House suspends Joint Rule 12, refers two petitions to standing committees

The House suspended Joint Rule 12 during its session after the Clerk read a report from the Committee on Rules and, by voice vote, referred two petitions to standing committees.

The suspension matters because Joint Rule 12 governs normal procedural limits on petition consideration; suspending it allowed the petitions to be acted on immediately and referred for committee review rather than following ordinary timing rules.

The Clerk read a report from the Committee on Rules recommending that Joint Rule 12 be suspended for two petitions. The report identified a petition of Colleen M. Gary “relative to credit card surcharges” to be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensures and a petition described as concerning “the penalties for protests intention, intentionally blocking or preventing access to public roadways or highways” to be referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Mister Donato of Medford moved to suspend the rules. The House then took a voice vote: “All those in favor say aye. Opposed, no.” The presiding officer responded, “The ayes have it. Rules are suspended,” and later confirmed, “Joint Rule 12 is suspended.” The record in the session shows these outcomes as voice votes rather than a roll-call tally.

Separately, the House adopted an order setting its next meeting time and approved a special adjournment in memory of Lou P. Bertinazzi; those procedural and ceremonial items were taken up after the rule-suspension and referral actions.

The petitions now rest with the named committees for any hearings or further action; the session record does not specify hearing dates or subsequent scheduling for committee consideration.