Start-of-Session Tips & Tricks

Here we go again - the 2025-2026 legislative cycle began January 1, 2025. Here are some tips and tricks on how to use the MassTrac service to help you kick off the next two years smoothly.

Tip 1: Don’t Delete Your Tracks

One of the most crucial tips is to not delete any of your tracks (found in the ‘My Tracks’ menu on the top right) . By keeping your tracks intact, we can roll everything over from the previous session and ensure a seamless transition into the new session.

Tip 2: AI-Powered Bill Tracking

We’ll tag bills identified as refiles with their previous session bill numbers and summaries. Using AI, we analyze bill texts and typically identify 200 to 300 refiles with an 85% or higher match in content. We can also automatically track companion bills, so if you are tracking the House version, you’ll automatically track the Senate companion, too. You can easily re-track bills from previous sessions by clicking the "Re-Track 2023-2024 Bills" button at “My Tracks” on your dashboard. 

If you do accidentally delete some tracks, don’t worry. We’ll show you refiles of bills from last session that don’t have a matching track name. You can simply  select a new track for these bills, or create a new one 

Tip 3: Update Your Track Names

Make sure your track names are exactly what you want. We’ll automatically create tracks for the new session based on these names. Once your track names are sorted, you can populate them with bills, allowing you to review tracks from prior sessions effortlessly.

Tip 4: Configure Your Daily Alert Settings

After updating your track names, head over to your daily alert settings. You can find these at the top of the page or from the dashboard labeled ‘My Settings.’ Based on your company or organization’s personal needs, ensure that you’ve saved all relevant: Keywords, Statutory Citations, Categories, Line Items, Senators/Reps, Committees, and State Agencies

Remember, these settings are user-specific. Even if your colleague has their alerts customized, it doesn’t mean you’ll get the same notifications. If you’d wish to copy settings from another person on your account, let us know, and we’ll assist you.

Tip 4: Tracking New Legislators and New Dockets

To find directories listing legislative staff go to ‘Resources’ and you can find comprehensive lists with general information regarding every legislator in Massachusetts. To find information on Committees and members go to the ‘General Court’ tab.

As new dockets arrive, you’ll see them in your online and email daily alerts. You can track them anytime. We convert dockets to bills without losing any data, making it easy for you to manage.

New for 2025: AI-Generated Bill Overviews

Starting in 2025, we’ll offer AI-generated bill overviews right after filing. These overviews provide a broad understanding of bills before our legal team creates substantive summaries.

Additional Support

The experienced MassTrac staff is here to help during the transition to the 2025-2026 session. You can contact us at 617-292-1800 or info@instatrac.com.

And don’t forget about our twice-weekly training sessions on Wednesdays at 2 pm and Fridays at 10 am! We look forward to supporting you in the new legislative cycle!