WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

S 2115

Authorizes Elijah Missionary Baptist Church to receive retroactive real property tax exempt status

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Pat Fahy

Designates the Jurassic Armored Mud Ball as Massachusetts’ official sedimentary structure, a symbolic emblem with no substantive regulatory impact.

REFERRED TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 2115

Summary — S.2115 (2025): “An Act establishing the official sedimentary structure of the Commonwealth”

Purpose

This bill designates the “Jurassic Armored Mud Ball” as the official sedimentary structure of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The measure is ceremonial and symbolic in nature — it names an official geological/sedimentary emblem for the Commonwealth.

Key provision

  • Amend Chapter 2 of the Massachusetts General Laws by adding Section 65:
    • “The Jurassic Armored Mud Ball shall be the official sedimentary structure of the commonwealth.”

No other substantive legal, regulatory, or programmatic changes are proposed in the text provided.

Who or what is affected

  • Primarily symbolic: state publications, education materials, museum exhibits, tourism/promotional content, and other official references may adopt or cite the designation.
  • No direct changes to private rights, taxation, land use, or permitting are made by the language in the bill.
  • State agencies might update lists of official state symbols and related web pages or publications if the bill is enacted.

Legislative status and timeline (as provided)

  • Filed: January 14, 2025 (Senate Docket No. 830); presented by Senator Joanne M. Comerford.
  • Petitioners listed include Joanne M. Comerford and several other legislators.
  • Recorded legislative activity spans January–August 2025, including referrals and committee action:
    • Referred to State Administration and Regulatory Oversight (02/27/2025)
    • Referred to Local Government (01/15/2025) and also listed as “REFERRED TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT” in status
    • Read twice and referred to Judiciary (06/18/2025)
    • Hearing scheduled (06/24/2025)
    • Reported favorably by committee and referred to Senate Rules (08/14/2025)
  • Current status (per header): REFERRED TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

Note: the timeline entries provided are internally inconsistent (dates and committee referrals overlap). See “Notes & discrepancies” below.

Fiscal and practical impact

  • Expected fiscal impact is minimal to none. Implementation would likely require only minor administrative updates (webpages, state symbol lists, educational materials).
  • No new regulatory duties, funding, or program creation are specified.

Notes & discrepancies

  • The metadata supplied with the request contains conflicting information:
    • The initial “Bill Information” title references a different subject (retroactive real property tax-exempt status for Elijah Missionary Baptist Church), which is not reflected in the bill text.
    • Sponsor lists include federal U.S. Senators (Tommy Tuberville, Ted Budd, Bill Cassidy, Marsha Blackburn, Thom Tillis) and a state lawmaker (Patricia Fahy), which does not align cleanly with a Massachusetts state bill filing.
    • Multiple, overlapping referral and action dates appear in the record and should be verified.
  • Recommendation: verify S.2115 through the official Massachusetts General Court website or clerk’s office to confirm the correct bill text, sponsors, and up-to-date status before relying on this summary for official purposes.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.