Order relative to considering House Bill, No. 4646 during the Senate Session of June 11, 2026

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Michael Rodrigues

The Senate will fast-track H.4646 by substituting Senate Doc. 3111 text and advancing it for immediate passage with amended, accelerated review.

Rules suspended and adopted

Summary of SD 3968 (Massachusetts Senate) — Order relative to considering House Bill No. 4646 during the Senate Session of June 11, 2026

Purpose and intent

This is an order from the Massachusetts Senate directing consideration of House Bill No. 4646, titled “an Act enhancing child welfare protections,” during the Senate session on June 11, 2026.

The order directs that the House bill, after undergoing specified amendments, be considered for immediate passage with the Ways and Means Committee’s new text pending.

Key provisions and changes

The Senate Liquidity: The Ways and Means Committee has recommended amending House Bill 4646 by striking out all after the enacting clause and inserting the text contained in Senate Document No. 3111. This means:

The version of H.4646 to be considered in the Senate is the alternative text proposed by Senate document No. 3111 (a “new text” version).

Timing and process:

The bill (in its new text form) is placed in the Senate’s Orders of the Day for a second reading on Thursday, June 11, 2026.
The bill is to be considered with immediate effect (“for immediate consideration”).
All amendments to the proposed new text will be treated as second-reading amendments.
Any further amendments to those second-reading amendments (third-degree amendments) will be in order.

Rule change associated with consideration:

The order suspends ordinary Senate Rules (e.g., Rule 7) to allow expedited consideration.

Who/what is affected

Government entities: Massachusetts Senate and House, particularly the Ways and Means Committee, bill sponsors, and committee staff.

Stakeholders in child welfare policy: The underlying subject is child welfare protections—presumably families, children in care, child welfare agencies, foster care, adoption systems, and related service providers—who would be affected by the policy changes proposed in the H.4646/Senate No. 3111 text.

Lawmakers: Members of the Massachusetts Senate and House who would debate and vote on the amended bill.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Filed: June 3, 2026.

Senate action: June 4, 2026, with rules suspended and adopted to permit the order.

Next action: The amended House Bill No. 4646 (as modified by Senate Doc. No. 3111 text) is scheduled for a second-reading vote on June 11, 2026, with immediate consideration.

Amendments:

All amendments to the new text are treated as second-reading amendments.
Third-degree amendments (amendments to those second-reading amendments) are in order.

Practical implications for readers

This is not the final version of a measure on child welfare; it is an order to fast-track consideration of a House bill, substituting its text with a Senate-proposed version (Senate Doc. No. 3111).

If the Senate approves the new text and passes it, it would move toward enactment of enhanced child welfare protections, subject to potential negotiations with the House and any further amendments.

The expedited process means less time for public input or extensive committee-review, highlighting the importance of examining the Senate’s new text (Senate Doc. No. 3111) to understand substantive policy changes before final passage.