The 191st Massachusetts General Court was the meeting of the legislative branch of the state government of Massachusetts, composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives.[1] It convened in Boston at the Massachusetts State House, on January 2, 2019, and ended on January 6, 2021, during the fifth and sixth years of the governorship of Charlie Baker. Senate and House districts were drawn based on the 2010 Census.
| 191st Massachusetts General Court | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||
 Massachusetts State House in 2017 | |||||
| Overview | |||||
| Legislative body | Massachusetts General Court | ||||
| Term | January 2, 2019 – January 6, 2021 | ||||
| Election | 2018 election | ||||
| Massachusetts Senate | |||||
| Members | 40 | ||||
| Senate President | Karen Spilka (D) | ||||
| Senate Majority Leader | Cynthia Stone Creem (D) | ||||
| Senate Minority Leader | Bruce Tarr (R) | ||||
| Party control | Democratic | ||||
| Massachusetts House of Representatives | |||||
| Members | 160 | ||||
| House Speaker | Robert DeLeo (D) | ||||
| House Majority Leader | Ron Mariano (D) | ||||
| House Minority Leader | Brad Jones (R) | ||||
| Party control | Democratic | ||||
In the 2018 elections, the Democratic Party increased its majorities in both chambers, flipping two seats from the Republicans in the House and one in the Senate.[2] Although Republican Governor Charlie Baker easily won re-election to a second term, the Democrats maintained veto-proof supermajorities in the legislature.[3]
The session was notable for the wide range of flash-point issues discussed; among these were climate change, police reform, the state's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare reform, and education funding.[4] Other notable legislation included a pandemic-related vote-by-mail law.[5] Notable bills include a proposal for a commission focused on "state agency automated decision-making, artificial intelligence, transparency, fairness, and individual rights."[6][7]
Party summary edit
Senate edit
| Affiliation | Party (shading indicates majority caucus)
|
Total | Vacant | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Independent | Republican | |||||
| End of previous General Court | 31 | 0 | 7 | 38 | 2 | ||
| Begin (January 2, 2019) | 34 | 0 | 6 | 40 | 0 | ||
| November 29, 2019[a] | 34 | 5 | 39 | 1 | |||
| January 6, 2020[b] | 34 | 4 | 38 | 2 | |||
| May 28, 2020[c][d] | 36 | 40 | 0 | ||||
| Latest voting share | 90.0% | 0.0% | 10.0% | ||||
House of Representatives edit
| Affiliation | Party (shading indicates majority caucus)
|
Total | Vacant | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Independent | Republican | |||||
| End of previous General Court | 119 | 1 | 34 | 154 | 6 | ||
| Begin (January 2, 2019) | 127 | 1 | 32 | 160 | 0 | ||
| November 15, 2019[e] | 126 | 159 | 1 | ||||
| January 6, 2020[f] | 126 | 31 | 158 | 2 | |||
| January 8, 2020[g] | 125 | 157 | 3 | ||||
| March 25, 2020[h] | 126 | 158 | 2 | ||||
| May 28, 2020[i] | 125 | 157 | 3 | ||||
| June 10, 2020[j] | 127 | 159 | 1 | ||||
| Latest voting share | 79.9% | 0.6% | 19.5% | ||||
Members edit
Senators edit
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- *Originally elected in a special election
Representatives edit
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See also edit
Notes edit
- ^ In Plymouth and Barnstable district: Senator Vinny deMacedo (R) resigned to take a job in higher education.
- ^ In 2nd Hampden and Hampshire district: Senator Don Humason (R) resigned to serve as Mayor of Westfield.
- ^ In Plymouth and Barnstable district: Susan Moran (D) assumed office to continue Vinny deMacedo's term.
- ^ In 2nd Hampden and Hampshire district: John Velis (D) assumed office to continue Don Humason's term.
- ^ In 32nd Middlesex district: Rep. Paul Brodeur (D) resigned to serve as Mayor of Melrose.
- ^ In 3rd Bristol district: Rep. Shaunna O'Connell (R) resigned to serve as Mayor of Taunton.
- ^ In 37th Middlesex district: Rep. Jen Benson (D) resigned to serve as President of the Alliance for Business Leadership.
- ^ In 32nd Middlesex district: Kate Lipper-Garabedian (D) assumed office to continue Paul Brodeur's term.
- ^ In 4th Hampden district: Rep. John Velis (D) resigned to serve as state senator for the 2nd Hampden and Hampshire district.
- ^ Carol Doherty (D) and Dan Sena (D) assumed office to continue Shaunna O'Connell and Jen Benson's terms, respectively.
References edit
- ^ "Malegislature.gov". Archived from the original on January 10, 2019.
- ^ "Dems pick up three seats on Beacon Hill". November 7, 2018.
- ^ "Democrats Further Solidify Super-Majorities in the Mass. House and Senate".
- ^ "End of Session Report, 2019-2020 Legislative Session" (PDF). Massachusetts Legislature. May 26, 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 26, 2021. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
- ^ "A new law allows Mass. residents to vote by mail. Here's how that's already changing things", Boston Globe, July 29, 2020
- ^ Electronic Privacy Information Center, "State Artificial Intelligence Policy", Epic.org, Washington, DC, retrieved September 5, 2020
- ^ "Bill H.2701", malegislature.gov, 191st General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, retrieved September 5, 2020
- ^ Daniel Libon (October 17, 2017). "Feeney Beats Ventura, Shortsleeve In State Senate Race". Patch.
- ^ a b "House Members". Malegislature.gov. Archived from the original on January 8, 2019.
Further reading edit
- State House News Service (July 21, 2019), "State Lawmakers Reach Compromise On $43.1 Billion State Budget", Cbslocal.com
- Stephanie Murray (October 24, 2019), "House passes Ed Funding bill", Massachusetts Playbook, Politico.com, archived from the original on October 30, 2019
- State House News Service (January 1, 2020), "2020 State House outlook: Seven issues to watch over seven months", Boston Globe
- Matt Stout (April 7, 2020), "Grandma can get on Zoom, but Mass. lawmakers can't get livestreaming to work", Boston Globe,
Key economic hearing postponed after 'unexpected technical issues'
- John Laidler (June 25, 2020), "Should the Massachusetts Legislature be subject to the state's public records law?", Boston Globe
- State House News Service (June 26, 2020), "House, Senate Agree On Road Funding, MBTA Board", Wbur.org
- State House News Service (June 26, 2020), "Mass. House Approves Juneteenth State Holiday", Wbur.org
- Matt Stout (July 13, 2020), "'Never seen anything like this:' State lawmakers face multiple crises and a time crunch", Boston Globe
- Matt Stout (October 18, 2020), "'We should be embarrassed': In quiet extended session, Legislature's unfinished work will bleed past Election Day", Boston Globe
External links edit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to 2019–2020 Massachusetts legislature.
- End of Session Report, malegislature.gov (2019, 2020)
- "Session Laws", malegislature.gov (2019, 2020)
- "2019 Massachusetts legislative session". Ballotpedia.org.
- "Hearings & Events: 2019-2020". malegislature.gov. (includes some video)
- Arlington Democrats (January 14, 2020), Forum on Climate Change Legislation in Massachusetts, Arlington Community Media Inc. – via YouTube