engagement and voter
19participation including, but not limited to: (i) establishing a Kindergarten to grade 12, inclusive,
20education curriculum; (ii) hosting special events; (iii) marketing, which shall include the
21publication and distribution of materials and online content; (iv) voter engagement activities; (v)
22voter registration drives; and (vi) voter access. The commission shall meet not less than
23semiannually. The commission shall issue an annual report to the clerks of the senate and house
24of representatives not later than December 31.