Understanding The Process: Bills To Laws In Massachusetts

The process of how a bill becomes a law in Massachusetts involves several steps and requires the involvement of legislators, committees, and the governor. It begins with the filing of a bill, which can be done by members of the House and Senate, the Governor, or even citizens who can request their legislators to present bills on their behalf. The bill is then assigned to a committee and given a bill number, and undergoes a public hearing where members of the public can provide testimony. Following this, the committee chair decides on the fate of the bill, which may include reporting it out favorably, unfavorably, or into a study order. If reported out favorably, the bill may advance to another committee, especially if it involves monetary aspects. If reported unfavorably, it proceeds to the Floor of that branch for concurrence. All bills pertaining to money originate in the House and are directed to the House committee on Ways and Means. The bill then navigates through additional committees, readings, and votes in each branch before reaching engrossment. If discrepancies exist between the House and Senate versions, a conference committee is established to reconcile the differences. The bill then returns to its original branch for approval, followed by enactment in each branch, and ultimately lands on the Governor's desk for approval, veto, or suggested changes.

Bills can be filed by members of the House and Senate, the Governor, or citizens

In Massachusetts, bills can be filed by members of the House and Senate, the Governor, or citizens. The state constitution allows citizens to ask their legislators to present bills "by request", although these bills do not necessarily have the support of the legislators who file them. The annual general appropriation act, which originates in the Governor's office, is filed in the House, which considers it first. "Money bills", which raise revenue, cannot be considered by the Senate until they are approved by the House. With those exceptions, any other legislation may be considered first by either branch.

Under Joint Rule 12 of the Joint Rules of the Legislature, the bill filing deadline for legislators is 5:00 p.m. on the third Friday in January of the first annual session of the General Court. The Governor may file legislation at any time. Late files (bills filed by legislators after the January deadline) require approval by the committees on Rules of the two branches, as well as approval by two-thirds of the members of each branch.

Once a bill is filed in the House or Senate Clerk's office, it is given an initial number (a docket number) and is recorded in a docket book, which lists all bills as they are filed. The House Clerk and Senate Clerk then assign each bill a bill number and recommend the appropriate Joint Committee to hear the bill. Bills that originate in the House begin with "H", and those that originate in the Senate begin with "S".

The first step in the legislative process is for a bill to be filed with the House or Senate Clerk's office by a legislator. It is then assigned to a committee and given a bill number, which is how the bill can be tracked. Every bill must then have a public hearing held by the committee to which it is assigned. This is the committee that the House Clerk and Senate Clerk recommend.

Bills are given a docket number and recorded in a docket book

Once a bill has been filed by a legislator in the House or Senate Clerk's office, it is given a docket number and recorded in a docket book. This docket book is an official record of all bills as they are filed and is an important step in the legislative process. The bill is then assigned a bill number, which is how it can be tracked through the system. Bills that originate in the House are given a number starting with "H", while those that originate in the Senate start with "S". This initial numbering system provides a clear and efficient way to identify and locate each bill as it progresses through the legislative process.

The docket book serves as a comprehensive record of all proposed bills, ensuring transparency and accountability in the legislative process. It allows legislators, citizens, and other interested parties to easily access information about bills, track their progress, and participate in the legislative process. The docket number and book play a crucial role in maintaining the integrity of the legislative process by providing a clear audit trail of all bills under consideration.

The docket book is typically maintained by the House Clerk and Senate Clerk, who are responsible for recording each bill, assigning bill numbers, and recommending the appropriate Joint Committee to hear and review the bill. This recommendation is an important step, as the Joint Committee will hold hearings, discuss, and make changes to the bill before it moves forward in the legislative process. The Joint Committee must also issue a report on each bill, providing a detailed account of their findings and recommendations.

The docket number and book are essential tools for legislators, citizens, and advocacy groups to track and participate in the legislative process. They provide a clear and organised system for managing the large volume of bills that are filed during each legislative session. By assigning a unique identifier to each bill, the docket number facilitates efficient tracking and ensures that no bill goes unnoticed or is lost in the legislative process.

In addition to the docket number and book, other organisational measures are employed to manage the flow of bills. For example, the legislative session in Massachusetts is two years long, and there are specific deadlines for filing bills, such as the bill filing deadline for legislators being 5:00 p.m. on the third Friday in January of the first annual session. These deadlines and organisational structures help to streamline the legislative process and ensure that bills are considered and addressed in a timely and efficient manner.

Bills are assigned to a committee and given a bill number

Once a bill has been filed with the House or Senate Clerk's office, it is assigned to a committee and given a bill number. This is the second step in the legislative process in Massachusetts. The bill number allows the bill to be tracked. The House Clerk and Senate Clerk assign each bill a bill number and recommend the appropriate Joint Committee to hear the bill. Bills that originate in the House begin with "H", and those that originate in the Senate begin with "S".

The list of current Joint Committees can be found on the Massachusetts General Court's website. The Joint Committees must hold a hearing and issue a report on each bill before them. Hearings are open to the public, and all interested parties may attend and address the committee. The committee chair may limit the time allowed for individual speakers and a particular matter.

After a bill is heard in committee, the chairperson of the committee decides whether to report it out of committee favorably or unfavorously, or into a study order. A study order means the committee would like to continue to review the legislation and does not plan on reporting it out favorably. This is the second opportunity for public involvement in the legislative process. The public can lobby members of the committee and the chairperson to report the bill out favorably or unfavorably.

The committee holds a public hearing and issues a report

Once a bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee, which will research, discuss, and make changes to the bill. The committee will then hold a public hearing, inviting all members of the public to give testimony in favour of or against the bill. The committee chair may limit the time allowed for individual speakers. After the hearing, the committee will issue a report recommending that the bill "ought to pass" (with or without an amendment), "ought not to pass", or be given a study order. A study order means the committee would like to continue to review the bill and does not plan to report it out favourably.

This is an important stage in the legislative process, as it is the first opportunity for members of the public to make their voices heard and show legislators that there is public support for or against the bill. Testifying on bills can help to influence legislators' decisions and shape the future of the proposed legislation.

After the public hearing, the committee chairperson will decide whether to report the bill out of the committee favourably or unfavourably, or into a study order. This is another opportunity for individuals to lobby members of the committee and the chairperson to influence the outcome of the bill. If a bill is reported out favourably, it may go to another committee, especially if it relates to money. If it is reported out unfavourably, it will go to the Floor of that branch for concurrence and, if there is no objection, it will die on the floor.

The bill is voted on and, if passed, presented to the Governor

Once a bill has been assigned a number and undergone a hearing, it is voted on. If the bill is voted through, it is sent to the Committee on Third Reading and then, if reported out of that committee, to the Floor of one branch. If passed, it is then sent to the floor of the other branch. This is the third opportunity for the public to get involved and lobby committee members and their representatives to vote in favour of the legislation.

If the bill passes through the second branch, it is sent for engrossment (passage) in the first branch and then engrossment in the second branch. If there are differences in the bill after engrossment, a conference committee is set up to iron out the differences. The bill then goes back to its original branch for approval, then to the other branch, and is then enacted in each branch.

Out of approximately 8000 bills filed each two-year legislative session, only a handful actually make it to the Governor's desk. If a bill does make it to the Governor, members of the public can lobby the governor's staff to support or oppose it. Once the governor makes a decision, the bill becomes law after 90 days if it is signed. If the governor vetoes the bill, it goes back to the legislature, which can choose to override the veto with a two-thirds majority in each branch.

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