Order relative to establishing temporary committees on Ways and Means and Bills in the Third Reading

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Karen Spilka

Establishes temporary Senate committees on Ways and Means and Bills in the Third Reading, mirroring 193rd-year membership to maintain budget and bill review during transition.

Rules suspended and adopted

Summary: Senate Order SD 153 — Temporary Committees on Ways and Means and Bills in the Third Reading

Overview

bill type: Senate order (SD 153)

title: Order relative to establishing temporary committees on Ways and Means and Bills in the Third Reading

status: Rules suspended and adopted

introduced/filed: January 8–9, 2025

purpose: Establish temporary Senate committees to handle Ways and Means and Bills in the Third Reading until permanent committees are appointed

Purpose and Intent

The measure is a procedural rule intended to ensure continuous and functional committee work during the transition period before permanent Senate committees are named. By creating temporary committees with the same membership as the corresponding committees from the prior (193rd) General Court, the Senate aims to preserve continuity in budgetary review (Ways and Means) and the consideration of bills at the Third Reading stage.

Key Provisions

Establishment of two temporary Senate committees:

Temporary Committee on Ways and Means
Temporary Committee on Bills in the Third Reading

Effective provision: "notwithstanding Senate Rule 12 or any other rule to the contrary," these temporary committees operate until permanent committees are appointed.

Membership: Each temporary committee's membership shall consist of the same members who served on the corresponding committees in the 193rd General Court (2023-2024 session).

Legal status: This is an internal Senate organizational order, not a substantive statute, and is intended to govern procedural handling of bills in the interim.

Affected Parties and Impacts

Affected entities: Massachusetts Senate and its members; legislative staff supporting Ways and Means and Bills in the Third Reading.

Practical impact:

Maintains a functioning framework for budgetary deliberations and for advancing bills through the Third Reading stage during the transition to new permanent committees.
Provides continuity in committee leadership, assignments, and procedural handling by mirroring the prior year’s committee composition.

Procedural Details and Timeline

Nature: Temporary procedural order rather than a substantive bill.

Duration: In effect until permanent Senate committees are appointed (no specific sunset date provided in the order).

Legislative action: On January 9, 2025, the Senate suspended rules to adopt this order, signaling a transitional mechanism for committee operations.

Context and Notes

This order reflects a transitional housekeeping step common at the start of a new General Court, ensuring that essential committee work proceeds without interruption while permanent committee structures are established.

While protective of procedural continuity, the arrangement relies on the 193rd General Court’s committee membership, which may limit flexibility until new permanent committees are formed.