The Massachusetts House of Representatives on a roll-call vote approved a conference committee report adopting a new package of joint rules for the 2025–26 legislative session, Senate No. 2545, aimed at shortening legislative timelines and increasing public transparency.

The package won final approval by a vote of 147 in favor and 2 opposed after supporters said the changes would modernize committee procedures and make information about bills more readily available to the public. "I ask that my colleagues join me in voting yes on this conference committee report," said Mister Moran of Brighton.

The new joint rules set deadlines and procedural changes intended to move legislation faster and increase online access to committee materials. Key provisions noted on the floor include a requirement that committees vote on “their branch’s bills” within 60 days of being heard, a 10-day public notice requirement for hearings (replacing the current 72-hour notice), live streaming and archiving of all hearings on the General Court website, posting of committee votes and plain-language bill summaries online, and public posting of committee attendance starting Oct. 1.

Supporters described the package as a mix of procedural deadlines and transparency measures. Mister Galvin of Canton told members the rules will "increase transparency, accountability, accessibility and ensure that every citizen of the commonwealth has maximum participation in the process." He summarized provisions including longer public notices, mandatory committee hearings in some cases, posting of committee votes, and an ability for the Legislature to reconvene after July 31 of the second annual session to consider conference reports and governor recommendations.

The rules include a limited "safety valve" that allows committee chairs an additional 30 days if more time is needed; further extensions must be approved by the branch seeking the extension. Exceptions to the 60-day rule include money bills, constitutional amendments and bills filed by constitutional officers, which remain subject to existing procedures.

Floor debate and remarks stressed both efficiency and protections for public testimony. Mister Meradian of Grafton emphasized that increased notice "allows the public to have ample time to arrange accommodations to testify," and noted several provisions advocated by minority members. The package also requires committees to make testimony publicly available as determined by committee rules, while allowing committees to withhold sensitive testimony that would violate confidentiality rules.

The House earlier held open conference committee hearings as part of the process and the rules committee will review the joint rules at the end of the second annual session, supporters said. The conference committee report was recommended for adoption by the committee of conference and was taken up on the floor under a roll-call vote (recorded as Roll Call No. 58). The chair announced the tally as 147 in the affirmative, 2 in the negative, and the report was accepted.