SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 14
Senate, February 6, 2025 – Text of the proposed Senate Rules recommended by the Temporary
Committee on Rules to be adopted as the permanent rules of the Senate for 2025-2026.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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RULES OF THE SENATE
THE PRESIDENT.
1. The President shall take the chair at the hour to which the Senate stands adjourned, shall call
the members to order, and shall proceed to business. [1831; 1888.]
1A. Every formal session of the Senate shall open with a recitation of the “Pledge of Allegiance
to the Flag”. At the discretion of the President, in order to mark an occasion of particular
significance, a Senate session or component thereof may include a moment of silence, prayer or
other expression of personal belief. [1989; 2015.]
2. The President shall preserve order and decorum, may speak to points of order in preference to
other members, and shall decide all questions of order subject to an appeal to the Senate. [1817;
between 1821 and 1826; 1831; 1888.]
3. The President may vote on all questions. [1826.]
4. The President may appoint a member to perform the duties of the chair. [1831; 1862; 1865; 1888;
1971.]
4A. The President shall be elected by roll call vote on the Senate floor. This rule shall not be
suspended except by a vote of four-fifths of the members present and voting thereon. Rule 63
shall not apply to this case and no other rule shall supersede the requirement of four-fifths vote to
suspend this rule. [1993; 2002, 2019.]
4B. The President, Majority Leader and the Minority Leader shall, upon declaration of candidacy
for any other state or federal elective office, relinquish said position. [2003; 2015.]
5. In case of a vacancy in the office of President, or in case the President, or the member
appointed by the President to perform the duties of the chair, is absent at the hour to which the
Senate stands adjourned, the longest continuously serving, and in the event that two or more
members equally qualify as longest continuously serving, then the eldest among those members
shall call the Senate to order, and shall preside until a President, or Acting President, is elected
and such election shall be the first business in order. [1831; 1885; 1888; 1971; 1985; 2003; 2013; 2017.] 5A. In case of extreme emergency, the President may for a period not exceeding 2 days, in
conformity with Article 6, Section II, Chapter 1 of the Constitution, cause a session of the Senate
to be cancelled or declare an otherwise formal session to be informal in nature. Each member of
the Senate insofar as is practicable shall be notified of such action. Notice of such action shall be
printed in the Journal of the Senate by the Clerk of the Senate and the printing of a calendar shall
be suspended with reference to an informal session under this rule. Matters considered in an
informal session shall have either received a public hearing or other disposition by a committee
of relevant subject matter jurisdiction. In the case of an informal session, only reports of
committees and matters not giving rise to formal motion or debate shall be considered. No
motion or order of business shall lose its precedence but shall be carried over until the next
formal session. [1971; 1973.]
5B. [Omitted in 2011.]
5C. Upon a vacancy in the Senate, with the exception of any vacancy that occurs after April 1 in
an even-numbered year, a date for a special election shall be scheduled by the President within
20 days after the vacancy occurs and the proposed date of the special election shall then be put
before the members of the Senate for a vote. [2011, 2019.]
CLERK.
6. The Clerk of the Senate shall keep a journal of the proceedings of the Senate, and shall cause
the same to be presented daily. The Clerk shall, in the journal, make note of all questions of
order, and enter at length the decisions thereon. Said journal of the proceedings shall be available
on the general court website. The Clerk shall insert in an appendix to the journal the rules of the
Senate and the joint rules of the two branches. The clerk shall post online special reports of state
officials, departments, commissions, boards, and other reports as required by law, as received by
the Clerk, unless otherwise ordered by the Senate Committee on Rules. [1882; 1888; 2015, 2021, 2023.]
6A. During sessions, except full formal sessions, each Senator shall have the opportunity to read
into the journal, or cause to be printed in the journal, a ceremonial speech not to exceed 650
words; provided, however, that an electronic copy of the remarks is supplied to the Clerk.
Each Senator may offer memorial adjournments at any session upon approval by the President. If
the memorial adjournment is to be read by the Senator offering such memorial adjournment
during session, an electronic copy shall be provided to the Clerk prior to the said session. If the
Senator offering such memorial adjournment does not plan on reading said adjournment during
session, the Senator shall provide a shortened version, which shall be read by the presiding
officer, along with the full-length version of the adjournment, which shall be printed in the
journal. [2023.]
7. The Clerk, with the approval and direction of the President and the Committee on Rules, shall,
upon order for a session with a calendar, prepare and cause to be presented a calendar of matters
in order for consideration. The calendar for a session shall be available to the members and the
public at least 2 calendar days prior to the start of that session, except when formal sessions are
held on consecutive days. The calendar for any formal session on a day following a formal
session shall be available to the members and to the public as soon as practicable and, in any event, no later than 2 hours prior to the start of that session. The agenda for sessions shall be
available to the members and the public at least 1 calendar day prior to the start of that session,
except when sessions are held on consecutive days. The calendar shall consist of at least 4
separate sections. One section shall contain those matters for third reading and engrossment. No
matters shall be considered for third reading that do not appear on this section of the calendar
without unanimous consent. One section shall contain those matters held by the Senate
committee on Bills in the Third Reading. One section shall contain those matters appearing on
the Senate Calendar for the first time. No matters shall be considered for second reading that do
not appear on this section of the calendar without unanimous consent. One section shall contain
those matters which shall be on the Senate Calendar for the first time at the following formal
session. No matters shall be considered for a second reading at a formal session that were not on
the Calendar for the previous formal session. It shall be mandatory, however, that a bill or
resolve ordered to third reading on one calendar day shall appear on the calendar at the following
formal session. The Clerk, with the approval and direction of the President and the Committee on
Rules, may prepare the calendar, with such memoranda as the Clerk may deem necessary, in a
form designed to provide complete information and to properly facilitate the business of the
Senate. When the presentation of the calendar required under this rule is suspended under Rule
5A, a session shall be considered informal and no matter shall be considered if a member at said
session objects to its consideration.
Upon conclusion of all formal business pursuant to Joint Rule 12A, the Clerk shall not be
required to print a calendar pursuant to this rule. [1882; 1888; 1945; 1971; 1974; 1985; 1991; 1993; 2015; 2017.]
7A. To better facilitate the business of the Senate, the chair shall ask for passes on the second
reading matters. Second reading matters with amendments pending shall automatically be
considered separately. The chair shall direct the Clerk to dispense with the reading of each title,
but the journal for that day shall show that the bills have been read a second time. The question
shall then come on ordering those second reading matters which have not been passed for debate
to a third reading. Matters passed for debate shall be considered on the second call.
The same procedure shall be followed with relation to adverse reports appearing in groups on the
calendar. Adverse reports passed for debate shall be considered on the second call. The question
shall be put by the chair on the acceptance of all remaining adverse reports not passed for debate.
[1975.]
7B. The Clerk of the Senate shall be the official parliamentarian of the Senate. [1973.]
8. [Omitted in 1969.]
8A. The Clerk shall make available on the official website of the General Court the results of all
roll call votes not later than 48 hours after such vote is taken, not including quorum calls, in a
manner easily identifiable, searchable, and conspicuously located. The Clerk shall include the
title and number of the matter subject to debate, the number of the roll call and the title of the
matter voted upon. The Clerk shall as soon as practicable make available links to the roll calls,
which include the text of the amendment or matter voted on. [2007; 2011; 2013; 2015; 2017, 2021.]
9. When a bill or resolve coming from the other branch does not appear in the form in which it
was passed in that branch, the Clerk shall indicate the amendments on the Orders of the Day.
[1882.]
COUNSEL TO THE SENATE. 9A. The Counsel to the Senate and members of the staff of said Counsel shall not engage in the
private practice of law during ordinary business hours or while the Senate is in session. The
Counsel to the Senate and the staff of said Counsel shall be available for consultation with the
President and members of the Senate in relation to matters pending before the Senate and must at
all times act in accordance with the conflict of interest law and the Rules of Professional Conduct
for Lawyers. The Counsel to the Senate shall be the exclusive legal agent of the Senate,
including with respect to receiving service of a summons, complaint, charge, or subpoena upon
the Senate and its members, officers, and employees in their official capacities. The Counsel to
the Senate and the Counsel’s legal staff shall not simultaneously serve as staff in any Senator’s
office. [1976; 2015.]
9B. The President, or a designee thereof, Counsel to the Senate, and Chief Financial Officer of
the Senate shall be the exclusive, authorized representatives for the purpose of signing or
executing any agreement, contract, or memorandum on behalf of the Senate.
MEMBERS OF THE SENATE.
10. No member, officer, or employee shall use or attempt to use improper means to influence an
agency, board, authority, commission of the Commonwealth, any political subdivision of the
Commonwealth, or any other entity. No member, officer, or employee of the Senate shall receive
compensation or permit compensation to accrue to the member, officer or employee’s beneficial
interest by virtue of influence improperly exerted from the member, officer or employee’s
position in the Senate. Every reasonable effort shall be made to avoid situations where it might
appear that the member, officer or employee is making such use of the member, officer or
employee’s official position. Members, officers, and employees should avoid accepting or
retaining an economic interest or opportunity which represents a threat to their independence of
judgment.
No member, officer, or employee shall use confidential information gained in the course of or by
reason of the member, officer or employee’s official position or activities to further the member,
officer or employee’s financial interest or those of any other person. [1977; 2015.]
10A. No member, officer, or employee shall employ anyone from state funds who does not
perform tasks which contribute to the work of the Senate and which are commensurate with the
compensation received; and no officer or full time employee of the Senate shall engage in any
outside business activity during regular business hours, whether the Senate is in session or not.
No member of the Senate shall act on a matter before a committee or vote on any question in
which the member’s private right is immediately concerned, distinct from the public interest. All
employees of the Senate are assumed to be full time unless their personnel record indicates
otherwise. [1977.]
10B. Interns and temporary employees of the Senate, who are students at an accredited
educational institution and who are employed by the Senate for not more than 6 months, may
receive compensation from an educational institution or other non-profit organization under
section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, according to that organization’s regular program
of providing such compensation for temporary governmental or public service employment. A temporary employee’s Senate supervisor shall establish the employee’s total compensation, shall
verify that the sum of the employee’s state compensation, if any, and any outside compensation
that the employee is to receive under this rule would not exceed this total compensation, and
shall file the written terms of the employee’s compensation with the Senate Office of Human
Resources.
Each intern or temporary employee shall complete and have on file a form documenting the
internship or temporary employment, in a format approved by the Senate Committee on Rules, to
be signed by the intern’s or temporary employee’s Senate supervisor. [2003; 2013, 2019, 2023.]
10C. There shall be within the Senate Office of Human Resources a Manager of Diversity,
Equity, and Inclusion who shall promote the Senate’s policies concerning equal employment
opportunities, anti-harassment, and anti-discrimination as well as the Senate Code of Conduct
and direct and guide offices to recruit, hire, train, develop, advance, promote and retain a diverse
workforce, consistent with Senate Rules, applicable laws, and the Senate Employee Handbook.
The Senate Office of Human Resources shall provide or otherwise make available implicit bias
training to all members, officers and staff and such training shall be mandatory. [2019, 2021.]
10D. The Senate Office of Human Resources, in consultation with the Counsel to the Senate, as
appropriate, shall be responsible for developing and overseeing standardized policies,
procedures, and practices for all staff, including, but not limited to, the following: applying for
Senate employment, job classifications and salary ranges, conducting staff performance
management, separations from employment, and receiving, investigating, and resolving
personnel complaints. The Senate Office of Human Resources shall maintain the privacy of
medical, personnel, and other personal data or information of Senate employees to the extent
permitted by law.
11. Unless a member of the Senate doubts the presence of a quorum, the Senate shall not be
affected by the absence of a Senator. [1817; 2015; 2021.]
11A. Each member of the Senate shall be assigned an office in the State House and may employ
staff consistent with policies established by the Senate. Senate staff shall follow the policies and
procedures outlined in the Senate Employee Handbook, which shall be developed and published
by the Senate Office of Human Resources with the advice of the Counsel to the Senate. . [1983;
1985; 1993; 2003; 2015; 2021.]
11B. [Omitted in 2023.]
11C. The Committee on Rules shall ensure that each member of the Senate is able to receive
electronic mail from members of the public. [2001; 2003; 2015.]
11D. The Committee on Ethics shall sponsor ethics training for members and staff within 90
days of the opening of the biennial session. Ethics training shall be mandatory for all members
and staff and Counsel to the Senate shall be responsible for ensuring completion of the ethics
training required under this rule by all members and staff. [2009; 2015, 2019.]
11E. Members of the Senate may be compensated for service in no more than 2 positions,
whether as a member of leadership or as a chair, vice-chair or ranking member of a committee.
[2017, 2019.] 11F. No member, officer, or staff shall violate the Senate’s anti-harassment policy. Members,
officers, and staff shall receive anti-harassment and bystander intervention training within 90
days of the opening of the biennial session. All members, officers, and staff beginning
employment after the anti-harassment and bystander intervention training held within 90 days of
the opening of the biennial session shall complete anti-harassment and bystander intervention
training as part of the employment onboarding process. Anti-harassment and bystander
intervention training shall be mandatory for all members, officers, and staff and all members,
officers, and staff. The Senate Office of Human Resources, in coordination with the Counsel to
the Senate, shall be responsible for ensuring completion of the training required under this rule
by all members and staff. This rule shall not be suspended. [2019, 2021.]
11G. The Senate shall not include or permit a nondisclosure, non-disparagement or other similar
clause in an agreement or contract between the Senate and a member, officer or employee. The
Senate shall not seek to enforce a nondisclosure, non-disparagement or other similar clause in an
existing agreement or contract between the Senate and a member, officer or employee. This rule
shall not be suspended. [2019.]
11H. The Senate, in coordination with Legislative Information Services, shall host a training on
cybersecurity awareness on an annual basis, which shall be mandatory for all members and staff.
The Senate Office of Human Resources, in coordination with the Counsel to the Senate, shall be
responsible for ensuring completion of the training required under this rule by all members and
staff.
COMMITTEES.
12. The following standing committees shall be appointed by the President, to wit:
A Committee on the Census;
To consist of 7 members, 1 of whom shall be appointed by the Minority Leader.
A Committee on Bills in the Third Reading;
To consist of 5 members, 1 of whom shall be appointed by the Minority Leader.
A Committee on Post Audit and Oversight;
To consist of 8 members, 2 of whom shall be appointed by the Minority Leader.
A Committee on Ethics;
To consist of 7 members, including 2 members appointed by the Minority Leader.
A Committee on Rules;
To consist of 7 members, including 2 members appointed by the Minority Leader.
A Committee on Climate Change and Global Warming ;
To consist of 6 members, 1 of whom shall be appointed by the Minority Leader.
A Committee on Steering and Policy;
To consist of 5 members, 1 of whom shall be appointed by the Minority Leader.
A Committee on Ways and Means;
To consist of 18 members, including 3 members appointed by the Minority Leader.
A Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs;
To consist of 6 members, including 1 member appointed by the Minority Leader.
A Committee on Juvenile and Emerging Adult Justice; To consist of 7 members, including 1 member to appointed by the Minority Leader.
A Committee on Personnel and Administration;
To consist of 7 members, including 2 members appointed by the Minority Leader.
Committees shall notify the clerk of the time, place and agenda of a public hearing or executive
session not less than 5 days prior to the time of such meeting and the clerk shall inform all senate
members electronically and publish such information on the official website of the General Court
as soon as practicable. The 5-day notice requirement shall be suspended only in an emergency
or for extenuating circumstances. If public testimony is being solicited by the committee,
agendas shall include an electronic mail address or other mechanism for the submission of
testimony and shall inform the public that electronic testimony received may be made publicly
available. Any such public testimony received by the committee that is readily capable of being
reproduced shall be made available on the general court website; provided, however, that the
committee chair or testifier may redact such public testimony that includes sensitive personal
information or information that may jeopardize health, wellness or safety; provided further, the
committee on rules shall promulgate guidance for committees to ensure the disclosure of relevant
information and the non-disclosure of inappropriate material. If expert testimony is being
solicited by the committee, the committee shall make reasonable efforts to promote the diversity
of expert witness panels. Committees shall provide to members of the committee either the text
or comprehensive summaries of the bills or other forms of legislative matters prior to a vote. All
recorded votes of each member and by the committees shall be posted on the website of the
General Court as soon as practicable.
Hearings shall be made available on a platform that permits remote public participation from
outside the hearing room through audio and video technology; provided, however, that, the chair
may waive this requirement for technological, operational or logistical reasons. Members of the
committee may participate remotely and shall have the same privileges, rights and
responsibilities as if the member were physically present at the hearing location, and other
members may offer remote testimony before committees of which they are not a member. Chairs
shall schedule hearings that offer remote participation through Legislative Information Services
and the Sergeant-at-Arms. The agenda for such a hearing shall specify how members of the
public may access, monitor and participate in the remote aspect of the meeting. Nothing
contained herein shall limit the committee’s ability to meet in executive session, prevent
disruption or maintain decorum during the hearing. Committees may adopt rules to govern the
orderly and efficient operation of such hearings.
Committees may at a hearing receive testimony from public officials out of the regular order of
participation; provided, however, that if a committee follows such a practice public officials of
Indigenous communities shall be treated accordingly.
Senate members serving on a joint committee under Joint Rule 1 shall, individually or through
the Senate Chair, provide their recorded votes on legislation in the committee to the Clerk of the
Senate who shall post said votes on the website of the General Court as soon as practicable. The
Senate Chair of a joint committee shall, together with the clerk of the Senate, make public
testimony received by the committee that is readily capable of being reproduced available on the
general court website; provided, however, that the chair or testifier may redact such public
testimony that includes sensitive personal information or information that may jeopardize health,
wellness or safety; provided further, the committee on rules shall promulgate guidance to ensure the disclosure of relevant information and the non-disclosure of inappropriate material. [1831;
1836; 1840; 1844; 1847; 1863; 1864; 1870; 1876; 1882; 1885; 1886; 1888; 1891; 1896; 1897; 1920; 1937; 1939; 1941; 1945;
1946; 1957; 1960; 1963; 1965; 1969; 1971; 1972; 1982; 1989; 1991; 1993; 1995, 1997; 2003, 2005; 2007; 2009; 2011; 2015;
2017, 2019; 2021, 2023.]
12A. All violations of Rules and all questions of conduct of members, officers and employees of
the Senate shall be referred by order of the Senate to the committee on Ethics. Any finding or
decision by a court of law or administrative agency, including the Massachusetts Commission
Against Discrimination, which indicates sufficient facts to believe that the member, officer, or
employee engaged in behavior which would constitute a violation of a Rule or other misconduct,
including, but not limited to, a violation of the Senate’s anti-harassment policy, the prohibition of
retaliation against an individual who has complained about discriminatory harassment or
retaliation against an individual for cooperating with an investigation of a discriminatory
harassment complaint shall be referred to the Ethics Committee. However, no such finding or
decision is required before referral to the Ethics Committee. Such orders shall be as specific as
circumstances allow. The committee shall also be empowered to receive sworn written
complaints or evidence regarding violations of Rules 10 and 10A. Until a hearing, if any, is held,
the contents of such complaints or evidence shall be considered confidential information, unless
the contents are already a matter of public record. If no hearing is held, such contents may be
made public by the committee in a final report. Breach of confidentiality may itself be grounds
for disciplinary action.
Upon receipt of an order, a sworn written complaint filed under penalties of perjury, or upon
receipt of evidence, the committee may investigate and take written or oral testimony on any
matters specified in the order or covered by Rules 10 and 10A. A majority of committee
members shall be present to receive sworn testimony Upon majority vote of the full Senate, the
committee may require by summons the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the
production of books and papers and such other records as said committee may deem relevant. All
testimony before the committee shall be recorded or transcribed and such recordings and
transcriptions must be made available to all members of the committee.
Said committee shall consider and may report to the Senate any recommendations regarding any
infringement of the rules and all questions of conduct of members, officers and employees
referred to it. If after investigation a majority of the committee determines that there has been a
violation of the rules, or other misconduct, which shall include, but not be limited to, a violation
of the Senate’s anti-harassment policy including the prohibition of retaliation against an
individual who has complained about discriminatory harassment or retaliation against an
individual for cooperating with an investigation of a discriminatory harassment complaint, the
committee shall file a report with the Clerk of the Senate, including a recommendation for
disciplinary action, including but not limited to: in the case of a member, reprimand, censure,
temporary or permanent removal from the position of committee chair or other position of
authority, suspension with or without pay, or expulsion; in the case of an officer or employee,
reprimand, suspension or removal. Said report shall not prevent the Senate from taking any other
action as it shall deem advisable and appropriate. Nothing in this rule shall be construed to require the disclosure of any allegation that the
committee deems frivolous or without merit, if such determination is made by a majority of
members on the committee.
If the committee receives a sworn written complaint, evidence, order of the Senate, or request for
an opinion involving a member of the committee, such member shall not participate in the
committee's deliberations on that matter.
The committee may, upon written request from a member, officer, or employee of the Senate,
issue written advisory opinions on matters concerning Rules 10 and 10A. Such advisory opinions
may be published, provided that the name of the person requesting the opinion, and any other
identifying information shall not be included in the publication. The Senate may not penalize a
member, officer or employee of the Senate for conduct satisfying the guidelines of an advisory
opinion based on factually indistinguishable conduct.
A majority of members shall sign all recommendations, advisory opinions, and reports of the
committee. All voting members must certify that they have heard or read all relevant testimony
prior to voting.
The committee shall on or before December 31 of the second year of the biennial session, file a
report with the Clerk summarizing its activities for the session. In addition, the committee may at
any time recommend changes in the rules of conduct for the Senate or legislation relating to the
conduct of the Senate, and a majority vote of the Senate shall be required to approve any such
recommended changes. [1977; 1978; 1983; 1991; 2003; 2015; 2017, 2019.]
12B. The committee on Steering and Policy shall meet from time to time at the call of the chair
for the purpose of assisting the President and the Senate in identifying the major matters which
require consideration by the General Court during the pending session and to advise the
President and the Senate on the relative priority of such matters, the relative urgency for
consideration by the General Court of such matters, and alternative methods of responding to
such matters by the General Court, and to assist on scheduling legislative matters for their even
distribution throughout the legislative year. The committee may initiate legislation consistent
with Senate Rule 19, but no bill shall be initiated over the objection of the Senate Chair of the
appropriate committee. The committee on Steering and Policy, together with the Senate
members of the Joint Committee of relevant jurisdiction, shall hold a duly noticed public hearing
prior to initiating said legislation. Any matters reported favorably by said committee shall be
referred as appropriate to the senate committee on rules or ways and means. [2009.]
12B ½ . The Committee on Rules may initiate legislation consistent with Senate Rule 19, but no
bill shall be initiated over the objection of the Senate Chair of the appropriate committee. The
Committee on Rules shall report on what date prior to adjournment of the last formal session the
matter shall be considered by the Senate. In the case of bills removed from study and referred to
the Committee on Rules, the bills may be subject to amendments by the committee as well as
reports by the committee that the bills ought to pass or ought not to pass. This rule shall apply
only to bills that have no state fiscal impact. [1983; 1985; 1986; 1991; 1993; 1999; 2003; 2005; 2015.]
12C. [Omitted in 1995.] 12D. The President, in consultation with the Majority leader or the Minority leader, as
appropriate, shall review and allocate office space based on each member's staff and operating
requirements. [1993; 2003, 2023.]
12F. The Committee on Post Audit and Oversight shall have all rules as agreed to by the
committee and may examine issues to improve state government; provided, however, said
committee may not summon witnesses or compel the production of books, papers, documents or
evidence without approval of the Counsel to the Senate.
13. (a) Unless the Senate shall otherwise specially order, the President shall nominate a candidate
for chair of each standing committee, joint standing committee or special committee and the
vice-chair and the assistant vice-chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. The
President may also nominate the majority floor leader, assistant majority floor leaders, majority
whip, the assistant majority whip and a President pro tempore . The President pro tempore shall
assist the President in the coordination of policy development and the ceremonial functions of
the Senate and shall perform such duties as assigned by the President. The minority party floor
leader may nominate to minority party floor leadership positions. Such nominations shall require
ratification by a majority vote by the respective party caucus. The vote shall be by voice vote,
roll call or secret ballot, as the majority vote of the caucus shall determine. In the event a
nomination is rejected by such caucus another nomination may be made by the person designated
in this rule to make the initial nomination which shall be subject to ratification in the same
manner. In the case of the election by the Senate of a committee by ballot, the member having
the highest number of votes shall act as chair. The second named member shall be vice-chair.
(b) Except as provided above or unless the Senate shall otherwise specially order, committees
shall be appointed by the President, with exception of the chair whose nomination and
ratification shall be governed by paragraph (a). The President shall in making such appointments
give consideration to representation of both the majority and minority parties relative to their
respective representation in the Senate and in any event shall reserve at least 3 positions on the
Senate Committee on Ways and Means and at least 1 position upon each standing or special
committee for a Senate member of the minority party and appointments to such positions shall be
made by the Senate minority party leader. For the purposes of this rule and rule 56, the term
“minority party” shall mean the political party of those members of the Senate who, in the
aggregate, constitute the second largest group of members of the Senate affiliated with a political
party.
(c) A vacancy in any position which is regulated by this rule shall be filled in the same manner as
provided in this rule for the original appointment; provided however that in case of a vacancy of
a chair of a committee, the vice-chair shall perform all duties of said prior chair until said
vacancy is filled. Any person in a position which is regulated by this rule shall be subject to
removal only by a majority vote of the respective party caucus by voice vote, roll call or secret
ballot as the majority vote of the caucus shall determine. [1817; between 1821 and 1826; 1831; 1888; 1973;
1983; 1985; 1991; 2003; 2015, 2017, 2019.]
13A. All motions or orders authorizing committees of the Senate to travel or to employ
stenographers, all propositions involving special investigations by committees of the Senate and
all motions or orders providing that information be transmitted to the Senate shall be referred
without debate to the Committee on Rules, who shall report thereon, recommending what action
should be taken. All other motions that create main questions, except those that relate to privilege, to procedure and subject kindred matters, or to the subjects referred to in Joint Rules
29 and 30, shall also be referred without debate to the Committee on Rules and be treated in like
manner.
The Chair of the Committee on Rules may originate and report special orders for the scheduling
and consideration of matters on the floor of the Senate. When reported, such orders may be
amended by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting and approved by a majority of
the members of the Senate present and voting. Debate on the question on adoption of such orders
shall be limited to 30 minutes. Such orders shall not be subject to reconsideration. [1904; 1913; 1921;
1953; 2003; 2015.]
13B. The President of the Senate may call a caucus at any time at which either the President or a
designated member of the majority leadership shall preside unless otherwise voted by a majority
of the caucus. The President shall honor the request of the Minority Leader at any time while the
Senate is in session, to call a minority caucus at which the Minority Leader shall preside or a
designated member of the minority leadership, unless otherwise voted by a majority of the
caucus.
A caucus shall also be called if 25 per cent or more of a party's membership requests the calling
of a caucus. Such request shall be made to the Senate President or Minority Leader. In the
instance of such a caucus being called, said caucus may consider any subject matter, including
but not limited to resolutions, motions or other means of ascertaining the sense of party members
on any subject. When the Senate recesses to allow a caucus, the Senate President or presiding
officer shall inform the members from the rostrum of a time certain for reconvention. [1985; 1993.]
13C. The Senate Committee on Rules shall provide for an annual fiscal year audit of all Senate
financial accounts to be conducted by a certified public accountant experienced in auditing
governmental entities. A copy of the audit shall be filed with the Clerk of the Senate who shall
conspicuously post the audit on the General Court website, and notify the members, the
Comptroller, the Inspector General, and the State Auditor when the audit is posted. [1985; 2003;
2015; 2017; 2021.]
14. No committee shall be allowed to occupy the Senate Chamber without a vote of the Senate.
[1836; 1863; 1888.]
15. No legislation affecting the rights of individuals or the rights of a private or municipal
corporation, otherwise than as it affects generally the people of the whole Commonwealth or the
people of the city or town to which it specifically applies, shall be proposed or introduced except
by a petition, nor shall any bill or resolve embodying such legislation be reported by a
committee, except upon a petition duly referred, nor shall such a bill or resolve be reported by a
committee, whether on an original reference or on a recommittal with instructions to hear the
parties, until it is made to appear to the satisfaction of the committee that proper notice of the
proposed legislation has been given by public advertisement or otherwise to all parties interested,
without expense to the Commonwealth, or until evidence satisfactory to the committee is
produced that all parties interested have in writing waived notice. A committee reporting
adversely for want of proper notice or of a waiver thereof shall set forth this fact in its report, and
no bill or resolve shall be in order as a substitute for, or amendment of, such report. Objection to
the violation of this rule may be taken at any stage prior to that of third reading. [1870; 1871; 1885;
1890; 1921; 1939; 1945; 1971.] 16. A committee may report a special law on matters referred to it upon (1) a petition filed or
approved by the voters of a city or town, or the mayor and city council, or other legislative body,
of a city, or the town meeting of a town, with respect to a law relating to that city or town; (2) a
recommendation by the Governor; and (3) matters relating to erecting and constituting
metropolitan or regional entities, embracing any 2 or more cities and towns, or establishing with
other than existing city or town boundaries, for any general or special public purpose or
purposes. [1882; 1885; 1888; 1891; 1893; 1967; 1971; 1973.]
16A. Reports of committees recommending that a matter be placed in a study shall be reported to
the Senate if the matter being reported into a study was originally filed in the Senate. Matters
which have been recommitted to a committee in session shall be reported to the branch
originating the recommitment. [2002.]
FORMS OF BILLS AND RESOLVES.
17. Bills, resolves, resolutions and orders shall be prepared under supervision of the Counsel to
the Senate. Bills, resolves, resolutions and orders founded upon petition shall be presented in an
electronic format as prescribed by the Clerk, who shall then prepare such electronically filed
documents for printing on official paper. Any petition which presents a bill, resolve, resolution
or order that was before the General Court in the legislative session preceding that for which it is
presented shall be designated as a “refiled petition” by the presenting member, together with
reference to the number assigned such matter in the preceding legislative session. No repealed
law and no law which has expired by limitation, and no part of any such law, shall be re-enacted
by reference merely.
A bill sponsor shall provide a joint committee under Joint Rule 1 a comprehensive summary of
said bill prior to the hearing on said bill. Said summary shall be made available along with the
text of the bill on the website of the general court; provided said summary shall disclose that the
summary was created by the sponsor of the bill and the committee does not certify the accuracy
of its contents; provided further nothing in this rule shall prevent a joint standing committee from
completing its own summary and making said summary publicly available. [1844; 1857; 1880; 1882;
1885; 1888; 1889; 1947; 1972; 1985, 2001, 2006; 2015.]
INTRODUCTION OF BUSINESS.
18. Every petition (excepting as otherwise provided for in the Constitution, or laws of the
Commonwealth), shall be presented by a member, whose name shall be endorsed on the petition.
[1831; 1888; 1972; 1973.]
18A. [Omitted in 2025.]
19. All motions contemplating legislation shall be founded upon petition, except as provided in
Joint Rule 3A and except that the committee on Ways and Means, the Committee on Rules and
the Committee on Steering and Policy may report a bill or other form of legislation that is not founded upon petition. Committees to whom messages from the Governor, reports of state
officers, boards, commissions, and others authorized to report to the legislature shall be referred,
may report by bill or otherwise such legislation as may be germane to the subject-matter referred
to them. [1858; 1888; 1891; 1893; 1973; 1999; 2003; 2005; 2015.]
20. All petitions for legislation accompanied by bills or resolves embodying the subject-matter
prayed for, which are intended for presentation or introduction to the Senate, reports of state
officials, departments, commissions and boards, and reports of special committees and
commissions shall be filed with the Clerk, who shall, unless they are subject to other rules or of
the rules of the 2 branches, refer them, with the approval and direction of the President, to the
appropriate committees, subject to such change of reference as the Senate may make.
Provided, that petitions and other papers so filed, or papers received from the House, which are
subject to Joint Rules 7A, 7B or 9, shall be referred by the Clerk to the Committee on Rules.
Petitions and other papers so filed which are subject to the second paragraph of Joint Rule 12
shall be referred by the Clerk to the Committees on Rules of the two branches, acting
concurrently. The reading of all such documents may be dispensed with, but they shall be
entered in the journal of the same or the next legislative day after such reference, except as
provided in Joint Rule 13.
All orders intended for adoption shall be deposited with the Clerk. If the orders relate to
questions of privilege or to procedure and kindred matters, they shall be laid before the Senate by
the President as soon as practicable. If they relate to other subjects, except as provided in rule
13A or in Joint Rules 29 and 30, they shall be referred to the Committee on Rules.
All resolutions intended for adoption shall be filed with the Clerk. Resolutions, which are not
reported by committee or received from the House, shall be considered forthwith after having
been reported by the committee on Bills in the Third Reading, under Senate Rule 33.
Special reports of state officials, departments, commissions and boards, reports of special
committees and commissions, bills and resolves accompanying petitions and reports, and
resolutions, shall be printed on order of the President, and under the direction of the Clerk. They
shall retain, during all subsequent stages, their original numbers and shall also bear such new
numbers as may be necessary.
Matters which have been placed on file may be taken from the files by the Clerk upon request of
any Senator; and matters so taken from the files shall be referred or otherwise disposed of as
provided for above.
The Senate may at any time by order make any other disposition of petitions in the hands of the
Clerk. [1891; 1893; 1894; 1916; 1921; 1925; 1927; 1933; 1939; 1945; 1953; 1963; 1967; 1971; 1973; 1985; 1999; 2003; 2005;
2015.]
20A. The Clerk shall make available on the website of the general court the text of all bills
introduced in the Senate and all late file petitions accompanied by legislation. The bill text for
any bill for which there was a vote on the Senate floor shall be made available to the public on
the general court website as soon as practicable. [2001; 2015.]
21. [Omitted in 1943.]
22. [Omitted in 1949.] 23. No bill or resolve shall be proposed or introduced unless received from the House of
Representatives, reported by a committee, or moved as an amendment to the report of a
committee. [1881; 1882; 1888.]
24. The consideration of any order proposed for adoption, or of any motion to suspend Senate
Rule 15, or Joint Rules 8, 9 or 12, shall be postponed without question to the day after that on
which the order is proposed or request made, if any member asks such postponement. The
consideration of any motion to lay a matter on the table or to take a matter from the table shall be
postponed without question to the day after that on which the motion is made, except during the
last 14 calendar days of formal business under Joint Rule 12A or of the 2-year legislative
session. [1885; 1891; 1971; 1973; 1983, 1997; 1999, 2021.]
25. [Omitted in 1929, the provisions thereof being covered by Joint Rule 9.]
COURSE OF PROCEEDINGS.
26. Bills and resolves from the House, after they are read a first time, shall be referred to a
committee of the Senate, unless they have been reported by a joint committee or substituted for
the report of a joint committee. Bills and resolves reported in the Senate and bills and resolves
from the House reported by joint committees or substituted for the reports of joint committees
shall, after they have been read once, be referred to the Committee on Rules, except as otherwise
provided by Senate Rule 27. Any matter reported in the Senate or received from the House
concerning or restricted to a particular city or town which has received the approval of the voters
of the city or town or of the town meeting shall appear on the calendar for the next session for a
second reading notwithstanding any other provisions of this rule. Bills introduced by initiative
petition, when reported in the Senate or received from the House, shall be referred to the
Committee on Rules. Resolutions received from the House, or reported in the Senate, shall be
referred to the Committee on Rules. Bills and Resolves under Senate Rule 27, when reported,
shall be referred to the Committee on Rules. All reports of the Committee on Rules shall be
placed in the Orders of the Day for the next session unless such matter is assigned for special
consideration by said committee as provided for under Senate Rule 12B.
A report from a committee of conference filed in accordance with Joint Rule 11B may be taken
up forthwith. [1825; 1885; 1888; 1890; 1891; 1897; 1945; 1985; 1993; 1999; 2005; 2015.]
26A. [Omitted in 2005].
26B. [Omitted in 2005].
26C. [Omitted in 2021].
26D. [Omitted in 2021].
27. Bills and resolves involving public money, or a grant of public property, unless the subject-
matter has been acted upon by the joint Committee on Ways and Means, shall, after the first
reading, be referred in course to the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, whose duty it shall
be to review their relation to the finances of the Commonwealth. Orders reported in the Senate or received from the House involving the expenditure of public
money for special committees shall, before the question is taken on the adoption of the order, be
referred to the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, whose duty it shall be to review the
order’s relation to the finances of the Commonwealth.
Every such bill involving a capital expenditure for new projects, or an appropriation for repairs,
or any legislation, the cost of which, in the opinion of the committee, exceeds $100,000, when
reported into the Senate by the Committee on Ways and Means, shall be accompanied by a fiscal
note.
When requested by any member, prior to the engrossment of any such bill involving a capital
expenditure for new projects, or an appropriation for repairs, or any legislation, the cost of
which, in the opinion of the committee, can be ascertained in a timely manner, and which
exceeds $100,000, the chair of the Committee on Ways and Means, or a member of said
committee, shall verbally disclose during session the amount of public money which will be
required to be expended to carry out the proposed legislation.
The committee on Ways and Means shall provide a copy of its proposed text of any bills or
resolves involving public money, or a grant of public property, and a summary of said text, to
committee members before such bill or resolve is reported to the Senate for consideration. Said
summary and text shall be posted on the general court website prior to consideration by the
Senate. No amendment to the proposed text shall be in order if (i) filed after the start of session
on the day of consideration, aside from amendments by the committee or the sponsor of the bill,
or (ii) the amendment proposes a revenue reduction or increase in spending in excess of
$50,000,000 unless offsetting revenue increases or spending reductions are included in the
amendment to ensure that the balance of spending and revenue in the bill is maintained. [1871;
1882; 1887; 1888; 1889; 1896; 1921; 1941; 1946; 1947; 1953; 1963; 1967; 1968; 1971; 1995; 1999; 2015, 2023.]
27A. When the general appropriations bill is reported by the Senate Committee on Ways and
Means the following information shall be made available:- (a) a prior year’s appropriation, (b)
the recommendation, if any, of the Governor, (c) the amount approved by the House, and (d) the
amount recommended by the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. The committee shall
identify with its recommendations for the general appropriations bill all of the tax and non-tax
revenues on which its spending recommendations are premised. The committee shall present
these revenues by type and by the department or agency responsible for collecting them.
The committee on Ways and Means shall provide the membership with a copy of its proposed
text of the general appropriations bill, and an executive summary which shall include a list of
outside sections, and a short summary of each outside section not later than the fifth business day
prior to full Senate consideration of such bill. When the Senate considers the general
appropriation bill, the bill shall appear in the Orders of the Day for its second-reading. All
amendments to the Ways and Means proposed text shall be second-reading amendments, but
further amendments in the third-degree to such amendments shall be in order. No amendment to
a general appropriation bill shall be in order which proposes a revenue reduction or increase in
spending in excess of $50,000,000 unless offsetting revenue increases or spending reductions are
included in the amendment to ensure that the balance of spending and revenue in the bill is
maintained. After the bill as amended is ordered to a third reading, it shall be read a third time
and the question shall then immediately be on passing it to be engrossed. No amendments shall
be in order at the third reading of the bill unless recommended by the committee on Bills in the Third Reading. Each member shall file any proposed amendments, including those relating to
outside sections, electronically in a form determined by the Clerk, by the time established for
that purpose by order of the Senate provided, however, that a reasonable amount of time, and not
less than 48 hours, shall be provided to file amendments. Each amendment shall contain a
descriptive title. The Clerk shall make a list of amendments available to the membership at least
48 hours prior to consideration of such bill. Such list shall identify the member sponsoring the
amendment and include the descriptive title. The sponsoring member of an amendment,
including further amendments in the third-degree, shall make available at such member’s office a
copy and a detailed summary of the amendment. The Clerk shall make available on the website
of the general court the text of all amendments, including further amendments in the third-degree
to such amendments.
The committee on Ways and Means shall provide the membership with a copy of its proposed
text of any other appropriations bill and a summary thereof. Said bill text and summary shall be
posted on the general court website prior to consideration by the Senate. When the Senate
considers such an appropriation bill, the Ways and Means proposed text shall be adopted and the
bill shall be ordered to a third reading without other amendments. The bill shall be immediately
read a third time and then be open to other amendments; provided, however, that a reasonable
amount of time shall be provided to file amendments and the order is approved by a majority of
the members. Any order regarding said amendments, including amendments relating to outside
sections, shall be adopted by vote of the Senate before consideration of the bill by the Senate.
Each amendment shall contain a descriptive title. The Clerk shall make a list of amendments
available to the membership as soon as practicable and prior to the consideration of such bill.
Such list shall identify the member sponsoring the amendment and include the title of the
amendment.
The Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means may file a technical or perfecting
amendment to any bill reported out by the committee. The text of any such amendment shall be
available publicly and members shall be given a reasonable amount of time for review prior to
taking action on such a technical or perfecting amendment. No further amendment to such a
technical or perfecting amendment shall be in order.
A member may withdraw an amendment to a bill after filing it or may replace a seasonably filed
amendment with a reasonably related redrafted amendment, which shall be clearly designated as
such.
Further amendments and redrafted amendments shall upon request be distributed by the member
offering the amendment to each member. Members shall be given a reasonable amount of time
for review prior to taking action on any further or redrafted amendments.
This rule shall not be rescinded, amended or suspended, unless four-fifths of the members
present consent thereto. [1974; 1993; 1997; 1999, 2001; 2013; 2015; 2017, 2019; 2021, 2023.]
27B. [Omitted in 1999.]
27C. With the exception of appropriation bills and capital outlay bills, the Committee on Ways
and Means and the Committee on Rules may be discharged from the further consideration of
matters referred to them under the following procedure. The consideration of a motion to
discharge such committees from further consideration of a certain matter shall be postponed
without question to the day after that on which the motion is made. Such motion shall require a majority vote of the members present and voting for adoption, if made after the expiration of 45
calendar days after referral to said committees, but shall require a vote of two-thirds of the
members present and voting, if made prior to the expiration of said 45 calendar days after
referral to said committees. On the motion to discharge such committees, not more than 15
minutes shall be allowed for debate, and no member shall speak more than 3 minutes.
In addition to the above procedure, the Committee on Ways and Means shall be discharged from
further consideration of a certain matter upon the written petition of a majority of the members of
such committee presented to the chair after 45 calendar days following referral of the matter to
said committee. When directed to discharge a certain matter under this rule said committees shall
either report or be discharged of said matter within 5 legislative days of the vote or petition
calling for such discharge. A petition discharged under this rule shall be considered as favorably
reported and the matter accompanying said petition shall be designated as “discharged”, and
shall be placed in the Orders of the Day for the next day for a second reading or question on
adoption, as the case may be, unless subject to Senate Rule 27. [1983; 1985; 2003; 2015.]
27D. A Senate bill may be co-sponsored, electronically, at any time during the 2-year legislative
session until the beginning of session on the day the bill is scheduled on the agenda or calendar
to be engrossed. [2015.]
28. No bill or resolve shall pass to be engrossed without 3 readings on 3 several days unless said
matter was properly noticed on the agenda or calendar . [1817; 1836; 1841; 1859; 1878; 1881; 1882; 1885.]
29. Bills and resolves, in their several readings, and resolutions, shall be read by their titles,
unless objection is made. [1817; 1836; 1841; 1859; 1878; 1881; 1882; 1885; 1890.]
30. If a committee to whom a bill or resolve is referred reports that the same ought not to pass,
the question shall be “Shall this bill (or resolve) be rejected?” If the rejection is negatived, the
bill or resolve, if it has been read but once, shall go to its second reading without a question; and
if it has been read more than once it shall be placed in the Orders of the Day for the next day,
pending the question on ordering to a third reading, or engrossment, as the case may be. [1817;
1836; 1841; 1859; 1878; 1881; 1882; 1885; 1897; 1921; 1939; 1945; 1971.]
31. If an amendment is offered by any member at the second or third reading of a bill or resolve,
substantially changing the greater part of the bill or resolve, the question shall not be put
forthwith on adopting the amendment to the bill or resolve if formally requested by 2 members,
but the bill or resolve shall be laid over and placed in the Orders of the Day for the next day after
that on which the amendment is offered, with the amendment pending. The proposed amendment
shall be printed in the calendar and in the journal. If an amendment is made at the second or third
reading of a bill or resolve substantially changing the greater part of the bill or resolve, the
question shall not be put forthwith on ordering the bill or resolve to a third reading or to be
engrossed, as the case may be, but the bill or resolve, as amended, shall be placed in the Orders
of the Day for the next day after that on which the amendment is made, and shall then be open to
further amendment before such question is put. In like manner, when an amendment is made in
any proposition of such a nature as to change its character, as from a bill to an order, or the like,
the proposition as amended shall be placed in the Orders of the Day for the next day after that on
which the amendment was made. [1882; 1888; 1971.]
31A. Upon recommendation of the Chair of the committee on Rules, the Senate may by order
require that all amendments to a designated bill be filed with the Clerk not later than 1 day before consideration of the bill by the Senate. Such amendments shall be presented in the calendar and
shall not be subject to Rule 31. [1997; 2003; 2015.]
31B. A member may withdraw an amendment after filing it or may replace a seasonably filed
amendment with a reasonably related redrafted amendment, which shall be clearly designated as
such. The text of a withdrawn amendment placed on the website of the General Court shall
continue to be available publicly notwithstanding the amendment having been withdrawn.
Further amendments and redrafted amendments shall, upon request, be distributed by the
member offering the amendment to each member. Members shall be given a reasonable amount
of time for review prior to taking action on further or redrafted amendments. [2019, 2021.]
32. Bills or resolves ordered to a third reading shall be placed in the Orders of the Day for the
next day for such reading. [1817; 1836; 1841; 1859; 1878; 1881; 1882; 1885.]
32A. (1) The Senate Committee on Bills in the Third Reading may be discharged from the
further consideration of matters referred to it pursuant to the following procedure:
(a) The consideration of a motion to discharge said committee from further consideration of a
certain matter shall be postponed without question to the day after that on which the motion is
made.
(b) The adoption of such motion shall require a simple majority vote of the members present and
voting.
(2) The Senate Committee on Rules may be discharged from the further consideration of matters
referred to it under Rule 26, pursuant to the following procedure:
(a) The consideration of a motion to discharge said committee from further consideration of a
certain matter shall be postponed without question to the day after that on which the motion is
made.
(b) Such motion shall require a majority vote of the members present and voting for adoption if
made after the expiration of 30 calendar days after referral to said committee, but shall require a
vote of two-thirds of the members present and voting if made prior to the expiration of said 30
calendar days after referral to said committee.
(3) When either committee is directed to discharge a certain matter pursuant to this rule, such
committee shall either report or be discharged of said matter within 5 legislative days of the vote
calling for such discharge. A matter discharged under this rule shall be designated as
“discharged” and the matter shall be placed in the Orders of the Day for the next sitting. On the
motion to discharge such committee, not more than 15 minutes shall be allowed for debate and
no member shall speak more than 3 minutes. [1985; 1987; 1989; 1993; 1995; 2005; 2015.]
32B. [Omitted in 1995.]
33. Bills and resolves when ordered to a third reading, and bills and resolves amended
subsequently to their third reading unless the amendment was reported by the Committee on
Bills in the Third Reading, shall be referred forthwith to that committee, which shall in
consultation with the Counsel to the Senate examine and correct them, to avoid repetitions and
unconstitutional provisions, and to ensure accuracy in the text and references, and consistency
with the language of existing statutes, and to give effect to section 52 of chapter 3 of the General Laws; but any change in the sense of legal effect, or any material change in construction shall be
reported to the Senate as an amendment. The committee may consolidate into 1 bill any 2 or
more related bills referred to it, whenever legislation may be simplified by such consolidation.
Resolutions received from and adopted by the House or introduced or reported into the Senate,
after they are read and before they are adopted, and amendments of bills, resolves and
resolutions adopted by the House and sent to the Senate for concurrence, shall also be referred, in
like manner, to the Committee on Bills in the Third Reading. When a bill, resolve or resolution
has been so referred, no further action shall be taken until the committee has reported on the bill,
resolve or resolution. If a bill or resolve referred to the Committee on Bills in the Third Reading
contains an emergency preamble, changes the compensation paid to the members of the General
Court, provides for the borrowing of money by the Commonwealth and comes within Section 3
of Article LXII of the Amendments to the Constitution, provides for the giving, loaning or
pledging of the credit of the Commonwealth and comes within Section 1 of Article LXII (as
amended by Article LXXXIV) of the Amendments to the Constitution, or provides, upon
recommendation of the Governor, for a special law relating to an individual city or town and
comes within clause (2) of Section 8 of Article LXXXIX of the Amendments to the Constitution,
the committee shall plainly indicate the fact. [1817; 1836; 1882; 1888; 1890; 1891; 1914; 1919; 1925; 1927; 1929;
1945; 1965; 1967; 1983.]
33A. All legislative matters receiving a Senate number shall be presented and made available to
all the members of the Senate and to the public at least 24 hours in advance of consideration by
the Senate.
All other amendments recommended by any committee, other than the Committee on Bills in the
Third Reading, shall be subject to this rule.
This rule shall be suspended only upon a vote of two-thirds of the members present and voting.
[1985.]
33B. (a) A ceremonial resolution shall not be adopted by the Senate if it:
1.includes a statement of policy or ideology;
2.proclaims a day, week or month; provided, however, that a resolution may recognize the
celebration of a day, week or month by a group, organization or other entity;
3.recognizes a for-profit corporation; provided, however, that a resolution may honor or
congratulate a for-profit corporation on its anniversary or other achievement if it has
participated in a specific service or action that is of value to a local community or the
commonwealth;
4.recognizes a person’s retirement unless the person is retiring from a position with the
commonwealth, a political subdivision thereof, or a non-profit organization and the
person has been in public service for not less than 20 years;
5.recognizes a person’s birthday unless the person is not less than 80 years old;
6.recognizes a married couple’s wedding anniversary unless the married couple has been
married for not less than 50 years;
7.recognizes a non-profit organization’s anniversary unless the anniversary is for not less
than 20 years;
8.recognizes a class reunion; or
9.recognizes a religious holiday. (b) Notwithstanding subsection (a), a resolution otherwise prohibited under said subsection (a)
may be adopted by the Senate by unanimous consent of the members present. [2021.]
34. Bills and resolves prepared for final passage shall be certified by the Senate Clerk and
Parliamentarian, after comparison, to be the same as the bills or resolves passed to be engrossed;
and if found to be properly prepared, the Clerk shall so endorse on the envelope of the bill or
resolve; and the question on enactment or final passage or adopting an emergency preamble shall
be taken on the bill or resolve, without further reading, unless specifically ordered. When a bill
or resolve prepared for final passage contains an emergency preamble, changes the compensation
paid to members of the General Court, provides for the borrowing of money by the
Commonwealth and comes within Section 3 of Article LXII of the Amendments to the
Constitution, provides for the giving, loaning or pledging of the credit of the Commonwealth and
comes within Section 1 of Article LXII (as amended by Article LXXXIV) of the Amendments to
the Constitution, or provides, upon recommendation of the Governor, for a special law relating to
an individual city or town and comes within clause (2) of Section 8 of Article LXXXIX of the
Amendments to the Constitution, the Clerk shall plainly indicate the fact. [1817; 1831; 1882; 1888;
1914; 1919; 1965; 1967; 1971; 1983.]
ORDERS OF THE DAY.
35. The unfinished business in which the Senate was engaged at the time of the last adjournment
shall have preference in the Orders of the Day next after motions to reconsider. [1830; 1870.]
36. Reports of committees not by bill or resolve shall be referred to the Committee on Rules;
except that the report of a committee asking to be discharged from the further consideration of a
subject and recommending that it be referred to another committee, or a report of a committee
recommending that a matter be placed on file, shall be immediately considered. All reports of the
Committee on Rules shall be placed in the Orders of the Day for the next session unless such
matter is assigned for special consideration by said Committee on some future date.
Amendments to a measure which have been made by the House and sent back to the Senate for
concurrence shall be placed in the Orders of the next day after that on which they are received;
provided that amendments involving state money shall be referred to the Committee on Ways
and Means
Reports of committees on proposals for amendment of the Constitution shall be dealt with in
accordance with Joint Rule 23. [1845; 1853; 1888; 1891; 1919; 1947; 1953; 1965; 1968; 1971; 1985; 1995; 2005;
2015.]
37. After entering upon the consideration of the Orders of the Day, the Senate shall proceed with
them in regular course, as follows: Matters not giving rise to a motion or debate shall first be
disposed of in the order in which they stand in the calendar; then the matters that were passed
over shall be considered and disposed of in like order. [1817; 1836; 1841; 1859; 1878; 1882; 1885.]
38. No matter which has been duly placed in the Orders of the Day shall be discharged from the
Orders of the Day or considered out of its regular course. [1885.] 38A. The Senate shall not continue in session beyond the hour of 8 p.m. This rule shall not be
suspended unless two-thirds of the members present and voting consent to such suspension on a
recorded yea and nay vote. [1983; 2005.]
38A 1/2. The Senate shall not continue in session beyond midnight. This rule shall not be
suspended unless two-thirds of the members present and voting consent to such suspension on a
recorded yea and nay vote. [2005.]
38B. Debate and consideration on the general appropriation bill shall begin at 10 a.m. and shall
be the only matter placed on the calendar for that day. [1985.]
RULES OF DEBATE.
39. When speaking, each member shall stand as able in such member’s place and address the
President. When recognized, the member shall confine such member’s remarks to the measure
and question under debate and shall at all times avoid personalities. [1817; 1831; 1871; 1973; 2017.]
40. When 2 or more members rise to speak at the same time, the President shall designate the
member who is entitled to the floor. [1831; 1888.]
41. No member shall speak more than once to the prevention of any other member who has not
spoken and desires to speak on the same question. [1817; 1886.]
42. No member shall interrupt another while speaking, except by rising to call to order or to rise
to a question of personal privilege or parliamentary inquiry. [1817; 1831; 1971.]
42A. A member referencing a report or study in debate must make said report or study readily
available either during or within a reasonable time after the debate if requested by another
member. [2015.]
43. After a question is put to vote no member shall speak to it. [1817.]
43A. No appeal from a decision of the President shall be entertained unless it is seconded; and
the question on the appeal shall be disposed of forthwith. [1973.]
MOTIONS.
44. Any motion shall be reduced to writing if the President so directs. A motion need not be
seconded and may be withdrawn by the mover if no objection is made. [1817; 1844; 1871; 1888.]
44A. [Omitted in 2011.]
45. An amendment to any measure filed for debate with the Clerk containing 2 or more
propositions, capable of division, shall be divided whenever desired by any member. When a
motion to strike out and insert is thus divided, the failure of the motion to strike out shall not
preclude amendment; or, if the motion to strike out prevails, the matter proposed to be inserted
shall be open to amendment before the question is taken on inserting it. [1817; 1841; 1888.] 45A. [Omitted in 2019].
46. When a question is under debate the President shall receive no motion that does not relate to
the same, except a motion to adjourn or some other motion which has precedence by express rule
of the Senate, or because it is privileged in its nature; and the President shall receive no motion
relating to the same except:
(1) To lay on the table (or take from the table);
(2) To close debate at a specified time;
(3) To postpone to a day certain;
(4) To commit (or recommit);
(5) To amend ;
(6) To postpone indefinitely.
These motions shall have preference in the order in which they stand. [Between 1821 and 1826; 1831;
1844; 1870; 1882; 1885; 1888; 1921; 1939; 1945; 1971.]
47. Debate may be closed at any time not less than 1 hour from the adoption of a motion to that
effect. On this motion not more than 10 minutes shall be allowed for debate, and no member
shall speak more than 3 minutes. [1882.]
48. When motions are made to refer a subject to different committees, the committees proposed
shall be considered in the following order:
(1) A standing committee of the Senate;
(2) A special committee of the Senate;
(3) A joint standing committee of the two branches;
(4) A joint special committee of the two branches. [1884; 1888; 2017.]
49. No engrossed bill or resolve shall be amended; but this rule shall not apply to a bill or resolve
returned by the Governor with a recommendation of amendment under Article LVI of the
Amendments of the Constitution; nor shall it apply to amendments of engrossed bills proposed
by the House and sent to the Senate for concurrence. [1837; 1919; 1931.]
50. No motion or proposition of a subject different from that under consideration and no measure
which has been finally rejected or disposed of by the Senate shall be admitted under the color of
an amendment. [1882; 1971.]
51. [Omitted in 2011.]
52. The motion to adjourn and the call for yeas and nays shall be decided without debate.
On the motions to lay on the table and take from the table, to postpone to a time certain, to
commit or recommit (except with instructions), not exceeding 10 minutes shall be allowed for
debate, and no member shall speak more than 3 minutes.
On a motion to reconsider, not more than 30 minutes shall be allowed for debate, and no member
shall speak more than 5 minutes; but on a motion to reconsider a vote upon any subsidiary,
incidental or dependent question debate shall be limited to 10 minutes, and no member shall
speak more than 3 minutes.
On a motion to suspend any of the joint rules or Senate rules debate shall be limited to 15
minutes, and no member shall speak more than 3 minutes. [1817; 1859; 1870; 1874; 1882; 1885; 1937; 1941.] 52A. The Senate President or presiding officer of the Senate may not declare that the Senate is in
recess for more than 30 minutes, without informing the members from the rostrum of a time
certain for reconvention. [1993.]
RECONSIDERATION.
53. No motion to reconsider a vote shall be entertained unless it is made on the same day on
which the vote has passed, or on the next day thereafter on which a quorum is present and before
the Orders of the Day for that day have been taken up. If reconsideration is moved on the same
day, the motion shall, except during the last 14 calendar days of formal business under Joint Rule
12A or of the 2-year legislative session, be placed first in the Orders of the Day for the
succeeding day; but if it is moved on the succeeding day, the motion shall be considered
forthwith; provided, however, that this rule shall not prevent the reconsideration of a vote on a
subsidiary, incidental or dependent question at any time when the main question to which it
relates is under consideration; and provided, further, that a motion to reconsider a vote on any
incidental, subsidiary or dependent question shall not remove the main subject under
consideration from before the Senate, but shall be considered at the time when it is made.
There shall be no reconsideration of the vote on the question on adjourning, for the yeas and
nays, on laying on the table or on taking from the table; and when a motion for reconsideration
has been decided, that decision shall not be reconsidered. [1817; between 1821 and 1826; 1858; 1885; 1888;
1891; 1902; 1946; 1999, 2021.]
REJECTED MEASURES.
54. When any measure has been finally rejected or finally disposed of by the Senate, no measure
substantially the same shall be introduced by any committee or member during the session, or
moved as an amendment to another measure. [1817; dispensed with in 1831; revived in 1838; amended in 1841;
1844; 1877; 1882; 1971.]
VOTING.
55. The President shall declare all votes; but if a member doubts a vote, the President shall order
a return of the number voting in the affirmative, and in the negative, without further debate. [1831;
1888.]
56. Regardless of the party affiliation of the person requesting or supporting a call of the yeas
and nays, the sense of the Senate shall be taken by yeas and nays whenever required by one-fifth
of the members present or by a number of members equal to the total number of members of the
minority party, whichever is less. The President may wait a period not exceeding 10 minutes
before ordering the Clerk to start the yeas and nays, during which time the members shall be
summoned to the Senate Chamber as the President may direct. Other business of the Senate may be taken up during the 10 minute period. At the end of the 10
minute interval, the President shall state the question to be roll called and then direct the Clerk to
begin the call. If, after the yeas and nays have been ordered, an advanced notice of at least 60
minutes is given by the President, the President may set a time certain for the vote to be taken
and the 10 minute waiting period above prescribed may be waived. [1817; 1852; 1888; 1971; 1972, 1997;
2017, 2021.]
57. Whenever a question is taken by yeas and nays, the Clerk shall call the names of all
members, except the President, and every member present shall answer to such member’s name,
unless excused before the vote was taken. No member shall be permitted to vote after the
decision is announced from the Chair. [ 1837; 1844; 2008; 2015; 2017, 2023.]
57A. [Omitted in 2011.]
57B. [Omitted in 2023]
57C. (a) Notwithstanding Senate Rule 57, a member may authorize the presiding officer to
announce the member’s vote by submitting a letter to the Clerk that specifies the member’s exact
instruction to the presiding officer on how to answer the question for which the roll call is
ordered and states that the presiding officer is authorized to announce the member’s vote;
provided, however, that a member may alter or revoke this authorization by submitting a letter to
the Clerk; provided further, that if a member who has so authorized the presiding officer
announces the member’s own vote, the member shall be considered to have revoked the
authorization to announce the member’s vote. Upon receipt of a member’s letter authorizing the
presiding officer or altering or revoking the authorization of the presiding officer, the Clerk shall
notify the President and the minority leader of the authorization, alteration or revocation. The
Clerk shall maintain an updated list of the authorizations, alterations and revocations submitted
or in effect under this order and shall make the list publicly available in electronic form and
available after any vote subject to this order.
The presiding officer shall answer the roll call on behalf of each member who has authorized the
presiding officer to announce the vote under this section; provided, however, that the presiding
officer shall announce the vote in accordance with the member’s exact instruction.
A letter under this section may be submitted to the Clerk electronically. [2023.]
57D. Notwithstanding Senate Rule 57 or any other rule to the contrary, a member may
participate remotely. A member who participates remotely may record the member’s vote on a
question for which a roll call has been ordered, record the member’s presence, be counted on any
procedural question and deliver remarks, remotely.
The President shall, in consultation with Legislative Information Services, provide members
access to electronic means to allow them to participate remotely.
A court officer, in consultation with a member of the Clerk’s staff if necessary, shall monitor the
electronic means of participation and shall ascertain and announce a member’s vote, a member’s
presence or a member’s answer to a procedural question.
The President, in consultation with Legislative Information Services, shall designate an
appropriate staff member to coordinate participation in debate by any member who would like to
deliver remarks from outside the chamber. The presiding officer shall endeavor to ensure that the Senate’s proceedings account for any delay or lag time that occurs due to the remote
participation of members in the session. The session shall be conducted at a pace that provides
adequate timing and intervals to allow for effective spontaneous responses by the members.
A member who participates remotely pursuant to this section shall be counted for the purpose of
establishing a quorum as required pursuant to Senate Rule 64 and Article XXXIII of the
Amendments to the Constitution of the Commonwealth. [2023.]
ELECTIONS BY BALLOT.
58. In all elections by ballot a time shall be assigned for such election, at least 1 day prior to such
election, except in case of an election of President or President pro tempore, under Rule 5. [1831;
1891.]
REPORTERS’ GALLERY.
59. The use of the reporters' gallery of the Senate Chamber shall be subject to the approval and
direction of the Committee on Rules during the session. Except in the reporter’s official capacity
as a reporter, no reporter who is entitled to the privileges of the reporters' gallery shall seek to
influence the action of the Senate or any member, nor shall such person approach a member to
seek to influence such member in any place from which legislative agents are excluded by Rule
61. Every legislative reporter desiring admission to the reporters' gallery of the Senate Chamber
shall state in writing that such reporter is not the agent or representative of any person or
corporation interested in legislation before the General Court and will not act as representative of
any such person or corporation while such reporter retains a place in the gallery; but nothing in
this rule shall prevent such legislative reporter from engaging in other employment, provided
such other employment is specifically approved by the Committee on Rules and reported to the
Senate. [1847; 1911; 1914; 1925; 1989; 2003; 2015.]
59A. Sessions of the Senate shall be made accessible to electronic media, including television,
radio and the Internet. The manner, conditions and extent of such access shall be established by
the Committee on Rules.
The President and the Clerk shall endeavor to provide that all sessions of the Senate are
broadcast live. If it is not feasible for such a session to be broadcast live they shall endeavor to
provide for its delayed broadcast. The Committee on Rules may provide for the audio or video
transmission via the Internet of Senate sessions. The committee on Rules may enter into
agreements with nonprofit entities, including public and private educational facilities, to provide
for audio or video transmission via the Internet of the Senate sessions.
This rule shall not be suspended unless by majority vote of the members present and voting.
If, for any reason, the Senate convenes in a session and such session is not televised live, then the
party under the contractual duty to provide the broadcast shall provide to the Senate President
and Minority Leader within 24 hours of the adjournment of such session a report including, but
not limited to an explanation for why the broadcast was not received. Prior to permanent arrangements being entered into for the broadcast of Senate sessions, any
television carrier, who wishes to broadcast any Senate session shall make application to the
committee on Rules to do so, approval of which shall not be unreasonably withheld. Any carrier
may make arrangements to utilize a pool feed to be provided under guidelines and conditions set
forth by the committee on Rules. [1989, 2001; 2003; 2007; 2015; 2021.]
59B. The Clerk of the Senate shall keep a copy of every broadcast Senate session for reference
purposes. Upon request, these copies or any images easily reproducible thereof shall be made
available to members and the public in a timely manner. [1993, 2019, 2023.]
59C. The electronic feed that provides the broadcast coverage of the Senate sessions shall be
available to any media outlet. [2002.]
59D. (1) The President shall make available to each member of the Senate a copy of the contract
for the broadcast of the Senate sessions.
(2) Any contracts executed after January 1, 2003 concerning television broadcast of the sessions
of the Senate shall require the following information to be reported to the members of the Senate:
(a) a list of all cities and towns to receive live television broadcasts of the sessions of the
Senate;
(b) a list of each city and town to receive Senate coverage including the date and time of
the live and pre-recorded broadcasts of each session of the Senate;
(c) a list of cities and towns that do not receive live televised broadcasts of the sessions of
the Senate and an explanation for the lack of coverage.
The President shall make available said copy of the contract to each member of the Senate on the
first day of the annual session. [2003; 2021.]
THE SENATE CHAMBER AND ADJOINING ROOMS
60. No person not a member shall be allowed to sit at the Senate table while the Senate is in
session. [1853; 1888.]
61. No person, except members of the legislature and the executive departments of state
government, persons in the exercise of an official duty directly connected with the business of
the Senate, and reporters who are afforded press privileges by the Senate President, shall, unless
invited by the President, be admitted to the floor of the Senate Chamber or to the Senate Reading
room or to the corridor between the Senate Reading room and the Senate Chamber during the
sessions of the Senate, or during the half hour preceding or succeeding said sessions, nor to the
Senate reading room, cloak room or anterooms on any day when a session of the Senate is held,
except upon written invitation bearing the name of the person it is desired to invite and the name
of the Senator extending the invitation, which invitation shall be surrendered when the person
enters one of the otherwise restricted areas.
Reporters desiring access to the Senate Chamber shall make written application to the President
stating the purposes for which the privileges are required, and such privileges shall be granted
only upon written approval by the President. No legislative agent shall be admitted to the floor of the Senate Chamber. On any day when a
session of the Senate is held, no legislative agent shall be admitted to the Senate Reading room,
the cloak room, the Senate corridor or anterooms and no person, except members of the
legislature and the executive departments of state government and persons in the exercise of an
official duty directly connected with the business of the Senate shall be permitted to loiter in the
Reading room, the cloak room, the Senate corridor or anterooms at any time. Smoking shall not
be permitted in the Senate Reading room, the cloak room or the anterooms. [1870; 1875; 1886; 1891;
1895; 1896; 1897; 1898; 1907; 1909; 1914; 1916; 1925; 1989, 2023.]
61A. No person shall be allowed to smoke on the floor of the Senate. [1985.]
61B. The Senate President shall preserve decorum and order in the Senate Chamber. The Senate
President shall require that, while in the Senate Chamber, members, staff and guests dress in
appropriate attire and be courteous and professional when using electronic devices. Members,
staff and guests shall not take photographs or videos while the Senate is in session unless
permitted to do so by the Senate President. No person shall talk on a cellular telephone or other
mobile electronic device in the Senate Chamber while the Senate is in session. [2003; 2013, 2019.]
PARLIAMENTARY PRACTICE.
62. The rules of parliamentary practice shall govern the Senate in all cases to which they are
applicable, and in which they are not inconsistent with these rules or the joint rules of the 2
branches. [1847; 1858; 1882; 1895; 1963.]
62A. [Renumbered in 2013 as Senate Rule 61B.]
PROCUREMENTS.
62B. (a) The Chief Financial Officer of the Senate shall complete the procurement of all goods
and services for the Senate. Procurements for goods or services shall be made from the statewide
procurement contract established by the operational services division, to the extent practicable,
as determined by the Chief Financial Officer. If the Chief Financial Officer determines that a
procurement cannot be made using the statewide procurement contract established by the
operational services division, the Chief Financial Officer may procure the required goods or
services under subsections (b), (c) or (d).
(b) Procurement of a supply or service from a vendor not on the statewide procurement contract
reasonably estimated by the Chief Financial Officer to be valued at less than $10,000 shall be
made at the discretion of the Chief Financial Officer.
(c) If the Chief Financial Officer seeks to procure a supply or service from a vendor not on the
statewide procurement contract that the Chief Financial Officer reasonably estimates to be
valued at $10,000 or more, but less than $100,000, the Chief Financial Officer shall seek
quotations from not fewer than 3 persons providing such supply or service. The Chief Financial
Officer shall record the names and addresses of all persons from whom quotations were received,
the names of the persons submitting quotations and the date and amount of each quotation. The Chief Financial Officer shall award the contract to the respondent whose quotation offers the
needed quality of supply or service and which represents the best value for the Senate.
(d) If the Chief Financial Officer seeks to procure a supply or service from a vendor not on the
statewide procurement contract that the Chief Financial Officer reasonably estimates to be
valued at $100,000 or more, the Chief Financial Officer shall seek proposals through a
competitive bid process, which shall be established by the Chief Financial Officer. The Chief
Financial Officer shall include diversity and inclusion plan requirements in all requests for
proposals and shall consider those plans alongside traditional criteria when evaluating bids.
(e) The Chief Financial Officer shall maintain a file on each procurement not executed using the
statewide procurement contract established by the operational services division and in excess of
$10,000 and shall include in such file all documents constituting the agreement for goods and
services and all documents required by subsection (c) or (d). The files maintained shall be
available for inspection by members of the Senate during regular business hours unless the
information is otherwise protected by state or federal law.
(f) All procurements for legal services shall follow a process established by the Counsel to the
Senate and the Chief Financial Officer and shall be approved by the Counsel to the Senate.
(g) If, in the determination of the Chief Financial Officer, an emergency procurement of greater
than $10,000 is necessary, the Chief Financial Officer may procure the goods or services
immediately and create and maintain a file explaining the nature of the emergency and the goods
or services that were procured as a result. The Chief Financial Officer shall document the goods
or services that were procured, the process used to procure the goods or services, the vendors that
were contacted and any other information relevant to the procurement, and make that
information available to members of the Senate during regular business hours, unless the
information is otherwise protected by state or federal law. [2013, 2019; 2021, 2023.]
ALTERATIONS, SUSPENSION OR REPEAL OF RULES.
63. This rule and rules 24, 31, 33, 34 and 53 shall not be suspended if objection is made; and no
other rule shall be altered, suspended or repealed, except by vote of two-thirds of the members
present and voting. The Committee on Rules may consider and suggest measures that shall, in its
judgment, tend to facilitate the business of the Senate, and a majority vote of the Senate shall be
required to approve such recommendations.
Additionally a measure to repeal, change, add or otherwise modify a rule or rules of the Senate
may be proposed at any time by either 1/5 of the members or the number of minority members,
provided that such measure is presented to the clerk in the form of an order. Such order shall be
referred immediately to the Committee on Rules, which shall report to the Senate on such order
within 10 days of its referral to the committee. Such report shall be placed in the Orders of the
Day for the next formal session for consideration by the Senate. [1817; 1841; 1848; 1882; 1888; 1891;
1893; 1899; 1953; 1973; 2003; 2015.]
64. Twenty-one members shall constitute a quorum for the organization of the Senate and the
transaction of business. [See Amendments to the Constitution, Art. XXXIII.] [1973.]
65. [Omitted in 2025.] 66. [Omitted in 1997.]
67. The resignation of a Senator shall become effective within 14 days from submission of a
letter of resignation or a letter of intent to resign to the Senate President’s Office. [2007.]
68. [Omitted in 2025.]
69. Meetings of any special commissions, special legislative commissions, task forces or other
groups authorized or required by statute, resolve, rule or order to make or conduct an
investigation or study of any issue, and which are chaired by a Senator, shall be conducted
openly and transparently, and shall conform both to Senate rules and to statutes. [2017.]