Each legislative session in Massachusetts includes a deadline for joint committees to report their bills out to the House and Senate floor. For most joint committees, this date was February 2nd of this year. However, one committee differs from the rest: the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing (HCF). Their deadline was last week on March 30th. Our data reveals some interesting trends from this session’s HCF deadline, and how the committee greatly differs from others in the Massachusetts legislature.

In the 2021-22 Massachusetts legislative session, there were over 3,000 people who testified at joint committee hearings. Our analysis found that 494 of these individuals were “frequent” testifiers, meaning that they testified in more than one hearing. This group included various state officials, interest groups, and concerned citizens, all of whom are highlighted in our data.

Ahhh. Massachusetts. So many stereotypes, so little time. While outsiders may associate Massachusetts with its iconic accent or inclement weather, in reality, there are so many other things that make us special. And of course, we want to share them. Click to view this session’s proposed “official” symbols of the Commonwealth.

The Joint Rule 10 deadline for this legislative session was set for February 2, 2022, by when (in theory) all legislation must be acted for further consideration on the House and Senate floors. The committee process in the Massachusetts legislature is notoriously elusive, but our data (as of February 11) reveals some interesting patterns.

A review of the committee hearing calendar this session showed that nearly half of all committee hearings (44.3%) occur on Tuesdays of each week. Sometimes there are as many as 6 hearings occurring simultaneously! Hence, the nickname “Terrible Tuesdays”.

The General Court calls it an outside section. While technically outside sections are only supposed to relate to appropriations, here in Massachusetts, they are often used to bypass the legislative process.

Of the 7,817 bills filed to date, only 115 have become law during the first year of the 2021-2022 General Court session. That’s a mere 1.4 percent! What were those laws about? Two words: local government. Here's a quick look at 2021 session laws by category.

From the end of the pre-filing deadline to the start of winter recess, there is plenty of data to inform your efforts when the second half of the 192nd General Court begins in January. Check out our infographic to learn more!

As we near the end of the first year of the 2021-2022 two-year legislative session, we wanted to take a few minutes to review activity by the Mass Legislature. When it comes to roll call votes, the Statehouse is way behind.

Curious about just how much has… or hasn’t… happened so far this session? Check out these numbers…

Of the 153 session laws passed during the 2019 sessions, most of them were… You guessed it… Sick Leave Banks! Followed closely by bills affecting municipal governments and local employees.