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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1226 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2327
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Joanne M. Comerford
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying
resolve:
Resolve increasing representation of all Massachusetts residents in the state house art collection.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Joanne M. ComerfordHampshire, Franklin and Worcester 1 of 4
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1226 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2327
By Ms. Comerford, a petition (accompanied by resolve, Senate, No. 2327) of Joanne M.
Comerford that provisions be made for an investigation and study by a special commission
(including members of the General Court) to review and study of the state house art collection.
Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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Resolve increasing representation of all Massachusetts residents in the state house art collection.
1 Resolved, (a) For the purposes of this section, the following words shall have the
2following meanings:
3 ''Historical artifact'', an object commemorating, representing or having specific ties to a
4significant historical event or era in the history of the commonwealth; provided, however, that
5''historical artifact'' shall not include flags under the care of the superintendent of the state house
6under section 17A of chapter 8 of the general laws.
7 ''Work of art'', (i) a portrait or other memorial procured under section 19 or 19A of
8chapter 8 of the general laws; and (ii) a painting, portrait, mural decoration, stained glass, statue,
9bas-relief, ornament, fountain or other article or structure of a permanent character intended for
10decoration or commemoration. 2 of 4
11 (b) There is hereby established a special commission pursuant to section 2A of chapter 4
12of the General Laws to conduct a full review and study of the state house art collection and to
13develop recommendations for updating said art collection to achieve the following goals:
14 (i) to accurately and comprehensively reflect and represent the history of the
15commonwealth;
16 (ii) to reflect and represent the diversity of the commonwealth’s population throughout
17history and in the twenty-first century, including by increasing the number of historical artifacts
18and works of art which both represent and were made by demographic groups who were
19previously excluded from or negatively or inaccurately depicted in the state house art collection;
20 (iii) to honor important contributions to the commonwealth made by individuals and
21groups throughout history; and
22 (iv) to celebrate and showcase the beauty and diversity of the commonwealth’s
23geography, history and communities.
24 (b) The commission shall consist of 1 member who shall be a member of the senate who
25shall be appointed by the senate president, who shall serve as co-chair; 1 member who shall be
26appointed by the minority leader of the senate; 1 member who shall be a member of the house of
27representatives who shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, who shall
28serve as co-chair; 1 member who shall be appointed by the minority leader of the house of
29representatives; the secretary of the commonwealth, or a designee; the 7 members of the art
30commission for the state house as established in section 20 of chapter 6 of the general laws; the
31state house curator; 1 member appointed by the Museum of Fine Arts Boston; 1 member
32appointed by the Institute of Contemporary Art; 1 member appointed by the Massachusetts 3 of 4
33cultural council; 1 member appointed by Mass Humanities; 1 member appointed by the
34commission on the status of African Americans; 1 member appointed by the commission on the
35status of Latinos and Latinas; 1 member appointed by the commission on the status of Asian
36Americans and Pacific Islanders; 1 member appointed by the commission on Indian affairs; 1
37member appointed by the commission on the status of women; 1 member appointed by the
38commission on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning youth; and 1 member
39appointed by the Arc of Massachusetts. Members of the commission may receive reimbursement
40for the reasonable expenses incurred in carrying out their responsibilities as members of the
41commission.
42 (c) The commission shall review the state house art collection and study ways to update
43said collection to meet the goals stated in subsection (b) of this act, and shall prepare a report that
44shall include, but not be limited to, an inventory of the state house art collection, including
45historical artifacts and works of art on display and in storage, and recommendations for:
46 (i) whether and how to remove or replace or relocate historical artifacts and works of art
47from the state house art collection which offensively or inaccurately represent demographic
48groups, and which historical artifacts and works of art should be removed or replaced or
49relocated;
50 (ii) how to procure and site new acquisitions within the state house art collection to
51ensure diversity of subjects and artists and to ensure that new acquisitions are showcased
52throughout the state house and are not relegated to one area; 4 of 4
53 (iii) a list of historical artifacts and works of art that the art commission for the state
54house, as established in section 20 of chapter 6 of the general laws, should look to acquire for the
55state house art collection;
56 (iv) a list of artists whom the art commission for the state house, as established in section
5720 of chapter 6 of the general laws, should commission for new works of art for the state house
58art collection;
59 (v) how to increase public participation in and understanding of the state house art
60collection, including by updating how both new and existing historical artifacts and works of art
61are contextualized in the state house, such as through the use of new plaques, signage, written or
62oral narratives, tours and live presentations;
63 (vi) creating new or amending existing processes for procurements to ensure equitable
64public input;
65 (vii) a plan for implementation, including a timeline; and
66 (viii) anticipated legislative and budgetary needs to implement these recommendations.
67 (d) Not more than 18 months after the effective date of this act, the commission shall file
68a report on the results of its review and study together with its findings and recommendations,
69including any drafts of legislation necessary to carry out those recommendations, with the clerks
70of the senate and house of representatives, the senate and house committees on ways and means,
71the joint committee on tourism, arts and cultural development and the governor’s office. The
72report shall be posted on the website of the secretary of the commonwealth.