Order relative to extending until Wednesday, March 18, 2026 the time within which the committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy is authorized to report on current House documents

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Mark Cusack

Extends the House Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy Committee’s deadline to March 18, 2026 to finalize its report on House Documents 15 and 4144.

Adopted

Summary of Bill H 4818 (194th General Court, Massachusetts)

Purpose and intent

This order extends the time within which the Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy is authorized to report on two current House documents (Nos. 15 and 4144).

Specifically, it allows the committee to complete its final report by a new deadline: Wednesday, March 18, 2026, despite any current rules that might otherwise limit the reporting period.

Key provisions

The bill consists of a single operative instruction:

“Notwithstanding the provisions of Joint Rule 10, the committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy be granted until Wednesday, March 18, 2026 within which time to make its final report on current House documents numbered 15 and 4144.”

By design, it suspends the usual time restrictions (Joint Rule 10) to extend the reporting window.

The extension applies specifically to House Documents No. 15 and No. 4144.

Affected parties and entities

The primary affected entity is the Massachusetts House Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy, which will gain additional time to review and prepare its final report on the two specified documents.

Legislative staff and any stakeholders associated with House Documents 15 and 4144 may experience a delay in final reporting but benefit from more time for consideration and analysis.

Members of the Massachusetts General Court and constituents seeking timely action on these documents may experience a shift in the legislative calendar, given the later deadline.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Action history:

Referred to the House Rules Committee on 2025-12-04.
Committee reported “ought to be adopted” on 2025-12-04.
Rules suspended and the measure adopted on 2025-12-04.

The bill is effectively a procedural extension rather than a substantive policy change.

New deadline established: March 18, 2026 for final reporting on House Documents 15 and 4144.

Practical implications

The extension provides more time for committee consideration, possible hearings, testimony, and internal deliberations related to the two documents.

It avoids potential procedural delays that could result from a stricter deadline, ensuring thorough review before reporting to the full House.

There is no new policy or funding authorization introduced by this bill; it simply alters the reporting timeline.