BOSTON — The Massachusetts House of Representatives convened its 194th General Court on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025, and elected Ronald Mariano of Quincy as speaker after a roll-call vote during the chamber's organizational session.

Mariano received 132 votes to 21 for Rep. Bradley H. Jones Jr. of North Reading and four for Rep. Mark T. Lombardo; a total of 157 votes were cast, the clerk announced. The number necessary for a choice was 79. The clerk declared Mariano elected speaker of the House.

The vote followed the formal calling of the roll and procedures set out under the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the General Laws for the House to assemble and elect its officers. Representative-elect Kevin G. Honan was recognized as the senior member elect and presided as the temporary presiding officer until the election of a speaker.

The session also included the swearing-in of members, a ceremonial invocation and benediction, remarks by Governor Maura Healey and other formal organizational business. Representative Timothy Carroll of Haverhill (clerk spelled in the transcript as Timothy Carroll of Howe) was elected clerk of the House by acclamation after a motion to elect him; the motion passed by voice vote and Carroll then took the oath of office.

In brief remarks after his election, Mariano thanked the membership and new members. "I am humbled to once again have earned your trust to be the speaker of the Massachusetts House," Mariano said on the floor.

Gov. Maura Healey, who joined the chamber to administer oaths and address members, recounted accomplishments from the previous legislative term and urged cooperation going forward. "Public service is a high calling, and it's absolutely essential to the preservation and the furtherance of our democracy," Healey said, noting last session's work on tax relief, housing investments, transportation funding, gun-safety reform and other measures.

The House placed on file a resignation letter from Gerald A. Parasella, who notified the clerk that he had been nominated to be an associate justice of the district court and would resign as state representative for the 6th Essex District effective 10:30 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2025; Parasella also declined the office of state representative for the 194th General Court. The letter was read into the record and filed.

Other organizational actions adopted by the House included:
- Acceptance of a special committee report that the returns of votes for representatives in the several districts had been duly elected (report accepted by voice vote).
- Several orders appointing special committees to inform the governor, the senate and the governor's council that the House had organized and was ready to take the oaths of office (adopted by voice votes).
- An order that the rules of the House for the 2023' 2024 session be observed, so far as applicable, until new rules are adopted by the present House (adopted by voice vote).
- An order directing the clerk to begin keeping the journal and to print and bind copies of the official journal for deposit with the secretary of the commonwealth under the authority of Section 22A of Chapter 3 of the General Laws (adopted by voice vote).
- Communication from the secretary of the commonwealth transmitting the canvass of returns from the Nov. 5, 2024 election was placed on file.

Timothy Carroll, upon taking the oath as clerk, said he would continue the clerk's office policy of impartial, courteous and efficient service. The clerk also announced the appointment of Elizabeth M. Thompson of Clinton as assistant clerk and Lisonbee J. Morris of Taunton as second assistant clerk; that communication was placed on file.

The House adjourned the session subject to an order to reconvene at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025.

Votes at a glance: Ronald Mariano elected speaker (roll call): Ronald Mariano (Quincy) 132; Bradley H. Jones Jr. (North Reading) 21; Mark T. Lombardo 4; total votes 157; necessary for choice 79. Clerk elected by acclamation: Timothy Carroll. Other organizational orders adopted by voice votes; specific tallies were not recorded in the transcript.

The meeting was procedural in nature and primarily addressed the formal organization of the House for the new two-year term, the administration of oaths, the election of leadership and initial housekeeping orders.