Bill
S 2163
Establishes a Special Committee to study and publicize the Right of Free Petition, hold hearings across the state, and publish a guide to filing petitions to boost participation.
Status: Introduced 1/16/2025; read twice and referred to committees (listed below); hearings scheduled 10/29/2025. Classification: Resolve.
Note on discrepancy
- The bill header provided with the request names S 2163 as authorizing the State Board of Elections to create an online petitioning system. The full text included here is instead a Massachusetts resolve to “revitalize the Right of Free Petition” by creating a special legislative committee/commission. This summary describes the text of the resolve as provided.
Purpose and intent
- To increase public awareness of, and participation in, the Right of Free Petition (the public’s ability to submit Bills, Resolves, Resolutions, and proposals for constitutional amendments) by studying, publicizing, educating about, and improving access to petitioning processes.
Key provisions
- Establishes a Special Committee and/or Commission composed of members of the Massachusetts House and Senate, appointed by the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate.
- Membership must include representation from all legally recognized, ballot-status political parties and unenrolled (independent) members from each legislative chamber.
- Appointment deadlines and duration:
- Appointments to be made within 3 months of passage.
- The committee/commission will exist for 18 months from appointment of members.
- Public engagement and outreach requirements:
- Hold well-publicized hearings at the State House and in at least four geographically disparate locations across the Commonwealth to collect public comment.
- Direct the Secretary of the Commonwealth to create and disseminate a generally available publication explaining how to exercise the Right of Free Petition (processes for filing Bills, Resolves, Resolutions, and constitutional amendment proposals).
- Expressed intent: encourage more individuals to submit ideas and proposals for government and civic benefit.
Who would be affected
- Massachusetts residents (potential petitioners) — improved information/access.
- Members of the General Court — some will serve on the committee.
- Secretary of the Commonwealth — tasked with producing and disseminating the informational publication.
- Political parties and unenrolled voters — guaranteed representation on the committee.
- State agencies may experience modest administrative demands associated with hearings and publication.
Procedural/timeline notes
- Appointments: within 3 months of resolve passage.
- Committee lifespan: 18 months after appointment.
- Hearings: required at State House plus at least four other locations.
- Legislative actions recorded: introduced 6/25/2025; referred to Elections and (per included docket history) State Administration & Regulatory Oversight; multiple hearing scheduling entries for October 29, 2025.
Limitations / fiscal note
- The resolve directs study and outreach; it does not itself change petitioning law or create statutory processes (other than establishment of the committee and outreach requirements). The text does not specify funding or appropriations for the committee, hearings, or publication.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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