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. 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.
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. Although Republican Governor Charlie Baker easily won re-election to a second term, the Democrats maintained veto-proof supermajorities in the legislature.
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. Other notable legislation included a pandemic-related vote-by-mail law. Notable bills include a proposal for a commission focused on "state agency automated decision-making, artificial intelligence, transparency, fairness, and individual rights."
Party summary
Senate
House of Representatives
Members
Senators
- *Originally elected in a special election
Representatives
See also
- 2018 Massachusetts general election
- 2020 Massachusetts general election
- List of current Massachusetts House of Representatives committees
- COVID-19 pandemic in Massachusetts
- 116th United States Congress
- List of Massachusetts General Courts
Notes
References
Further reading
- 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
- 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
