2023–2024 Massachusetts legislature
193rd Massachusetts General Court
| 193rd Massachusetts General Court | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||
 Seal of the General Court of Massachusetts | |||||
| Overview | |||||
| Legislative body | Massachusetts General Court | ||||
| Meeting place | Massachusetts State House | ||||
| Term | January 4, 2023 (2023-01-04) – January 7, 2025 (2025-01-07) | ||||
| Senate | |||||
| President | Karen E. Spilka | ||||
| Party control | Democratic | ||||
| House of Representatives | |||||
| Speaker | Ronald Mariano | ||||
| Party control | Democratic | ||||
| Sessions | |||||
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The 193rd Massachusetts General Court is the current meeting of the legislative branch of the state government of Massachusetts, composed of the Massachusetts Senate and the Massachusetts House of Representatives. It first convened in Boston at the Massachusetts State House on January 4, 2023, on the last day of the governorship of Charlie Baker and is scheduled to continue until January 7, 2025, during the first two years of Governor Maura Healey's first term.
Major events
- January 4, 2023: General Court convened. Ron Mariano (D) was elected Speaker of the House and Karen Spilka, by unanimous consent, was elected President of the Massachusetts Senate. Members-elect of the Massachusetts Senate and the Massachusetts House of Representatives were sworn in, except for Kristin Kassner (D) and Margaret Scarsdale (D), whose vote count and election certification would be reviewed by a Special House Committee.
- January 5, 2023: Governor-elect Maura Healey (D) and Lieutenant Governor-elect Kim Driscoll (D) were sworn in by the President of the Massachusetts Senate, Karen Spilka, during a joint session of the Massachusetts General Court.
- January 18, 2023: The Special House Committee ruled in favor of Margaret Scarsdale (D) and she was sworn in later that same day.
- February 3, 2023: The Special House Committee ruled in favor of Kristin Kassner (D) and she was sworn in later that same day.
Composition by party
- Resignations and new members are discussed in the "Changes in membership" section below.
Senate
| |||||
| Party (shading shows control) | Total | Vacant | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Independent | Republican | |||
| End of previous General Court | 36 | 0 | 3 | 39 | 1 |
| Begin (January 4, 2023) | 37 | 0 | 3 | 40 | 0 |
| June 5, 2023 [a] | 36 | 39 | 1 | ||
| November 29, 2023 [b] | 4 | 40 | 0 | ||
| Latest voting share | 90.00% | 0.00% | 10.00% | ||
House of Representatives
| |||||
| Party (shading shows control) | Total | Vacant | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Independent | Republican | |||
| End of previous General Court | 125 | 1 | 27 | 153 | 7 |
| Begin (January 4, 2023) | 132 | 1 | 26 | 159 | 1 |
| January 18, 2023 [c] | 133 | 160 | 0 | ||
| February 3, 2023 [d] | 134 | 25 | 160 | 0 | |
| February 28, 2023 [e] | 133 | 159 | 1 | ||
| March 1, 2023 [f] | 132 | 158 | 2 | ||
| June 7, 2023 [g] | 134 | 160 | 0 | ||
| November 29, 2023 [b] | 24 | 159 | 1 | ||
| February 4, 2024 [h] | 133 | 158 | 2 | ||
| March 27, 2024 [i] | 25 | 159 | 1 | ||
| Latest voting share | 83.65% | 15.72% | |||
Leadership
SenatePresiding
Majority (Democratic)
Minority (Republican)
House of RepresentativesPresiding
Majority (Democratic)
Minority (Republican)
| Senate presiding officers  President Karen E. Spilka (D)  President pro tempore Will Brownsberger (D) House presiding officers  Speaker Ronald Mariano (D)  Speaker pro tempore Kate Hogan (D)
|
Members
Senate
All 40 seats were filled by the election in November 2022.[11] The districts are named and numbered based upon the county or counties they reside in.
Berkshire, Hampshire, Franklin and HampdenBristol and Norfolk
Bristol and Plymouth
Cape and Islands
Essex
Essex and Middlesex
Hampden
Hampden and Hampshire
Hampden, Hampshire and Worcester
Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester
Middlesex
Middlesex and Norfolk
Middlesex and Suffolk
| Middlesex and Worcester
Norfolk and Middlesex
Norfolk and Plymouth
Norfolk, Plymouth and Bristol
Norfolk and SuffolkNorfolk, Worcester and Middlesex
Plymouth and Barnstable
Plymouth and Norfolk
Suffolk
Suffolk and Middlesex
Worcester
Worcester and Hampden
Worcester and Hampshire
Worcester and Middlesex
|  Current Senate composition by district Democratic held Republican held Independent held Vacant Senate leadership  Majority leader Cynthia Stone Creem (D)  Minority leader Bruce E. Tarr (R)
|
House of Representatives
All 160 seats were filled by the election in November 2022.[12] The districts are named and numbered based upon the county or counties they reside in.
Changes in membership
Senate changes
| District | Vacated by | Reason for change | Successor | Date of successor's formal installation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester and Hampshire | Anne Gobi (D) | Resigned from the Massachusetts Senate to accept a job in the gubernatorial administration of Gov. Maura Healey. | Peter Durant (R) | November 29, 2023 |
House of Representatives changes
| District | Vacated by | Reason for change | Successor | Date of successor's formal installation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Middlesex | Vacant | The winner of this seat was contested, so a Special House Committee was called to review the vote returns. The Special House Committee ruled in favor of Margaret Scarsdale. | Margaret Scarsdale (D) | January 18, 2023 |
| 2nd Essex | Leonard Mirra (R) | The winner of this seat was contested, so a Special House Committee was called to review the vote returns. The Special House Committee ruled 2-1 in favor of Kristin Kassner. | Kristin Kassner (D) | February 3, 2023 |
| 9th Suffolk | Jon Santiago (D) | Resigned from the Massachusetts House of Representatives to accept a job in the gubernatorial administration of Gov. Maura Healey. | John F. Moran (D) | June 8, 2023 |
| 10th Suffolk | Edward Coppinger (D) | Resigned from the Massachusetts House of Representatives to accept a job with the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council (MassBio). | Bill MacGregor (D) | June 8, 2023 |
| 6th Worcester | Peter Durant (R) | Resigned from the Massachusetts House of Representatives after being elected to the Massachusetts Senate. | John Marsi (R) | March 27, 2024 |
| 6th Plymouth | Josh S. Cutler (D) | Resigned from the Massachusetts House of Representatives to accept a job in the gubernatorial administration of Gov. Maura Healey. | Vacant until next election | |
Committees
Senate Committees
| Committee | Chair | Ranking Minority |
|---|---|---|
| Bills in the Third Reading | Sal N. DiDomenico | Bruce E. Tarr |
| Census | William N. Brownsberger | Ryan C. Fattman |
| Ethics | Jason M. Lewis | Patrick M. O' Connor |
| Global Warming and Climate Change | Cynthia Stone Creem | Patrick M. O' Connor |
| Intergovernmental Affairs | Mark C. Montigny | Patrick M. O' Connor |
| Juvenile and Emerging Adult Justice | Brendan P. Crighton | Bruce E. Tarr |
| Personnel and Administration | Michael F. Rush | Patrick M. O' Connor |
| Post Audit and Oversight | Marc R. Pacheco | Ryan C. Fattman |
| Rules | Joan B. Lovely | Ryan C. Fattman |
| Steering and Policy | Mark C. Montigny | Bruce E. Tarr |
| Ways and Means | Michael J. Rodrigues | Patrick M. O' Connor |
House of Representatives Committees
| Committee | Chair | Ranking Minority |
|---|---|---|
| Bills in the Third Reading | Thomas P. Walsh | Angelo L. D'Emilia |
| Ethics | John Barrett, III | F. Jay Barrows |
| Federal Stimulus and Census Oversight | Jack Patrick Lewis | Todd M. Smola |
| Global Warming and Climate Change | Sean Garballey | Kimberly N. Ferguson |
| Human Resources and Employee Engagement | Daniel J. Hunt | Joseph D. McKenna |
| Operations, Facilities and Security | Joseph W. McGonagle, Jr. | Marcus S. Vaughn |
| Post Audit and Oversight | John J. Mahoney | Peter J. Durant |
| Rules | William C. Galvin | David H. Wong |
| Steering, Policy and Scheduling | Kevin G. Honan | Susan Williams Gifford |
| Ways and Means | Aaron Michlewitz | Todd M. Smola |
Joint Committees
| Committee | Senate Chair | Senate Ranking Minority | House Chair | House Ranking Minority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced Information Technology, the Internet and Cybersecurity | Michael O. Moore | Bruce E. Tarr | Tricia Farley-Bouvier | Marc T. Lombardo |
| Agriculture | Anne M. Gobi | Ryan C. Fattman | Paul A. Schmid, III | Susan Williams Gifford |
| Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets | Edward J. Kennedy | Ryan C. Fattman | Michael J. Finn | David T. Vieira |
| Cannabis Policy | Adam Gomez | Ryan C. Fattman | Daniel M. Donahue | Donald R. Berthiaume, Jr. |
| Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities | Robyn K. Kennedy | Patrick M. O'Connor | Jay D. Livingstone | Donald R. Berthiaume, Jr. |
| Community Development and Small Business | Pavel M. Payano | Patrick M. O'Connor | Paul McMurtry | Marcus S. Vaughn |
| Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure | John J. Cronin | Bruce E. Tarr | Tackey Chan | Joseph D. McKenna |
| Economic Development and Emerging Technologies | Barry R. Finegold | Patrick M. O'Connor | Jerald A. Parisella | David K. Muradian, Jr. |
| Education | Jason M. Lewis | Patrick M. O'Connor | Denise C. Garlick | Kimberly N. Ferguson |
| Elder Affairs | Patricia D. Jehlen | Ryan C. Fattman | Thomas M. Stanley | Hannah Kane |
| Election Laws | John F. Keenan | Ryan C. Fattman | Daniel J. Ryan | Paul K. Frost |
| Emergency Preparedness and Management | Marc R. Pacheco | Ryan C. Fattman | William J. Driscoll, Jr. | Paul K. Frost |
| Environment and Natural Resources | Rebecca L. Rausch | Bruce E. Tarr | Daniel Cahill | Norman J. Orrall |
| Financial Services | Paul R. Feeney | Bruce E. Tarr | James M. Murphy | Michael J. Soter |
| Health Care Financing | Cindy F. Friedman | Patrick M. O'Connor | John J. Lawn, Jr. | Hannah Kane |
| Higher Education | Joanne M. Comerford | Bruce E. Tarr | David M. Rogers | Kelly W. Pease |
| Housing | Lydia Edwards | Patrick M. O'Connor | James Arciero | David F. DeCoste |
| Judiciary | James B. Eldridge | Patrick M. O'Connor | Michael S. Day | Peter J. Durant |
| Labor and Workforce Development | Patricia D. Jehlen | Patrick M. O'Connor | Josh S. Cutler | Donald H. Wong |
| Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery | John C. Velis | Patrick M. O'Connor | Adrian C. Madaro | Alyson M. Sullivan-Almeida |
| Municipalities and Regional Government | Jacob R. Oliveira | Bruce E. Tarr | Carole A. Fiola | Norman J. Orrall |
| Public Health | Julian Cyr | Patrick M. O'Connor | Marjorie C. Decker | Hannah Kane |
| Public Safety and Homeland Security | Walter F. Timilty | Ryan C. Fattman | Carlos González | David T. Vieira |
| Public Service | Michael D. Brady | Ryan C. Fattman | Kenneth I. Gordon | David F. DeCoste |
| Racial Equity, Civil Rights, and Inclusion | Liz Miranda | Bruce E. Tarr | Bud L. Williams | Donald H. Wong |
| Revenue | Susan L. Moran | Ryan C. Fattman | Mark J. Cusack | Michael J. Soter |
| Rules | Joan B. Lovely | Ryan C. Fattman | William C. Galvin | Donald H. Wong |
| State Administration and Regulatory Oversight | Nick Collins | Bruce E. Tarr | Antonio F. D. Cabral | F. Jay Barrows |
| Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy | Michael J. Barrett | Bruce E. Tarr | Jeffrey N. Roy | Bradley H. Jones, Jr. |
| Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development | Paul W. Mark | Ryan C. Fattman | Mindy Domb | Donald H. Wong |
| Transportation | Brendan P. Crighton | Patrick M. O'Connor | William M. Straus | Steven S. Howitt |
| Veterans and Federal Affairs | John C. Velis | Ryan C. Fattman | Gerard J. Cassidy | Steven George Xiarhos |
| Ways and Means | Michael J. Rodrigues | Patrick M. O'Connor | Aaron Michlewitz | Todd M. Smola |
Officers and officials
Senate officers
- Clerk: Michael D. Hurley
House of Representatives officers
- Clerk: Steven T. James
See also
- 2022 Massachusetts general election
- 2022 Massachusetts gubernatorial election
- List of Massachusetts General Courts
Notes
- ^ Anne Gobi (D) resigned from the Massachusetts Senate to accept a job in the gubernatorial administration of Gov. Maura Healey.[1]
- ^ a b Peter Durant (R) resigned from the Massachusetts House and was sworn into the Massachusetts Senate.[2]
- ^ Margaret Scarsdale (D) was sworn in.[3]
- ^ Kristin Kassner (D) was sworn in.[4]
- ^ Edward Coppinger (D) resigned from the Massachusetts House of Representatives to accept a job with the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council (MassBio).[5]
- ^ Jon Santiago (D) resigned from the Massachusetts House of Representatives to accept a job in the gubernatorial administration of Gov. Maura Healey.[5]
- ^ Special Elections in two Boston-based House seats restore the House to full strength[6]
- ^ Democrat Josh S. Cutler resigned to accept a job in the gubernatorial administration of Gov. Maura Healey.[7]
- ^ Republican John Marsi was sworn in.[8]
- ^ Previously Contested. Incumbent Leonard Mirra (R) was seated as a "hold-over" representative while a Special House Committee examined the vote returns for each candidate, which were certified in having Kristin Kassner (D) winning by 1 vote. The Special House Committee, in a 2-1 vote, decided in favor of Kristin Kassner.[13]
- ^ Previously Contested. Vacant while a Special House Committee reviewed the vote returns for each candidate. The committee ruled in favor of Margaret Scarsdale (D).[15]
References
- ^ "State Sen. Gobi tapped for new post in Healey administration as director of rural affairs". WBUR. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
- ^ a b "Peter Durant sworn in as senator; GOP sees signs their ideas more 'viable' in Mass". telegram.com. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
- ^ "Mass House declares Democrat winner of 7 vote race, seconf contest remains under review". Retrieved January 18, 2023.
- ^ "State Rep. Kristin Kassner Finally Sworn-In On One Vote Majority". WBZ News Radio 1030. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
- ^ a b "Boston's special election double-header". Politico. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
- ^ "Two new Boston Dems put house back at full strength". State House News Service. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
- ^ "State Representative Josh Cutler Named Undersecretary of Apprenticeship, Work-Based Learning, and Policy". Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
- ^ "Rep. Marsi Sworn In". Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
- ^ "Senate Leadership". The 193rd General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 2023. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
- ^ "House Leadership". The 193rd General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 2023. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
- ^ "Senate Members". The 193rd General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
- ^ "House Members". The 193rd General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
- ^ "Massachusetts House committee to hold hearings on contested elections". CBS Boston. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
- ^ "State Rep. Kristin Kassner Finally Sworn-In On One Vote Majority". WBZ News Radio 1030. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
- ^ "Massachusetts House committee to hold hearings on contested elections". CBS Boston. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
- ^ "Senate Committees". The 193rd General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 2023. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
- ^ "House Committees". The 193rd General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 2023. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
- ^ "Joint Committees". The 193rd General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 2023. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
