1
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 15
Senate, February 6, 2025-- Text of the proposed Joint Rules recommended by the Temporary
Committee on Rules to be adopted as the Joint Rules governing the 2025-2026 legislative
session.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
_______________
JOINT RULES OF THE SENATE
AND
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
[The dates under each rule indicate when the rule and its amendments were adopted.]
Committees.
1. Joint standing committees shall be appointed at the beginning of the biennial session as
follows:-
A committee on Advanced Information Technology, the Internet and Cybersecurity;
A committee on Agriculture and Fisheries;
A committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets
A committee on Cannabis Policy;
A committee on Children, Families and Persons With Disabilities;
A committee on Community Development and Small Businesses;
A committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure;
A committee on Emergency Preparedness and Management;
A committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies;
A committee on Education;
A committee on Elder Affairs;
A committee on Election Laws; 2
A committee on Environment and Natural Resources;
A committee on Financial Services;
A committee on Health Care Financing;
A committee on Higher Education;
A committee on Housing;
A committee on the Judiciary;
A committee on Labor and Workforce Development;
A committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery;
A committee on Municipalities and Regional Government;
A committee on Public Health;
A committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security;
A committee on Public Service;
A committee on Racial Equity, Civil Rights and Inclusion;
A committee on Revenue;
A committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight;
A committee on Climate, Utilities and Energy;
A committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development;
A committee on Transportation; and
A committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs.
Each to consist of 6 members of the Senate, and 11 on the part of the House except the
committees on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets, Economic Development and
Emerging Technologies, Public Safety and Homeland Security, Mental Health, Substance Use
and Recovery, Health Care Financing and Transportation which shall consist of 7 members of
the Senate and 13 of the House.
Within 4 weeks of the appointment of joint standing committees in the first annual session of the
General Court, each joint standing committee shall adopt rules of procedure regarding its
conduct. Said rules of procedure, together with any amendments, shall be filed with the Clerk of
the Senate and the Clerk of the House and shall be available to the public and members of the
General Court on the official website for the General Court. No rule shall conflict with these
joint rules.
Except as provided by Joint Rule 1E or 1F, each matter shall be referred only to 1 joint
committee for consideration and all reports of matters by joint committees shall be made to the 3
House or the Senate, under Joint Rule 4, not to another joint committee. The committee to which
a matter is initially referred may discharge the matter to another committee with jurisdiction over
the matter.
Matters referred by either the Senate or the House to its committee on Ways and Means shall be
considered by the respective committees of the 2 branches, acting as a joint committee, when, in
the judgment of the chairs of the respective committees of the 2 branches, the interests of
legislation or the expedition of business will be better served by such joint consideration. Matters
may also be referred to the committees on Ways and Means, of the 2 branches, as a joint
committee.
The committees on Rules, together with the presiding officers of the 2 branches, acting
concurrently, may consider and suggest such measures as shall, in their judgment, tend to
facilitate the business of the session and a majority vote of the 2 branches shall be required to
approve such recommendations.
In order to assist the House and the Senate in their: (1) consideration and enactment of new
legislation and modifications of existing laws, when either are deemed to be appropriate; (2)
evaluation of the effectiveness and administration of laws and programs previously enacted; and
(3) appraisal of the conditions and circumstances which may indicate the desirability of enacting
new legislation, the various joint committees shall have the following oversight responsibilities:
(i) each joint committee shall review and study, on a continuing basis, the implementation,
administration, execution and effectiveness of those laws, or parts of law, the subject matter of
which is within the jurisdiction of that committee, the administrative regulations adopted to
implement those laws, and those state agencies or entities having responsibilities for the
administration and execution of such laws;
(ii) in carrying out these review and study activities, each committee shall determine whether
such laws, administrative regulations and programs under those laws are being implemented in
accordance with the intent of the General Court and whether such laws, administrative
regulations and programs should be continued, curtailed or eliminated;
(iii) each committee shall also review and study any conditions and circumstances which may
indicate the necessity or desirability of enacting new legislation within the jurisdiction of that
committee, regardless of whether any matter has been introduced on that subject, and shall, on a
continuing basis, undertake research on matters within the jurisdiction of that committee. 4
Committees shall coordinate oversight activities, under the direction of the presiding officers of
both branches, to achieve the maximum objectives of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii).
Each committee may, upon completion of its oversight hearings, report to the General Court the
results of its findings and recommendations together with accompanying corrective legislation, if
any, by filing the same with the Clerk of the House of Representatives or the Clerk of the Senate.
Copies of such reports shall be posted on the website of the General Court . The disposition of
said reports shall be determined by the Clerks with the approval of the Speaker and the President.
The Senate and House chairs of a joint committee may appoint subcommittees to investigate and
study any matter referred to said subcommittee. Any subcommittee so established shall be co-
chaired by a majority member of the Senate and a majority member of the House who are
members of the joint standing committee appointing the subcommittee. The composition of the
subcommittee shall be proportional to the composition of the appointing joint committee;
provided, however, that not less than 10 per cent of the subcommittee’s members shall be from
the minority party. Chairs of subcommittees shall not be considered chairs under section 9B of
chapter 3 of the General Laws. A subcommittee may, upon completion of an investigation and
study, report the results of the investigation and study together with legislation, if any, by filing
the same with the Senate and House chairs of the appointing joint committee.
In the 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.
Temporary employees of the general court assigned to a joint committee who are students at an
accredited education institution or employees or grantees of other non-profit organizations under
section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code may receive compensation from such
organization, according to that organization's regular program of providing such compensation
for temporary governmental or public service employment. A temporary employee's Senate or
House supervisor shall establish the employee's total compensation, shall verify that the sum of
the employee's state compensation, if any, and that any outside compensation 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 or House Human Resources Office, where it
shall be available for public inspection. The temporary employee shall sign a confidentiality and
ethics agreement provided by the Senate or House Human Resources Office. Joint employees
shall complete appropriate training as required by either branch of the general court, as may be 5
agreed upon by the Senate and House Offices of Human Resources. [Amended Jan. 6, 18 82; Jan. 5, 18 83;
Jan. 7, 18 84; Jan. 8 and 26, 1885; Jan. 8, 18 86; Jan. 12, 18 87; Jan. 9, 18 88; Jan. 28, 18 89; Jan. 8, 18 90; Feb. 2, 18 91; Jan. 11
and Feb. 10, 18 92; Feb. 7, 18 93; Jan. 8. 1894; Jan. 7, 18 95; Jan. 7, 18 96; Jan. 11, 18 97; Jan. 10, 18 98; Jan. 9, 18 99; Jan. 22
and 29, 1901; Jan. 6, 19 02; Jan. 9, 19 03; Jan. 8, 19 04; Jan. 6, 19 05; Jan. 4, 19 07; Jan. 5, 19 10; Jan. 4, 19 11; Jan. 1, 19 13;
Jan. 12, 19 14; Jan. 2, 19 18; Jan. 1 and 8 and Feb. 21, 1919; Jan. 7, 19 20; Jan. 5, 19 21; April 17 and 30, 1925; Jan. 5, 19 27;
Jan. 7, 19 31; Jan. 6, 19 37; Jan. 4, 19 39; Jan. 1, 19 41; Jan. 3, 19 45; Jan. 2, 19 46; Jan. 6, 19 47; Feb. 1, 19 49; Jan. 7, 19 53;
Jan. 7, 19 59; Jan. 30, 19 61; Jan. 7, 19 63; Jan. 12, 19 65; Feb. 24, 19 65; Mar. 10, 19 66; Jan. 30, 19 67; Jan. 7, 1971 ; July 23,
1974 ; Sept. 30 and Oct. 12, 1976 ; Nov. 3, 1981 ; Dec. 21, 1981 ; Mar. 15, 1982 ; Oct. 3, 1983 ; June 3, 1985 ; Jan. 25 and Mar.
14, 1988 ; Mar. 27, 1995 , June 12, 1995 ; July 17, 2003 ; Jan. 26, 2005; July 21 and September 20, 2005; Feb. 20, 2007; Feb 12,
2009; Feb. 15, 2017; Mar 7, 2019; Mar. 25, 2021.]
1A. All meetings of joint committees acting concurrently, Senate and House standing
committees, special committees of the Senate and House of Representatives, and joint special
committees and committees of conference on the disagreeing votes of the 2 branches shall be
open to the public, unless a majority shall vote otherwise. [Adopted July 17, 1973. Amended July 18, 1974;
Feb. 12, 2009.]
1B. A joint standing committee shall hold a public hearing on each matter referred to it in each
legislative session. The bill sponsor shall provide the committee a comprehensive summary of
said bill prior to the hearing. 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. [Adopted June 3, 1985; Amended Feb. 12,
2009.]
1C. All joint standing committees shall schedule committee hearings upon agreement of the
chairs and so as not to conflict, to the extent feasible, with the schedules of other committees
and, to the extent feasible, the day of the week and times during that day set aside for formal
sessions by the respective branches.
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, the chairs
may by agreement waive this requirement for technological, operational or logistical reasons.
Chairs shall schedule hearings that offer remote participation through Legislative Information
Services and the Sergeant-at-Arms. 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 6
committees of which they are not a member. 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 ability of a committee 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.
[Adopted June 3, 1985; Amended June 12, 1995; Mar. 7, 2019.]
1D. All hearings of joint standing committees, and special joint committees of the Senate and
House of Representatives, shall be open to the public, and any person shall be permitted to attend
any such hearing unless such committee convenes in executive session; provided however that
prior to entering executive session said committee shall state its purpose in executive session and
take a public vote to enter said executive session.. All joint standing committees shall determine
a schedule for committee hearings in accordance with 1C. These committee schedules shall be
submitted to the Clerk of the House and Senate who shall cause them to be published on the
official website for the General Court. Establishment of such schedules shall not preclude joint
standing committees from scheduling additional hearings or meetings as needed. All joint
standing committees, and special joint committees of the Senate and House of Representatives,
shall notify the Sergeant-at-Arms of the time, place and agenda of all public hearings not less
than 5 days prior to the time of such meetings. The 5 day requirement shall be suspended in an
emergency only after all reasonable efforts have been made to contact all committee members
and upon a recorded vote of at least a majority of the members of each branch appointed to the
committee, but not less than two-thirds of the members of each branch voting. If public
testimony is being solicited, agendas shall include an electronic mail address or other mechanism
for the submission of testimony and shall inform the public that 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. 7
Nothing contained in this rule shall prohibit a joint standing committee or special joint
committee of the Senate and the House of Representatives from taking appropriate action
including, but not limited to, the exclusion of a person from a committee meeting in order to
prevent the disruption of or interference with committee proceedings. All meetings of joint
standing committees, and special joint committees of the Senate and House of Representatives,
shall be limited to no more than 50 bills to be discussed in a hearing, unless it can be determined
that all of the bills being considered are of the same subject matter.
A meeting of a committee may be recorded by a person in attendance by means of a recorder or
any other means of audio/visual reproduction except when a meeting is held in executive session;
provided, that a person seeking to record a meeting of a committee notifies the Chairs of the
committee prior to commencing such recording; and provided further, that during such recording
there is no interference with the conduct of the meeting.
The Chairs of each committee shall preserve decorum and order during each committee hearing.
The use of visual aids including, without limitation, posters, displays, or charts shall be permitted
only upon approval of the Chairs.
Joint Committees may 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.
At any time after a matter has had a public hearing, a co-chair of a Committee may initiate a vote
thereon if the matter is filed in the branch of said chair. Said vote shall be taken from each
member of the branch of said chair, and if a majority of the members of said branch voting on
the matter vote in support of the matter, then the bill shall be reported favorably and referred to
the branch of origination unless it is a money bill, in which case said bill shall be referred to the
House of Representatives. The Senate chair and the senate members of the committee shall have
no authority or ability to impede the vote on a House bill in the Committee, and the House Chair
and the House members shall have no authority or ability to impede the vote on a Senate bill in
the Committee; provided, however a co-chair shall notify their co-chair prior to a vote. A co-
chair of the Committee shall provide to the members of their branch on the Committee either the
text or comprehensive summaries of the bills or other forms of legislative matters prior to a vote
thereon. Any recorded votes on a favorable or adverse report on an individual bill, taken by roll
call or electronic poll of each member, shall be posted on the website of the General Court.
[Adopted June 3, 1985. Amended June 12, 1995; Feb. 20, 2007; Mar. 14, 2013; Mar. 7, 2019.] 8
1E. The joint standing committee on Health Care Financing shall review all legislation relating
to health care to evaluate the appropriateness and fiscal effect of such legislation. A matter
within the jurisdiction of said committee may, if appropriate, initially be referred to another joint
standing committee sharing jurisdiction of the subject-matter. Any matter reported favorably by
such joint standing committee shall be referred to the joint committee on Health Care Financing;
provided, however, that notwithstanding any rule to the contrary, any such matter so reported
shall not be read a first time in the branch in which the report was received. The next favorable
report on any such matter, if made by a joint committee, may be made to either branch. Such
next favorable report shall be considered the first reading. The branch of origin for any such bill
so reported shall be the branch receiving such favorable report.
For all matters initially referred to the joint committee on Health Care Financing and not
previously referred to another joint committee, the joint committee on Health Care Financing
may make favorable reports to either branch, at the discretion of the committee, except that
reports on money bills shall be made to the House.
In compliance with section 38A of chapter 3 of the General Laws, the joint committee on Health
Care Financing when reporting on bills shall include a fiscal note prepared under section 3A of
chapter 29 of the General Laws, showing the estimated cost or the fiscal effect of the proposed
legislation, if, in the opinion of said committee, such cost or fiscal effect exceeds the sum of
$100,000; provided, however, that any matter reported by the committee on Health Care
Financing with a fiscal effect of less than $100,000 shall not be referred, under the rules, to the
committee on Ways and Means. [Adopted Jan. 26, 2005; Amended May 19, 2005; Feb. 20, 2007; Feb. 12, 2009.]
1F. The joint committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets shall review all
legislation providing for the giving, loaning or pledging of the credit of the Commonwealth (see
Article LXII of the Amendments to the Constitution, as amended by Article LXXXIV). Said
committee shall be responsible for evaluating such legislation and determining the
appropriateness of enacting legislation containing increased bond authorizations for the
Commonwealth. The committee shall periodically review and hold open public hearings,
accepting oral and written testimony on the status of the bonds and notes of the Commonwealth,
including (1) general obligation debt; (2) dedicated income tax debt; and (3) special obligation
debt. The committee shall also, in its continuing study of the state’s bonding practices, review
the Commonwealth’s liabilities relative to (a) state-supported debt; (b) state-guaranteed debt; and
(c) indirect obligations. 9
Any bill providing for borrowing for new projects, and requiring the Commonwealth to issue
bonds for such purpose, shall, prior to its reference to the committee on Ways and Means, be
referred to the committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets for report on its
relationship to the finances of the Commonwealth. A measure may initially be referred to
another joint committee with jurisdiction over the subject matter before being referred to the
committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets; provided, however, that
notwithstanding any rule to the contrary, any such matter so reported shall not be read a first time
in the branch in which the report was received. The next favorable report on any such matter by
the committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets shall be considered the first
reading. The branch of origin for any such bill so reported shall be the branch receiving such
favorable report.
The provisions of Joint Rule 4 shall apply to all matters referred to the joint committee on
Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets, except that where constitutionally prohibited.
The joint committee shall consult with the various agencies of the Executive branch and the
office of the Treasurer and Receiver-General relative to project expenditures, availability of
funds, the sale of new bonds and the resultant debt obligations, federal reimbursements and other
related funding and bonding issues.
The joint committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets shall be authorized to
conduct hearings relative to the statutory authority of the Executive branch and the Treasurer and
Receiver-General in the issuance and sale of bonds and notes and the expenditure of capital
funds by the various agencies and authorities of the Commonwealth. The committee shall
determine whether such laws, administrative regulations and programs are being implemented in
accordance with the intent of the General Court.
The committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets shall be authorized to report
to the General Court from time to time on the results of its hearings and to file drafts of
legislation necessary to carry its recommendations into effect.
Messages from the Governor setting terms of bonds and notes, or for the de-authorization or
authorization of bonds and notes shall be referred to the committee on Bonding, Capital
Expenditures and State Assets. [Adopted Mar. 25, 2021 -- previously omitted ]
1G. The President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Minority Leader
of the Senate, Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, the Senate and House chairs and 10
the Senate and House ranking minority members of the joint committee on Public Safety and
Homeland Security may receive security clearance from federal and state homeland security
officials in order to be granted access to confidential homeland security briefings, information
and materials. The President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the
Senate and House committee chairs and the Senate and House ranking minority members may
designate 1 or more members of their staff who may receive such security clearance.
Any person who receives security clearance under this rule shall sign all confidentiality
agreements required by homeland security officials. The breach of any such confidentiality
agreement shall constitute a violation of the Joint Rules of the Senate and House of
Representatives. Any alleged violation of a confidentiality agreement shall be referred for
investigation to the Senate committee on Ethics and Rules or the House committee on Ethics,
respectively, and, if appropriate, to law enforcement authorities for potential criminal
prosecution. [Adopted Jan. 26, 2005; Amended Feb. 12, 2009; Mar. 7, 2019.]
2. No member of either branch shall act as counsel for any party before any committee of the
Legislature.
2A. No member of either branch shall purchase, directly or indirectly, the stock or other
securities of any corporation or association knowing that there is pending before the General
Court any measure specially granting to such corporation or association any immunity,
exemption, privilege or benefit or any measure providing for the creation of, or directly affecting
any, contractual relations between such corporation or association and the Commonwealth. This
rule shall not apply to the purchase of securities issued by the Commonwealth or any political
subdivision of the Commonwealth. [See G.L. chapter 268, section 10.] [Adopted Jan. 16, 1922.]
3. When the General Court is in session, authorization for any joint committee to travel during
the session shall be approved by a vote of two-thirds of the members of each branch present and
voting.
3A. A joint standing committee may, upon the written and signed report of two-thirds of the
members of the Senate and two-thirds of the members of the House appointed to said committee,
report a bill or other form of legislation without said legislation being founded upon petition;
provided, however, that matters so reported shall be germane to the subject matters regularly
referred to the committee. The committee shall hold a public hearing on such bill or other form
of legislation before it is reported. A bill or other form of legislation so reported shall be placed 11
in the Orders of the Day by the Clerk of the respective branch to which it is reported or referred
to a standing committee of said branch under the rules. All reports of committees not founded
upon petition shall bear the designation ‘committee bill’, ‘resolve’, ‘order’ or ‘resolution’, as the
case may be, in the Orders of the Day. Committees to which messages from the Governor,
reports of state officers, boards, committees, commissions and others authorized to report to the
General Court, may report by bill or otherwise such legislation as may be germane to the subject
matter referred to them. [Adopted June 3, 1985.]
4. Favorable reports, and adverse reports on subjects of legislation other than petitions, by joint
committees shall be made to the branch in which the matter was originally introduced except that
reports on money bills shall be made to the House and if adverse reports on matters other than
petitions which are accompanied by money bills are accepted by the House, this shall constitute
final rejection. Adverse reports by joint committees on petitions shall be made to the branch in
which the petition was originally introduced, except that such adverse reports on petitions
accompanied by proposed money bills shall be made to the House; and, if accepted by the branch
in which they are made, shall be considered as a final rejection. When a report is made from any
committee to either branch, and the subject-matter of the report is subsequently referred to a joint
committee, such committee, except for the committee on Health Care Financing, shall report its
action to the branch in which the reference originated. [See also Joint Rule 5.]
[Amended Jan. 3, 1952; April 8, 1959; June 7, 1965; Jan. 7, 1971; March 11, 1974; June 3, 1985; Feb. 20, 2007; Feb. 15, 2017.]
4A. In compliance with section 38A of chapter 3 of the General Laws, all joint committees of the
General Court when reporting on bills referred to them shall include a fiscal note prepared under
section 3A of chapter 29 of the General Laws, showing the estimated cost or the fiscal effect of
the proposed legislation, if, in the opinion of said committee, such cost exceeds $100,000. Such
fiscal note shall be filed electronically in the office of the clerk to which the report is being
made, and shall be promptly made available on the official website of the General Court. [Adopted
Jan. 15, 1973.]
5. Matters reported adversely by joint committees and the committees on Rules of the two
branches, acting concurrently, may be recommitted to the same committees at the pleasure of the
branch acting on the report, and bills or resolves may be recommitted in either branch. If a bill or
resolve is laid aside in either branch for the reason that it is declared to be broader in its scope
than the subject-matter upon which it is based, the subject-matter shall be recommitted to the
committee. A concurrent vote shall, however, be necessary for re-committal, with instructions. 12
After recommitment, report shall, in all cases, be made to the branch originating the
recommitment. [Amended Feb. 2, 1891; April 11, 1935; Jan. 6, 1947; May 7, 19 53; March 26, 1963; Jan. 30, 1967; Jan. 7,
1971; March 11, 1974.]
6. Bills and resolves reported by joint committees shall be presented with spaces between the
several sections and shall be made available to all members electronically and posted on the
general court website. [Amended Jan. 28, 1889; Jan. 9, 1941; Feb. 8, 1949; Feb. 12, 2009.]
Joint Petitions.
6A. A member of the Senate and a member of the House of Representatives may file a joint
petition in either branch and shall endorse their name on the petition and a brief statement of the
nature and object of the instrument and the reading of the instrument shall be dispensed with,
unless specially ordered. The petition shall be filed in the office of the clerk of either the Senate
or House of Representatives, depending on whether it is a ‘Joint Senate/House Petition’ or a
‘Joint House/Senate Petition’ but the Journal records in the Senate and House of Representatives
shall carry both members’ names as presenters of the petition. If filed in the Senate, the petition
shall be voted upon by Senate members, and if filed in the House of Representatives the matter
shall be voted upon by House members, both in accordance with Joint Rule 1D. [Adopted Jan. 15,
1973.]
7. Whenever, upon any application for an act of incorporation or other legislation, the purpose
for which such legislation is sought can be secured without detriment to the public interests by a
general law or under existing laws, the committee to which the matter is referred shall report
such general law, or ‘ought not to pass’. [Amended Feb. 2, 1891; Feb. 7, 18 93; Jan. 7, 1971.]
7A. A petition for legislation to authorize a county to reinstate in its service a person formerly
employed by it, or to retire or pension or grant an annuity to any person, or to increase any
retirement allowance, pension or annuity, or to pay any sum of money in the nature of a pension
or retirement allowance, or to pay any salary which would have accrued to a deceased official or
employee but for their death, or to pay any claim for damages or otherwise, or to alter the
benefits or change the restrictions of any county retirement or pension law, shall, subsequently to
the procedure required by Senate Rule No. 20 and by House Rule No. 24, be reported adversely,
unless, when filed it be the petition of, or be approved by, a majority of the county
commissioners. [Adopted April 29, 1915. Amended Jan. 13, Feb. 19 and Dec. 22, 1920; May 24, 1926; April 11, 1935;
April 22, 1937; Jan. 12, 1939; Jan. 15, 1945; Feb. 20, 1951; Jan. 30, 1967; Jan. 7, 1971; Jan. 15, 1973; Mar. 7, 2019.] 13
7B. A petition, the operation of which is restricted to a particular city or town (and which does
not affect the powers, duties, etc., of state departments, boards, commissions, etc., or which does
not affect generally the laws of the Commonwealth) and which is not filed in conformity with
Section 8 of Article LXXXIX of the Amendments to the Constitution shall, subsequent to the
procedure required by Senate Rule 20 and House Rule 24, be reported adversely, unless it be on
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. A joint committee to which is
inadvertently referred a petition or other subject of legislation the operation of which is restricted
to a particular city or town and which is not in conformity with Section 8 of Article LXXXIX of
the Amendments to the Constitution shall report a general law which applies alike to all cities, or
to all towns, or to all cities and towns, or to a class of not fewer than 2; or shall report ‘ought not
to pass’, with the further endorsement that it ‘would be unconstitutional to enact such special
law’.
Any petition that subsequently conforms to Section 8 of Article LXXXIX of the Amendments to
the Constitution after filing, which have followed the procedures set forth in Senate Rule 20 or
House Rule 24, shall be forthwith reported from the committee on Rules and be referred by the
Clerk to an appropriate committee. [Adopted Jan. 13, 1920. Amended Feb. 19 and Dec. 22, 1920; May 24, 1926;
April 11, 1935; April 22, 1937; Jan. 12, 1939; Jan. 9, 1941; Jan. 15, 1945; Feb. 20, 1951; Jan. 30, 1967; Jan. 7 and Mar. 22, 1971
; Jan. 15, 1973; March 14, 2013.]
7C. The local approval vote required to file a petition, the operation of which is restricted to a
particular city or town under Section 8 of Article LXXXIX of the Amendments to the
Constitution of the Commonwealth, shall expire at the conclusion of the final day of the next
immediate biennial session following the local approval vote by the city or town and in such
circumstances no additional vote shall be required to file a petition unless a vote to rescind such
approval is passed by the voters of a city or town, or the mayor and city council or other
legislative body of a city, or the select board and the town meeting or other legislative body of
the town. [Adopted, Mar. 14, 2013; Amended Feb. 15, 2017.]
7D. The approval of a substantive amendment to a petition restricted to a single city or town and
requiring a vote of the city of town before enactment of the petition shall be provided to the
General Court before the enactment of the petition and shall be reviewed by House Counsel and
Senate Counsel prior to the enactment of the petition in either branch. [Adopted , Feb. 15, 2017.]
Notice to Parties Interested. 14
8. 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 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 re-committal 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 due to lack
proper notice or of a waiver of proper notice shall so state 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 the third reading. [Adopted Feb. 7, 1890. Amended Dec. 22,
1920 ; Jan. 12, 1939 ; Jan. 15, 1945; Jan. 7, 1971.]
9. A petition for the incorporation of a city or town, for the annexation of 1 municipality to
another, for the consolidation of 2 or more municipalities or for the division of an existing
municipality, or for the incorporation or revival of a railroad, street railway, elevated railroad,
canal, telephone, telegraph, water, gas, electric light, power or other public service corporation,
for the amendment, alteration or extension of the charter or corporate powers or privileges, or for
the change of name, of any such company, whether specially incorporated or organized under the
General Laws, or for authority to take water for a water supply, or relative to building structures
in or over navigable or tide waters, shall be placed on file, and not referred to a committee ,
unless the petitioner has given the notice and followed the procedure required by section 5 of
chapter 3 of the General Laws. But if, no objection being raised, any such petition is referred to a
committee without such required notice or procedure, the committee shall forthwith report
adversely, setting forth as the reason for such report failure to comply with the law, unless
evidence satisfactory to the committee is produced that all parties interested have in writing
waived notice. In case a bill or resolve is reported upon such a petition, after proof of such
waiver of notice, this fact shall be set forth in the report of the committee. When an adverse
report is made by a committee, on account of failure to give the required notice, no bill or resolve
shall be substituted for such report, nor shall such report be recommitted or referred to another
committee. 15
A petition for the establishment or revival, or for the amendment, alteration or extension of the
charter or corporate powers or privileges, or for the change of name, of any corporation, except a
petition subject to the preceding paragraph, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the branch in
which it is filed to the office of the State Secretary. If such a petition is returned by said
Secretary with a statement that the petitioner has failed to comply with the requirements of
section 7 of chapter 3 of the General Laws, said petition shall be placed on file, and shall not be
referred to a committee.
Any petition placed on file for want of proper notice or procedure under this rule shall not affect
action upon any other measure involving the same subject matter. [Adopted Feb. 7, 1890. Amended Feb. 2,
1891; Feb. 3, 1898; Jan. 16, 1903; Feb. 19 and Dec. 22, 1920; May 24, 1926; Feb. 27, 1929; April 11, 1935; Jan. 6, 1938; Jan. 12,
1939; Jan. 9, 1941; Jan. 15, 1945; April 8, 1959; Jan. 7, 1963; Jan. 7, 1971 ; Jan. 15, 1973 , June 12, 1995; Feb. 12, 2009; Mar. 7,
2019.]
Limit of Time allowed for Reports of Committees.
10. All joint committees and the committees on Rules of the two branches, acting concurrently,
shall make final report not later than the first Wednesday in December of the first annual session
of the General Court on all matters referred to them before the first day of October of the first
annual session and within 60 days on all matters referred to them on and after the first day of
October of the first annual session of the General Court except that the committee on Health
Care Financing shall make final report not later than the last Wednesday of January of the second
annual session on all matters referred to them on or before the fourth Wednesday of December of
the first annual session and within 60 days on all matters referred to it after the fourth
Wednesday in December of the first annual session of the General Court. When the time within
which said committees are required to report has expired, all matters upon which no report has
then been made shall forthwith be reported by the chair of the committee on the part of the
branch in which they were respectively introduced, with an adverse recommendation under this
rule. If the chair fails to make such report by the end of the legislative day next following the
expiration date, all matters remaining unreported shall be placed in the Orders of the Day by the
Clerk of the branch in which the matter was originally filed with an adverse report under this
rule. Matters which have been referred under Joint Rule 29, upon which the chairs of the
committees on Rules fail to make a report, shall be placed by the respective Clerks in the Orders
of the Day of the branch in which the subject matter was referred to said committees.
Committees to whom are referred subjects of legislation may combine petitions of similar 16
subject matter, or other forms of legislation of similar subject matter, into 1 adverse report, and
the report on the petition shall be that said petitions or other forms of legislation ‘ought NOT to
pass,’ and if the report is accepted, all the matters contained in the report shall be disposed of.
However, petitions upon which an adverse report is accepted in only 1 branch may not be
combined with other subjects of legislation upon which adverse reports must be accepted, in
concurrence. This rule shall not apply to petitions referred to the committees on Rules of the two
branches, acting concurrently, under the second paragraph of Joint Rule 12. This rule shall not be
rescinded, amended or suspended, except by a concurrent vote of four-fifths of the members of
each branch present and voting thereon. Notwithstanding Joint Rule 30, this rule shall not be
rescinded, amended or suspended more than 3 times except by unanimous consent. [Amended Feb. 2,
1891; Jan. 25, 1894; Jan. 16, 1903; Jan. 20, 1904; Dec. 22, 1920; April 17, 1925; Jan. 12, 1939; Jan. 15, 1945; Jan. 6, 1947; May
7, 1953; Jan. 27, 1955; Jan. 30, 1967; Jan. 7, 1971; Feb. 4, 1974, June 12, 1995; July 17, 2003; Feb. 20, 2007; Feb. 12, 2009; Feb.
15, 2017; Mar. 7, 2019.]
10A. The form for all subjects of legislation receiving a favorable report shall be ‘ought to pass.’
The form for all subjects of legislation receiving an adverse report shall be ‘ought NOT to pass.’
A committee to whom is referred any other matter may report recommending that the same be
placed on file. [Adopted Jan. 7, 1971.]
Committees of Conference.
11. Committees of conference shall consist of 3 members on the part of each branch, one
member of each branch being a member of the minority party representing its vote; and their
report, if agreed to by a majority of each committee, shall be made to the branch asking for the
conference, and may be either accepted or rejected, but no other action shall be had, except
through a new committee of conference.
Committees of conference to whom are referred matters of difference in respect to bills or
resolves, shall, after filing their reports, but before consideration by either branch, have the same
approved or discharged by each committee on Bills in the Third Reading.
Meetings of committees of conference on the disagreeing votes of the 2 branches shall be open to
the public, unless a majority of each conference shall vote otherwise; provided, however no such
vote shall be in order at the first duly noticed public meeting of said conference. [Amended April 22,
1937; Feb. 12, 2009; Feb. 3, 2011; Feb. 15, 2017; Mar. 7, 2019.]
11A. Committees of conference to whom are referred matters of difference in respect to
appropriation bills, including capital outlay programs, shall, after filing their reports but before 17
consideration by either branch have the same approved or discharged by each committee on Bills
in the Third Reading.
Upon the report of a committee of conference to whom matters of difference in respect to any
appropriation bill or in respect to any bill providing for capital outlay programs and projects are
referred, the clerk of the branch requesting said committee of conference shall make available to
members of the General Court a list of the matters in disagreement identified by item number
and item purpose and showing the amount made available by each branch of the General Court,
and any other matters in disagreement and the position of each of the said branches.
The report of said committee of conference shall consist of the matters of difference so referred and so identified, showing the amounts appropriated by each of the said branches and other
matters in disagreement and the position of each branch with respect to those matters, and shall
state said committee's recommendations with respect to the matters so referred. Matters on which
there exists no disagreement between the branches shall not be disturbed by the committee on
conference.
The committees on ways and means of each branch of the General Court shall assist such
committee of conference in any and all matters necessary to the preparation and completion of its
report. [Adopted July 30, 1974; Amended Oct. 3, 1983; Feb. 3, 2011.]
11B. No report from a committee of conference shall be considered or acted upon by either
branch until the 2
nd
calendar day following the day on which said report was filed and made
available to the public and to the members of the General Court. [Adopted Oct. 3, 1983. Amended July 17,
2003; July 21 and September 20, 2005; Feb. 3, 2011.]
11C. Reports, other than those filed under Rule 11A, from a committee of conference shall,
whenever practicable, be accompanied by a summary which shall be filed with the clerk. [Adopted
Feb. 12, 2009; Feb. 3, 2011.]
11D. Upon the filing of a report by a committee of conference, pursuant to Joint Rule 11B, the
clerk of the branch in which the committee of conference filed its report shall make the report
and the summary of the report available to all members electronically and to the public on the
official website of the General Court . [Adopted Feb. 12, 2009; Feb. 3, 2011.]
11E. Subsequent to the filing of a report of a committee of conference, an addendum may be
submitted to the clerk of the branch in which the report had been filed. The addendum shall
indicate that it contains only matters inadvertently omitted from or included in the report, and 18
shall be signed by all of members of the House and Senate who had signed the conference
committee report. The addendum shall be approved by both the Counsel to the House and the
Counsel to the Senate. The addendum, having been approved by both the Counsel to the House
and the Counsel to the Senate, shall be posted to the official website of the General Court
immediately upon receipt by the clerk of the branch to which it was submitted. [Adopted Mar. 14,
2013.]
Limit of Time allowed for New Business.
12. Resolutions intended for adoption by both branches of the General Court, petitions, and all
other subjects of legislation, shall be deposited with the Clerk of either branch prior to 5 p.m. on
the third Friday in January of the first annual session of the General Court.
All such matters except messages from the Governor, reports required or authorized to be made
to the General Court and petitions 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, for the
enactment of a special law under Section 8 of Article LXXXIX of the Amendments to the
Constitution and which do not affect the powers, duties, etc., of state departments, boards,
commissions, etc., or which do not affect generally the laws of the Commonwealth deposited
with the respective clerks subsequent to 5 p.m. on the third Friday of January of the first annual
session of the General Court shall be referred by the Clerks to the committees on the Rules of the
two branches, acting concurrently. No such matter shall be admitted for consideration except on
report of the committees on Rules of the two branches, acting concurrently, and then upon
approval of two-thirds of the members of each branch voting thereon. Matters upon which
suspension of Joint Rule 12 has been negatived shall be placed on file.
At any special session called under Rule 26A, however, matters relating to the facts constituting
the necessity for convening such session shall, if otherwise admissible, be admitted as though
filed seasonably under the first sentence of this rule. Any recommendations from the Governor
shall be similarly considered. This rule shall not be rescinded, amended or suspended, except by
a concurrent vote of two-thirds of the members of each branch present and voting thereon.
[Amended Feb. 7, 18 90; Feb. 2, 18 91; Feb. 7, 18 93; Jan. 10, 18 98; Jan. 9, 18 99; Feb. 15, 19 01; May 4, 19 04; Jan. 31, 19 10;
Feb. 2, 19 17; Dec. 22, 19 20; March 30, 19 21; Jan. 30, 19 23; Feb. 15, 19 33; Jan. 12 and Aug. 7, 19 39; Jan. 15, 19 45; Jan. 6,
19 47; May 27, 19 48; Jan. 30, 19 67; March 26, 19 69; Jan. 7, 1971 ; Jan. 15 and Oct. 2, 1973 ; Oct 3, 1983 , June 12, 1995 ; Jan.
26, 2005; July 17, 2003; Jan. 26, 2005; July 21, 2005; Sept. 20, 2005; Feb. 12, 2009.] 19
12A. All formal business of the first annual session of the General Court shall be concluded not
later than the third Wednesday in November of that calendar year and all formal business of the
second annual session shall be concluded not later than the last day of July of that calendar year;
provided, however, the House of Representatives and the Senate may convene for formal
business solely for the purposes of considering conference committee reports filed under the
provisions of Joint Rules 11 and 11A at any time in the 2-year legislative session .
Unfinished Business of the Session.
12B. Any matter pending before the General Court at the end of the first annual session shall
carry over into the second annual session of the same General Court in the same legislative status
as it was at the conclusion of the first annual session; provided, however, that any measure
making or supplementing an appropriation for a fiscal year submitted to or returned to the
General Court by the Governor, under Article LXIII of the Amendments to the Constitution, in
the first annual session shall cease to exist upon the termination of the first annual session.
[Adopted June 12, 1995.]
Papers to be deposited with the Clerks.
13. Information intended for presentation to the General Court by any Representative or Senator
shall be deposited with the Clerk of the branch to which the member belongs; and all such
information, unless they be subject to other rules or of the rules of the Senate or House, shall be
referred by the Clerk, with the approval of the President or Speaker, to appropriate committees,
subject to such changes as the Senate or House may make. The reading of information so
referred may be dispensed with, but they shall, except as provided in these rules, be entered in
the Journal of the same on the next legislative day after such reference.
A member may include a brief statement of intent with all papers intended for presentation to the
General Court. Upon a favorable report by a joint standing committee, a committee may include
a brief written statement of intent. Said statement shall be dated and shall include the scope of
the matter presented for consideration; provided, however, this rule shall not be construed to
require the presentation of such statement of intent under this rule. [Adopted Feb. 7, 1890. Amended Feb.
2, 1891; Feb. 7, 1893; Jan. 25, 1894; Dec. 22, 1920; May 25, 1923; Feb. 15, 1933; Jan. 12, 1971; June 3, 1985; Feb. 12, 2009.]
Dockets of Legislative Counsel and Agents. 20
14. The committees on Rules of the two branches, acting concurrently, may prescribe the manner
and form of keeping the dockets of legislative agents which are required by law. [Adopted Feb. 2,
1891; Amended Feb. 19, 1920.]
Duties of the Clerk.
15. If any part of the report of a committee over the signature of the chair or members of the
committee is amended in either branch, the Clerk of that branch shall endorse upon the report
such amendment. [Amended Mar. 7, 2019.]
16. All papers, while on their passage between the 2 branches, may be under the signature of the
respective Clerks, except as to the adopting of emergency preambles and the final passage of
bills and resolves. Messages may be sent by such persons as each branch may direct. [Amended Feb.
21, 1919.]
17. After bills and resolves have passed both branches to be engrossed, they shall be in the
charge of the Clerks of the 2 branches, who shall prepare the same for final passage in the
manner prescribed by law; and when so prepared the same shall be delivered to the Clerk of the
House of Representatives; and when the bills have been passed to be enacted or the resolves have
been passed in the House, they shall, in like manner, be delivered to the Senate Clerk and
Parliamentarian. If a bill or resolve contains an emergency preamble, it shall be delivered in like
manner, to the Senate after the preamble has been adopted by the House of Representatives and
before the bill or resolve is put upon its final passage in that branch. If the Senate concurs in
adopting the preamble, the bill or resolve shall be returned to the House to be there first put upon
its final passage, under Joint Rule No. 22. [Amended Feb. 24, 1914; Feb. 21, 1919; Jan. 7, 1971.]
18. [Omitted in 1971.]
19. The Clerk of the branch in which a bill or resolve originated shall make an endorsement on
the envelope of the engrossed copy of the bill, certifying in which branch the bill originated,
which endorsement shall be entered on the journals by the Clerks respectively. [Amended Jan. 28,
1889; Feb. 24, 1914.]
20. Bills, resolves and other papers requiring the approval of the Governor shall be laid before
the Governor for the Governor’s approbation by the Senate Clerk and Parliamentarian, who shall
enter upon the journal of the Senate the day and date on which the same were so laid before the
Governor. [Amended Jan. 28, 1889; Jan. 7, 1971.]
Presentation and Distribution of Documents. 21
21. The committees on Rules of the two branches, acting concurrently, may establish regulations
for the distribution of bills, reports or other documents. Bills, reports or other documents shall be
made available to members electronically and, except for petitions or other documents not
assigned bill numbers, published on the Internet. The committees on Rules of the two branches,
acting concurrently, may make such changes pertaining to the availability of bills, reports or
other documents as they deem necessary for expediting the work of the legislature.
The Clerks of the House of Representatives and the Senate shall be responsible for publishing
the journals of their respective chamber, the book Public Officers of Massachusetts, the
committee book and any other publications per order of the committees on Rules. [Amended Jan. 8,
1886 ; Jan. 28, 1889 ; Jan. 27, 1911 ; Feb. 19, 1920 ; Jan. 6, 1947 ; Apr. 5, 19 67 ; Jan. 7, 1971; Feb. 12, 2009; Mar. 14, 2013.]
Emergency Measures.
22. The vote on the preamble of an emergency law, which under the requirements of Article
XLVIII, as amended by Article LXVII of the Amendments of the Constitution shall, upon
request of 2 members of the Senate or of 5 members of the House of Representatives, be taken
by call of the yeas and nays, shall be had after the proposed law has been prepared for final
passage; and neither branch shall vote on the enactment of a bill or on the passage of a resolve
containing an emergency preamble until it has been determined whether the preamble shall
remain or be eliminated. If the bill contains an emergency preamble, a motion to amend the bill
may be received in either branch before the adoption of the emergency preamble, and the
amendment may contain a new emergency preamble. If the 2 branches concur in adopting the
preamble, the bill or resolve shall first be put upon its final passage in the House of
Representatives. If either branch fails to adopt the preamble, notice of its action shall be sent to
the other branch; and the bill or resolve, duly endorsed, shall again be prepared for final passage
without the preamble and without any provision that the bill or the resolve shall take effect
earlier than 90 days after it has become law. Procedure shall be otherwise under the joint rules
and the rules of the Senate and the House of Representatives. [Adopted Feb. 21, 1919. Amended Jan. 30,
1923; Jan. 7, 1971; Feb. 20, 2007; Feb. 12, 2009.]
22A. Bills and resolves passed to be engrossed by both branches and before being transmitted by
the clerks to the Legislative Engrossing Division shall be made available to the committees on
Bills in the Third Reading of the two branches, acting jointly, who, in consultation with Counsel
to the Senate and Counsel to the House, shall examine them to ensure accuracy in the text; that
the legislation is correct as to form; that references to previous amendments to any particular law 22
are correct and to ensure proper consistency with the language of existing statutes. These
committees, with the approval of the majority and minority leadership of both branches may
make corrections which are not substantive in nature. The clerks of both branches shall be
immediately notified, in writing, of any such changes. Errors discovered by the committees of a
substantive nature shall be reported to the General Court, which in turn shall take appropriate
action under its rules. Upon completion of examination and possible correction of any such bills
and resolves, the bills and resolves shall be returned to the clerks, who in turn, shall transmit
them to the Legislative Engrossing Division to be prepared for final passage. [Adopted Sept. 16, 1971.]
Legislative Amendments to the Constitution.
23. All proposals for amendments to the Constitution referred to a joint committee on the first
annual session of the General Court shall be reported by said committee not later than the last
Wednesday of April in said year, and proposals for amendments to the Constitution referred to a
joint committee subsequent to the last Wednesday in April of the first annual session shall be
reported by said committee not later than the last Wednesday of April in the second session of
the same General Court. The committee shall file its report, either recommending that the
proposal ought to pass or ought not to pass, with any official papers in its possession that relate
thereto, with the Clerk of the Senate. When the time within which said committees are required
to report has expired, all matters upon which no report has been made shall forthwith be placed
in the Journal of the respective branches, with an adverse report under this rule; and shall then be
placed on file in the office of the Clerk of the Senate. For further information of the members of
the Senate and House of Representatives, the respective Clerks shall also place all such matters
under a separate heading in the Calendar of each branch, as soon as is practicable. In each branch
the report shall be read and forthwith placed on file; and no further legislative action shall be
taken on the measure unless consideration in joint session is called for by vote of either branch,
under Section 2 of Part IV of Article XLVIII (as amended by Article LXXXI) of the
Amendments to the Constitution. A joint committee to which is referred any recommendation for
an amendment to the Constitution made by the Governor or contained in a report authorized to
be made to the General Court may report on the recommendation a proposal for a legislative
amendment, which shall be deemed to have been introduced by the member of the Senate who
reports for the committee; and the procedure as regards reporting, filing and subsequent action
shall be that provided for legislative amendments by this rule. Or the joint committee may report
ought not to pass for the reason that no legislation is necessary or that the recommendation ought 23
not to pass; and in such cases the usual procedure as regards similar reports by joint committees
shall be followed. If such an adverse report is amended in the Senate by substituting a proposal
for a legislative amendment, notice of the Senate's action shall be sent to the House and said
proposal, together with the official papers relating to the subject, shall be in the custody of the
Clerk of the Senate; and if said report is so amended in the House, the proposal, duly endorsed,
together with the other papers, shall be sent to the Senate for its information and shall be kept in
the custody of its Clerk. No further legislative action shall be taken in either branch on a proposal
so substituted unless consideration in joint session is called for under the Constitution. If either
branch calls for the consideration of any proposal in joint session, notice of its action shall be
sent to the other branch; and it shall then be the duty of the Senate and the House of
Representatives to arrange for the holding of the joint session not later than the second
Wednesday in May. Subject to the requirements of the Constitution, joint sessions or
continuances of joint sessions of the 2 branches to consider proposals for specific amendments to
the Constitution, and all rules or procedures, shall be determined only by concurrent votes of the
2 branches. The rules relative to joint conventions shall apply to the joint sessions of the 2
houses. [Adopted Feb. 21, 1919. Amended March 30, 1921; April 11, 1935; Jan. 12, 1939; Jan. 15, 1945; Nov. 9, 1951; Jan.
15, 1973; July 1, 1974; Feb. 12, 2009.]
Executive Reorganization Plans.
23A. Any reorganization plan, accompanied by a bill, submitted by the Governor under Article
LXXXVII of the Amendments to the Constitution shall be referred by the Clerks of the Senate
and the House, with the approval of the President and Speaker, to a joint standing committee
within 5 days of the presentation of the reorganization plan.
Said committee, to which is referred any such reorganization plan, shall, as required by said
Article, not later than 30 days after the presentation of such plan by the Governor, hold a public
hearing on the reorganization plan; and shall not later than 10 days after such hearing report that
it either approves or disapproves such plan.
When recommending action, the committee shall make, in each branch, a separate report of its
recommendations, and shall file said report together with the committee's recommendations and
the reasons for those recommendations, in writing. Majority and minority reports shall be signed
by the members of said committee. Any official papers in the possession of said committee that
relate thereto shall be filed with the Clerk of the Senate. 24
If the committee recommends favorable action, the report shall be that the reorganization plan
‘ought to be approved’. If the committee recommends adverse action, the report shall be that the
reorganization plan ‘ought NOT to be approved’. In each instance, the question shall be ‘Shall
this reorganization plan be approved?’
In each branch, the report shall be read and forthwith recorded in the Journal. On the legislative
day next following the Journal record, the report shall be placed in the Orders of the Day of the
Senate and the House.
When the time within which a joint committee is required to report on a reorganization plan has
expired, a matter upon which no report has been made shall forthwith be placed in the Orders of
the Day by the Clerks of each branch and the question shall be ‘Shall this reorganization plan be
approved?’.
When such plan is before either branch, no motion relating to said plan shall be allowed except
the motions to lay on the table (only in the Senate), to postpone to a time certain, or to commit or
recommit (at the pleasure of either branch). The motions to take a recess, to adjourn, the previous
question (if provided in the branch debating the issue), to close debate at a specified time, and
the motion to reconsider shall also be in order.
A motion to discharge any committee to which is referred or to which is recommitted a
reorganization plan shall not be in order prior to the expiration of 40 days after the Governor's
presentation of such plan. After the expiration of said 40 days, a motion to discharge a committee
shall be decided by a majority vote of the branch in which the motion is made.
Unless disapproved by a majority vote of the members of either of the 2 branches of the General
Court present and voting, the General Court not having prorogued within 60 days from the date
of presentation by the Governor, the plan shall be approved and shall take effect as provided by
Article LXXXVII of the Amendments to the Constitution.
Within 7 days of the expiration of the 60 days from the date of presentation of said plan by the
Governor, unless the question has already been decided, the Clerks of the Senate and House of
Representatives shall place the plan in the Orders of the Day; and no motions except the motions
to take a recess, to adjourn, and previous question, or to close debate at a specified time, shall be
in order. 25
No such reorganization plan presented to the General Court shall be subject to change or
amendment before expiration of such 60 days. [Adopted June 13, 1967; Amended March 27, 1969; June 12,
1995; Feb. 12, 2009.]
Joint Conventions.
24. The President of the Senate shall preside in Conventions of the 2 branches, and such
Conventions shall be held in the Representatives' Chamber; the Senate Clerk and Parliamentarian
shall be the Clerk of the Convention, and a record of the proceedings of the Convention shall be
entered at large on the journals of both branches. [Amended Feb. 20, 2007.]
25. When an agreement has been made by the 2 branches to go into Convention, such agreement
shall not be altered or annulled, except by concurrent vote, excepting that it shall be in order to
recess the convention from time to time upon a majority vote of said convention. [Amended Jan. 7,
1971.]
26. No business shall be entered on, in Convention, other than that which may be agreed on
before the Convention is formed.
Joint Elections.
27. In all elections by joint ballot a time shall be assigned for such election at least 1 day
previous to such election.
27A. In all cases of elections by ballot a majority of the votes cast shall be necessary for a
choice, and where there shall be no such a majority on the first ballot the ballots shall be repeated
until a majority is obtained; and in balloting, blanks shall be rejected and not taken into the count
in the enumeration of votes, excepting that when the number of blanks shall be more than the
number of votes received by the candidate having the highest number of votes, then the election
shall be declared void and the balloting shall be repeated as provided herein. [Adopted March 27,
1969.]
28. [Omitted March 28, 1972 .]
References to the Committees on Rules.
29. All motions and orders authorizing joint committees to travel or to employ stenographers, or
authorizing joint committees or special commissions composed as a whole or in part of members
of the General Court to make investigations or to file special reports, all propositions reported by
joint committees which authorize investigations or special reports by joint committees or by 26
special commissions composed as a whole or in part of members of the General Court, all
motions or orders proposed for joint adoption which provide that information be transmitted to
the General Court, and all matters referred under the second paragraph of Joint Rule 12, shall be
referred without debate to the committees on Rules of the two branches acting concurrently, who
shall report on the matter, under Joint Rule 10. All matters which have been referred under this
rule shall, in each instance, be reported back into the branch making such reference. [Adopted Jan.
10, 1898. Amended Jan. 20, 1904; Jan. 28, 1913; Feb. 19 and Dec. 22, 1920; April 11, 1935; April 22, 1937; Jan. 27, 1955; Jan.
30, 1967; Oct. 18, 1971.]
29A. Meetings of any special commission, special legislative commission, task force or other
group authorized or required by a statute, resolve, rule, or order to make or conduct an
investigation or study of any issue shall be conducted openly and transparently. Meetings of any
special commission, special legislative commission, task force or other group authorized or
required by a statute, resolve, rule, or order to make or conduct an investigation or study of any
issue and which are chaired by members of the general court shall be posted and conducted
pursuant to the rules of the senate and house of representatives and shall be conducted according
to the following requirements:
a.)Meetings shall be open to the public;
b.)Meetings shall be announced by appropriate notice at least 5 days in advance;
c.)Any documents used in a meeting be provided to the public upon request in a manner to
be determined by the chair;
d.)Public testimony shall be accepted in a manner to be determined by the chair;
e.)The chair shall maintain a summary of the subjects discussed at each meeting, a list of
documents and other exhibits used at the meetings, and shall maintain a record of proceedings,
including a record of all votes. For the purposes of this rule a video or audio recording made
available to the public shall be considered an adequate record of the proceedings. [Adopted, Feb. 15,
2017; Amended Mar. 7, 2019.]
30. All motions or orders extending the time within which joint committees and the committees
on Rules of the two branches, acting concurrently, are required to report shall be referred without
debate to the committees on Rules of the two branches, acting concurrently, who shall report
recommending what action should be taken on the motion or order. Such extension shall be
granted by a concurrent majority vote if recommended by the committees on Rules of the two 27
branches, acting concurrently; but no such extension shall be granted, against the
recommendation of the committees, except by a four-fifths vote of the members of each branch
present and voting on the extension. This rule shall not be rescinded, amended or suspended,
except by a concurrent vote of four-fifths of the members of each branch present and voting
thereon. [Adopted Jan. 16, 1903. Amended Feb. 6, 1912; Feb. 19, 1920; Jan. 6, 1947; Jan. 27, 1955; June 7, 1965.]
Members.
31. A member of either branch who directly or indirectly solicits for such member or others any
position or office within the gift or control of a railroad corporation, street railway company, gas
or electric light company, telegraph or telephone company, aqueduct or water company, or other
public service corporation, shall be subject to suspension for such solicitation, or to such other
penalty as the branch of which the person is a member may see fit to impose. [See G. L. 271, sec.
40.] [Adopted May 22, 1902.]
Accommodations for Reporters.
32. Subject to the approval and direction of the committees on Rules of the two branches, acting
concurrently, during the session, and of the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House
of Representatives after prorogation, the use of the rooms and facilities assigned to reporters in
the State House shall be under the control of the organizations of legislative reporters known as
the Massachusetts State House Press Association and the State House Broadcasters Association.
No person shall be permitted to use such rooms or facilities who is not entitled to the privileges
of the reporters' galleries of the Senate or of the House. Within 10 days after the General Court
convenes the Massachusetts State House Press Association and the State House Broadcasters
Association shall each transmit to the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of
Representatives and the Sergeant-at-Arms a list of the legislative reporters with the principal
publication or news service which each represents. [Adopted Jan. 27, 1911. Amended Feb. 24, 1914; Feb. 19,
1920; April 17, 1925; May 23, 1979; Feb. 12, 2009.]
Suspension of Rules.
33. Any joint rule except Rule 10 and Rule 30 may be altered, suspended or rescinded by a
concurrent vote of two-thirds of the members of each branch present and voting thereon. [Amended
Feb. 7, 1893. Adopted in revised form Jan. 9, 1899. Amended Jan. 16, 1903; Jan. 26, 2005.]
Audit of Accounts. 28
34. The committees on Rules of the two branches, acting concurrently, shall provide that an
outside independent audit of joint financial accounts be conducted by a certified public
accountant no less frequently than at the end of each fiscal year. A copy of such audit shall be
filed with the Clerks of the Senate and House of Representatives and be made available to the
public by conspicuously posting it on the General Court’s website. The Clerks of the Senate and
House of Representatives shall notify all members of the General Court, the State Auditor,
Comptroller, and Inspector General when the audit has been posted on the General Court’s
website.. [Adopted May 30, 1985.]
35. The committees on Rules of the two branches, acting concurrently, shall reexamine the Joint
Rules of the House and Senate as needed, but at least every 4 years, and shall report to each
branch any recommendations it may have to facilitate the work of the respective branches and
the joint standing committees. [Adopted June 12, 1995.]
Procurement.
36. (a) The House Business Manager and Chief Financial Officer of the Senate shall complete
the procurement of all goods and services from the joint legislative account. Procurements for
goods or services shall be made pursuant to a statewide procurement contract established by the
operational services division, to the extent practicable, as determined by the House Business
Manager and the Chief Financial Officer of the Senate. If the Business Manager and the Chief
Financial Officer determine that a procurement cannot be made using a statewide procurement
contract established by the operational services division, they 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 a statewide procurement contract
valued at less than $10,000 shall be made at the discretion of the House Business Manager and
the Chief Financial Officer of the Senate.
(c) If the House Business Manager and the Chief Financial Officer of the Senate seek to procure
a supply or service from a vendor not on a statewide procurement contract valued at $10,000 or
more, but less than $100,000, they shall seek quotations from not fewer than 3 persons providing
such supply or service. The House Business Manager and the Chief Financial Officer of the
Senate 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
House Business Manager and the Chief Financial Officer of the Senate shall award the contract 29
to the respondent whose quotation offers the needed quality of supply or service and which
represents the best value for the General Court in the informed opinion of the House Business
Manager and the Chief Financial Officer of the Senate.
(d) If the House Business Manager and the Chief Financial Officer of the Senate seek to procure
a supply or service from a vendor not on a statewide procurement contract valued at $100,000 or
more, the House Business Manager and the Chief Financial Officer of the Senate shall seek
proposals through a procurement process, which shall be established by the House Business
Manager and the Chief Financial Officer of the Senate. The House Business Manager and the
Chief Financial Officer of the Senate shall include diversity and inclusion plan requirements in
all requests for proposals; provided, however, that such process shall adhere to the terms of any
relevant statewide contract, where possible, and other provisions of this rule.
(e) The House Business Manager and the Chief Financial Officer of the Senate shall maintain a
file on each procurement not executed using a 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
General Court during regular business hours unless the information is otherwise protected by
state or federal law.
(f) Whenever the time required to comply with a requirement of this rule would endanger the
health, safety or convenience of the members, staff or visitors to the House of Representatives or
Senate the House Business Manager and the Senate Chief Financial Officer may make an
emergency procurement without satisfying the requirement of this rules; provided, however, that
both the House Business Manager and the Senate Chief Financial Officer certify in writing that:
(i) an emergency exists and explain the nature thereof; (ii) the emergency procurement is limited
to only supplies or services necessary to meet the emergency; and (iii) the emergency
procurement conforms to the requirements of this rule to the extent practicable under the
circumstances; provided further the House Business Manager and Chief Financial Officer of the
Senate shall keep a record of: (a) each contractor’s name, (b) the amount and the type of each
contract; (c) the supplies or services provided under each contract; (d) and basis for determining
the need for an emergency procurement. 30
(g) All procurements for legal services shall follow a process established by House and Senate
Counsel and the House Business Manager and Chief Financial Officer of the Senate, and shall be
approved by the House and Senate Counsel. .
(h) If, in the determination of the House Business Manager and the Chief Financial Officer of the
Senate, an emergency procurement of greater than $10,000 is necessary, the House Business
Manager and the Chief Financial Officer of the Senate 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 House Business Manager and the Chief Financial
Officer of the Senate 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 General
Court during regular business hours, unless the information is otherwise protected by state or
federal law.
(i) Any procurement by the House Business Manager and Chief Financial Officer Officer of the
Senate under Rule 36 for over $10,000 either individual or cumulative shall be submitted to the
state comptroller for posting on the Open Checkbook website or its equivalent. [Adopted Mar. 14,
2013; Amended Feb. 15, 2017; Mar. 7, 2019.]