By Bob Katzen

The House 23-128, rejected an amendment that would require joint committee polls to be open for at least two hours or until all committee members have voted. Committee polls are used to record which members favor or oppose a bill that was heard by the committee.

“When voting to advance legislation, it is important that the members understand the bill they’re voting on so they can make an informed decision,” said amendment sponsor Rep. Brad Jones (R-North Reading). “That is not always possible with the short turnaround time required of some polls, especially when the bills under consideration have been redrafted, are lengthy, or are technical in nature. Providing a two-hour window to respond to a poll is a reasonable compromise that will help to ensure that each member feels comfortable with their vote without hampering the committee’s ability to move legislation in a timely fashion.”

“In Massachusetts, we have a full-time, professional Legislature, which requires preparation and preparedness,” said Rep. Kathy LaNatra (D-Kingston) who opposed the amendment. “When a poll is released by a committee chair, that should not be the first time we are reading a piece of legislation. Committee polls should remain at the chair’s discretion, ensuring decisions reflect urgency rather than arbitrary deadlines. Committees I have been on have provided days to review language. We must, however, always maintain our ability to act for our constituents when the time arises.”

(A “Yes” vote is for the two-hour minimum. A “No” vote is against it.)

Rep. Christine Barber No Rep. Mike Connolly No Rep. Paul Donato No Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven No