The Massachusetts House of Representatives suspended Joint Rule 12 and moved a slate of local bills toward further consideration during a floor session (date not specified in the transcript). The Committee on Rules and the Committee on Steering Policy and Scheduling reported recommendations to place several bills on the calendar for additional reading and consideration.
The actions reported and scheduled included: a bill relative to Cheshire special elections (House No. 801); authorization for the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority to provide sewer services to a parcel in the town of Sharon (House No. 1024 and referenced again as House No. 4009); a bill to increase fines for cruelty to animals and create a fund for local animal-shelter improvements (House No. 2247); a bill relative to the position of treasurer-collector in the town of Berkley (House No. 2320); amendments to the charter of the town of Sandwich (House No. 2357); amendments to the Massachusetts Business Corporation Act (House No. 3323); and a proposed charter for the city of Medford (House No. 4263).
The House also approved a temporary suspension of standing rules, including Rule 7A, to permit these steps. On multiple voice votes, the presiding officer declared the suspensions adopted with the customary “ayes” and “nays” procedure recorded in the transcript.
Why it matters: several of the scheduled bills affect municipal charters, local election procedures and utility service authorizations that require local approvals before final enactment. Placing items on third reading advances them toward final votes on the House floor or further committee action.
The session recorded the committee reports formally and then added the listed bills to a third-reading calendar, again by voice vote. The transcript does not record floor debate on the substance of the scheduled bills, only the committee reports and the procedural steps taken to advance them.
Next steps: after being placed on the calendar for third reading, bills ordinarily return to the floor for final passage votes or proceed through subsequent committee processes as required by House rules.