Bill
H 3217
Note on source materials- The materials you provided contain two different, unrelated bill texts combined into one file: (1) a Massachusetts bill (House No. 3217 / House Docket No.
Note on source materials
- The materials you provided contain two different, unrelated bill texts combined into one file: (1) a Massachusetts bill (House No. 3217 / House Docket No. 2574) that would impose an excise on retail deliveries, and (2) a South Carolina statute draft that would require display of the Ten Commandments in every public classroom. The legislative history entries also mix dates/committees from different jurisdictions. Below are clear, separate summaries for each bill so readers can understand the purpose, main provisions, affected parties, and procedural points for both measures.
1) Summary — “Display of the Ten Commandments” (South Carolina draft)
Purpose and intent
- Requires public elementary, middle and secondary schools to display a poster or framed copy of the Ten Commandments in a conspicuous place in every classroom. The stated intent is to mandate classroom display of a specific religious text.
Key provisions
- Each classroom must display a poster or framed copy of the Ten Commandments.
- The poster must contain the exact text provided in the bill and be printed in a size/typeface legible to a person with average vision from anywhere in the classroom.
- Posters must not contain any additional content beyond the prescribed text.
- Schools that do not have compliant posters must:
- accept privately donated compliant posters (if offered) and display them, or
- replace existing non‑conforming posters using public funds or private donations.
- Schools shall offer surplus posters (not needed for display) to other public schools as donations.
- Effective date: upon approval by the Governor (explicit in the draft).
Who is affected
- All public elementary, middle and secondary schools in the state.
- School districts and local education administrators responsible for procurement, display, and compliance.
- Potential donors of posters.
Procedural/timeline notes and legal considerations
- The draft states it takes effect upon gubernatorial approval.
- Because it mandates the display of religious text in public-school classrooms, the measure raises likely constitutional and litigation issues under the U.S. Constitution’s Establishment Clause (church/state separation). Courts have previously scrutinized mandatory religious displays in public schools; legal challenges are probable if enacted.
2) Summary — “An Act relative to retail deliveries” (Massachusetts, House No. 3217 / Docket No. 2574)
Purpose and intent
- Imposes a per‑delivery excise on retail deliveries of tangible personal property to raise revenue from retail deliveries and to tax delivery transactions.
Key provisions
- Adds Section 35 to Chapter 64H (Mass. General Laws).
- Imposes an excise of $0.35 on each “retail delivery” of tangible personal property made in the Commonwealth by any vendor, except as otherwise provided in the chapter.
- Applicability limited to vendors whose sales in the prior taxable year or the current taxable year exceed $1,000,000.
- Definition: “retail delivery” = a retail sale of tangible personal property for delivery by motor vehicle (owned/operated by vendor or another person) to a purchaser at a location in the commonwealth, where at least one taxable item is included in the retail sale.
- The excise is to be paid by the vendor to the Commissioner of Revenue at the time returns are filed as provided by section 16 of chapter 62C.
- The bill text does not include an explicit effective date beyond the usual operation upon enactment.
Who is affected
- Vendors making retail deliveries in Massachusetts whose sales exceed $1,000,000 (likely large retailers, marketplaces, and some large local sellers).
- Consumers could experience higher prices or delivery fees if vendors pass the excise through.
- Massachusetts Department of Revenue (administration, collection, enforcement).
- Small vendors under the $1,000,000 threshold are exempt.
Procedural/timeline notes
- Introduced (prefiled 12/05/2024; filed 1/16/2025) by Representative Orlando Ramos (9th Hampden).
- Referred to the Committee on Revenue (record shows referral 2025-02-27).
- The legislative history included in your materials shows additional sponsor additions and a hearing scheduled (10/28/2025) — confirm with the official Massachusetts legislative website for the current schedule, committee reports, and fiscal estimates.
- The bill text contains a cross-reference “except as otherwise provided in this chapter,” so its final scope could change if other statutory exceptions apply.
Related bill reference
- The materials list “HD 2574 (replaces)” — confirm in the jurisdiction’s legislative database whether HD 2574 is the predecessor or companion measure and whether H 3217 replaces or updates it.
If you want next steps
- I can: (a) fetch the current official status and committee reports from the Massachusetts and South Carolina legislative websites, (b) prepare a short briefing on likely fiscal impacts for the Massachusetts excise (revenue estimate scenarios), or (c) draft a legal-issues memo summarizing constitutional case law likely to affect the Ten Commandments measure. Which would you prefer?
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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