Joint Rules Update

I am writing today with an important update. On June 26, 2025, the Massachusetts Legislature adopted joint rules which aim to enhance the efficiency and transparency of the legislative process. I am proud of my colleagues for reaching this meaningful compromise and I am proud to have voted for this improved set of procedures which represents our commitment to making the Legislature more efficient, accessible, and responsive to the concerns of our constituents  

These are the first agreed-upon joint rules since 2019 and they make reforms to procedures regarding interactions between the House of Representatives and the Senate, joint committees and adjustments to the legislative calendar which will allow more time to accomplish meaningful policy, during the 2025-2026 legislative session. 

As you may be aware, the Massachusetts Legislature implements joint rules to govern the legislative process and interactions between the House of Representatives and the Senate, particularly within joint committees. Joint rules are adopted in concurrence by both legislative bodies and complement each chamber’s individual rules (House Rules and Senate Rules). 

With these new rules in place, joint committees will now post plain-language bill summaries online and give more advance public notice for hearings, as well as make committee attendance and votes public to enhance transparency. You can now access all of that information on https://malegislature.gov. 

The new joint rules also include the following reforms:

Bill Reporting Deadlines 

Joint committees will be required to report bills by the first Wednesday in December of the first year of session. (This session, it is December 3, 2025). Traditionally, this deadline was in February of the second year.

Per House Rules, House Chairs will be required to make a final report not later than 60 days after a bill is heard by the committee, but they may request an additional 30 days, at their discretion. Additional extensions must be approved by the House. House bills cannot be extended beyond the third Wednesday in March of the second year of the session. Any bill not acted upon will be ordered to a study by default.

Testimony Availability 

Joint committees are now required to adopt rules pertaining to the public availability of written testimony. These may contain limitations on the sharing of testimony including sensitive personal information, obscene content, or information that may jeopardize the health, wellness or safety of the testifier or others.

Conference Committees

The first meeting of conference committees will be open to the public under the joint rules.

A minimum of 24 hours will be required between a conference committee report filing and a legislative vote. If a conference committee report is filed after 8 p.m., it cannot be voted on until the second calendar day following the day on which it was filed.

Formal Lawmaking

The Legislature may meet in formal session after July 31 in the second year of the legislative session to take up the following matters: reports of conference committees formed on or before July 31; appropriation bills filed after July 31; and gubernatorial vetoes or amendments.

Joint Rules Review 

At the end of the two-year session, the Joint Committee on Rules will conduct a comprehensive review of the joint rules. As part of the review, it will conduct a public hearing and solicit testimony from the public and other interested parties.

In addition to the joint rules approved, the House and the Senate approved their own chamber’s rules in February to govern their internal operations. 

Joint Committees Structure and Process

Notice time for joint committee hearings will increase from 72 hours to 10 days. Joint committees must also post a schedule of hearing dates within three weeks of committee appointments.

 Hearings will be conducted jointly on all House and Senate bills, and after a bill is heard, the House or Senate Chair may unilaterally poll members of the committee from their respective branch on a bill that was filed in that branch.

Money bills filed in the Senate, constitutional amendments filed in the House, and any matters not filed by a member of the General Court will continue to be voted on by all members of a joint committee.

Committee Participation and Votes 

Members of the public are still able to participate remotely in joint committee hearings, as will members of the Senate. Per House rules, House Members of a joint committee cannot participate remotely and must be physically present in the hearing room.

Attendance of joint committee members at hearings posted with 10 days’ notice will be taken and available on the General Court website.

How each individual member votes on the bills being acted upon by the committee will be posted on the General Court’s website in a clearer fashion than previously posted for prior terms.

I believe these changes will allow for a more effective legislative process as well as better outcomes for the Commonwealth and Massachusetts residents. For further details regarding the Legislature’s joint rules package, please see the official press release from the Speaker’s Office linked here.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office.