Senate suspends rules to consider petitions; refers purchase‑of‑service and family self‑sufficiency measures to committees

The Massachusetts Senate suspended floor rules to allow immediate consideration of several petitions and referred them to standing committees.

The clerk read a committee report and a petition from Alec Ciminello regarding legislation relevant to the purchase of out‑of‑state service. Senator O'Connor moved to suspend Senate Rule 36 to allow immediate consideration; the motion carried on a voice vote and joint rule 12 was also suspended. The matter was referred to the Committee on Public Service.

Separately, a house petition from Manny Cruz, Hannah Bowen and John Francis Moran seeking legislation to expand access to the Family Self‑Sufficiency program was received from the House under suspension of Joint Rule 12 and referred to the Committee on Housing after the chair recorded the ayes.

Why it matters: suspension of rules is a procedural step that allows the Senate to consider items out of normal order; the referrals send the substantive matters to committees where hearings, amendments and votes will determine whether they advance.

Details from the floor: Joan B. Lovely presented the committee report on the out‑of‑state service petition; Senator O'Connor led motions to suspend rules; the clerk recorded that the petitions will be referred to the named committees.

Next steps: committees may schedule hearings, request testimony, or report bills back to the floor; the transcript records only the referral actions.