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The 191st General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Office of the Clerk of the House

House Legislative Deadlines & Significant Dates

2017-2018 Session Legislative Deadlines
AND Significant Dates
 
 
 
First Annual Session
 
 
        

JANUARY 4, 2017 — 1st FULL FORMAL SESSION — 1st WEDNESDAY OF EACH YEAR

HOUSE AND SENATE CONVENE.

MEMBERS-ELECT ARE SWORN-IN BY GOVERNOR.

 

JANUARY 5, 2017

New Governor's Councillors take oaths of office.

 

JANUARY 20, 2017

3rd FRIDAY IN JANUARY OF 1st ANNUAL SESSION:

DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING PETITIONS (5 o'clock P.M.).

 

By JANUARY 25, 2017

WITHIN 3 WEEKS OF CONVENING OF THE GENERAL COURT:

GOVERNOR SUBMITS

GENERAL APPROPRIATION BILL (BUDGET).

 

FEBRUARY 3, 2017 — [House Only]

LAST DAY TO ADD PETITIONERS TO SEASONABLY-FILED LEGISLATION that will appear in print. After this date letters sent to the House Clerk requesting to be included will be filed with the original legislation.

 

UNKNOWN DATE

(PROBABLY LATE FEBRUARY OR EARLY MARCH):

4 weeks after Appointment of Committees in 1st Annual Session,

DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING COMMITTEE RULES.

 

APRIL 26, 2017

LAST WEDNESDAY IN APRIL:

LAST DAY TO REPORT ON PROPOSALS FOR AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION.

NOTE: In the 2nd year, Reports may be made only on measures referred to Committees subsequent to

last Wednesday in April of the 1st Annual Session.

 

MAY 10, 2017

2nd WEDNESDAY IN MAY (of each year):

LAST DAY TO CALL UP A PROPOSAL FOR AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION, and

LAST DAY FOR THE CONVENING OF THE JOINT SESSION TO CONSIDER

AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION.

 

MAY 10, 2017

2nd WEDNESDAY IN MAY (of each year):

LAST DAY FOR THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS

TO REPORT THE GENERAL APPROPRIATION BILL.

 

NOVEMBER 15, 2017

3rd WEDNESDAY OF NOVEMBER IN 1st ANNUAL SESSION:

LAST DAY FOR FORMAL SESSIONS.

 

JANUARY 2, 2018

TUESDAY PRECEDING THE 1st WEDNESDAY IN JANUARY OF 2nd YEAR:

LAST DAY OF SESSION OF THE 1st ANNUAL SESSION.

 

_________________

 

 

Second Annual Session

 

JANUARY 3, 2018 — 1st FULL FORMAL SESSION — 1st WEDNESDAY OF EACH YEAR

HOUSE AND SENATE CONVENE.

 

JANUARY 24, 2018

WITHIN 3 WEEKS OF CONVENING OF THE GENERAL COURT:

GOVERNOR SUBMITS

GENERAL APPROPRIATION BILL (BUDGET).

 

FEBRUARY 7, 2018

1st WEDNESDAY IN FEBRUARY OF THE 2nd ANNUAL SESSION:

JOINT RULE 10 DEADLINE.

LAST DAY FOR REPORTS TO BE MADE FROM JOINT COMMITTEES (except Health Care Financing)

on matters referred to them prior to the previous 1st Wednesday of January.

 

MARCH 28, 2018

LAST WEDNESDAY IN MARCH OF THE 2nd ANNUAL SESSION:

JOINT RULE 10 DEADLINE for the COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE FINANCING

on matters referred to them prior to the 4th Wednesday of February.

 

APRIL 25, 2018

LAST WEDNESDAY IN APRIL OF EACH SESSION:

LAST DAY TO REPORT ON PROPOSALS FOR AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION.

NOTE: In the 2nd year, Reports may be made only on measures referred to Committees subsequent to

last Wednesday in April of the 1st Annual Session.

 

MAY 1, 2018

TUESDAY PRECEDING 1st WEDNESDAY IN MAY:

LAST DAY TO ENACT INITIATIVE PETITIONS FOR CHANGES IN LAWS.

 

MAY 9, 2018

2nd WEDNESDAY IN MAY (of each year):

LAST DAY TO CALL UP A LATE FILED PROPOSAL FOR AN AMENDMENT

TO THE CONSTITUTION.

 

MAY 9, 2018

2nd WEDNESDAY IN MAY (of each year):

LAST DAY FOR THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS

TO REPORT THE GENERAL APPROPRIATION BILL.

 

TUESDAY, JULY 17, 2018

LAST DAY FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEES OF CONFERENCE.

 

TUESDAY, JULY 31, 2018

LAST DAY OF JULY OF THE 2nd ANNUAL SESSION:

LAST DAY FOR FORMAL SESSIONS.

 

NOVEMBER 7, 2018

1st WEDNESDAY IN NOVEMBER:

AGENCY FILINGS DUE (at 5 o'clock P.M.) for consideration in the 191st General Court.

 

TUESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2019

Tuesday preceding the convening of a new General Court on the 1st Wednesday in January of the 3rd year: LAST DAY OF SESSION OF THE 2nd ANNUAL SESSION.