Massachusetts House & Senate Session Summaries

House Plans Quiet Week While Senate Tackles State Budget Bill

Most of the Beacon Hill happenings this week will take place on the Senate side of the building as senators prepare to start debate Tuesday on a fiscal year 2022 budget. The House gaveled in and out of its informal session Monday morning, adopting resolutions to congratulate a handful of new Eagle Scouts and adjourning until Thursday morning. All told, the House was in session for about three minutes Monday morning. The House debated and passed its own FY 2022 budget last month. Once the Senate is done with its deliberations, each branch will name three members — its respective Ways and Means Committee chair, another Democrat and one Republican — to negotiate a compromise budget. The new fiscal year starts July 1. — Colin A. Young

To track a bill’s legislative history or view its text, click here and enter the bill number. The News Service features gavel-to-gavel summaries of all sessions and audio of formal sessions on our web page: http://www.statehousenews.com.

CONVENES: Rep. Garballey of Arlington, wearing a Boston Bruins facemask, banged the gavel and called the House to order at 11:01 a.m. No other representatives were visible on the livestream of the House Chamber, but Rep. Garballey made reference to Rep. Wong of Saugus.

PLEDGE: Members and staff recited the Pledge of Allegiance.

RESOLUTIONS: The House adopted congratulatory resolutions filed by Reps. Honan, Walsh and Kerans.

ADJOURNMENT ORDER: The House adopted a Speaker Mariano order to meet again on Thursday at 11 a.m.

ADJOURNS: The House adjourned at 11:03 a.m. to meet next on Thursday at 11 a.m. in an informal session.

DISCLAIMER: Bill texts and histories are available at http://www.malegislature.gov/. All votes are voice votes, unless otherwise noted. Bills ordered to third reading have been given initial approval. To engross a bill is to pass it and send it to the other branch. The last of three votes taken on bills that reach the governor’s desk is the vote on enactment. So, it’s third reading (initial approval), engrossment (passage) and enactment. The News Service coverage of legislative debate is an accurate summary of remarks, not a verbatim transcript.

Senate – Brief Session And Caucus Precede Budget Week Sessions

The Senate met only briefly Monday to begin a week that promises to feature several long days, and possibly nights, as it prepares to open debate Tuesday on a $47.6 billion annual state budget for fiscal 2022, which begins July 1. In the two minutes that the chamber was in session with Sen. Boncore wielding the gavel, a local bill was ordered to third reading that would allow the town of Berlin to extend the employment of its fire and EMT chief through 2026. The Senate adopted a Sen. Gobi resolution recognizing May as Huntington’s Disease awareness month. Senate Democrats plan a noon virtual caucus where the budget and the 923 amendments filed by senators are likely to be on the agenda. The budget debate kicks off at 10 a.m. on Tuesday when the Senate is due to return to session with the spending bill (S 3) the only item on the calendar. – Matt Murphy

CONVENES: The Senate convened at 11:11 a.m. with Sen. Boncore presiding.

PLEDGE: Members, staff and guests rose and recited the Pledge of Allegiance.

RESOLUTIONS: The Senate adopted a Sen. Gobi resolution commending the Massachusetts chapter of the Huntington’s Disease Society of American’s recognition of May 2021 as Huntington’s Disease awareness month.

BERLIN FIRE CHIEF: The Senate ordered to third reading H 92 authorizing the town of Berlin to continue the employment of Paul Kenneth Clark as fire and emergency medical services chief until May 5, 2026, the date of his retirement, or the date on which he is relieved of his duties by the Berlin Select Board, whichever occurs first.

ADJOURNS: The Senate adjourned on a motion made by Sen. O’Connor at 11:13 a.m. to meet next on Tuesday at 10 a.m. in a full formal session with a one-item calendar. The Senate plans to begin its debate Tuesday on an annual state budget (S 3), making appropriations for fiscal year 2022.