Order relative to the Proposed Joint Rules of the Senate and House of Representatives for 2025-2026

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Joan Lovely

The bill accelerates adopting joint rules for 2025-2026 by suspending standard review, setting deadlines, and scheduling a Feb 12, 2025 acceptance vote.

Rules suspended and adopted

Summary: Senate Docket No. 2646 (SD 2646)

Purpose and Intent

This is an order establishing the procedures and timeline for the Senate’s consideration of the Temporary Committee on Rules’ report proposing the Joint Rules to be adopted as permanent rules of both the Senate and the House for the 2025-2026 session (Senate No. 15). The order facilitates expedited consideration by temporarily suspending standard rules.

What the bill does

Amends the normal review process for the proposed Joint Rules by suspending Senate Rule 7 (and any conflicting rule) to prioritize action on the joint rules proposal.

Requires the Temporary Committee on Rules’ report (Senate No. 15) to be placed in the Senate’s Orders of the Day on Wednesday, February 12, 2025.

Provides that the Senate will vote on acceptance of the report on February 12, 2025.

Establishes an amendment deadline: all amendments to the report must be filed electronically in the Senate Clerk’s office by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, February 10, 2025.

Directs the Clerk of the Senate to specify the procedure and format for filing amendments, consistent with the order.

Key provisions and changes

Status: The order itself is an administrative rule-change aimed at governing how the Joint Rules report is considered, not a substantive changes to the Joint Rules themselves.

Source of Rules: The Joint Rules are proposed by the Temporary Committee on Rules and are intended to govern both chambers for 2025-2026 (Senate No. 15).

Filing mechanics: Amendments must be submitted electronically with a Clerk-defined format and procedure.

Who/what is affected

Members of the Massachusetts Senate will participate in the consideration and vote on the Joint Rules.

The House of Representatives is affected insofar as the proposed Joint Rules are intended to become the permanent rules for both chambers.

The Clerk of the Senate will administer amendment submissions and determine filing formats.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Filing date for amendments: by 5:00 p.m., Monday, February 10, 2025.

Scheduling: The report will be placed on the Orders of the Day for a February 12, 2025 vote on acceptance.

Authority: The order overrides standard rules (notwithstanding Senate Rule 7 or any other rule) to accelerate consideration.

Context and potential impact

This procedural order accelerates the process for adopting joint rules for the 2025-2026 session. If accepted, the Joint Rules proposed in Senate No. 15 would move forward toward permanent adoption for both chambers, subject to the February 12 acceptance vote and any subsequent steps defined by the established rulemaking process.