2023–2024 Massachusetts legislature explained

193rd Massachusetts General Court
Body:	Massachusetts General Court
Meeting Place:	Massachusetts State House
Before:	192nd
After:	194th
Chamber1:	Senate
Control1:	Democratic
Chamber1 Leader1 Type:	President
Chamber1 Leader1:	Karen E. Spilka
Chamber2:	House of Representatives
Control2:	Democratic
Chamber2 Leader1 Type:	Speaker
Chamber2 Leader1:	Ronald Mariano
Session1 End:	TBD

The 193rd Massachusetts General Court is the current meeting of the legislative branch of the state government of Massachusetts, composed of the Massachusetts Senate and the Massachusetts House of Representatives. It first convened in Boston at the Massachusetts State House on January 4, 2023, on the last day of the governorship of Charlie Baker and is scheduled to continue until January 7, 2025, during the first two years of Governor Maura Healey's first term.

Major events

• January 4, 2023: General Court convened. Ron Mariano (D) was elected Speaker of the House and Karen Spilka, by unanimous consent, was elected President of the Massachusetts Senate. Members-elect of the Massachusetts Senate and the Massachusetts House of Representatives were sworn in, except for Kristin Kassner (D) and Margaret Scarsdale (D), whose vote count and election certification would be reviewed by a Special House Committee.
• January 5, 2023: Governor-elect Maura Healey (D) and Lieutenant Governor-elect Kim Driscoll (D) were sworn in by the President of the Massachusetts Senate, Karen Spilka, during a joint session of the Massachusetts General Court.
• January 18, 2023: The Special House Committee ruled in favor of Margaret Scarsdale (D) and she was sworn in later that same day.
• February 3, 2023: The Special House Committee ruled in favor of Kristin Kassner (D) and she was sworn in later that same day.

Composition by party

Resignations and new members are discussed in the "Changes in membership" section below.

Senate

	Current (November 29, 2023)File:193rd Massachusetts Senate 20230827.svg	(June 5, 2023)File:193rd Massachusetts Senate.svg	Begin (January 4, 2023)	+Overview of Senate membership by party		Party (shading shows control)			Total	Vacant
Democratic	Independent	Republican
End of previous General Court		36	0	3	39	1
Begin (January 4, 2023)		37	0	3	40	0
June 5, 2023	36	39			1
November 29, 2023	4	40		0
Latest voting share

House of Representatives

	Current (June 7, 2023)File:193rd Massachusetts House of Representatives 20230301.svg	March 1, 2023File:193rd Massachusetts House of Representatives 20230328.svg	February 28, 2023File:193rd Massachusetts House of Representatives 20230203.svg	February 3, 2023File:193rd Massachusetts House of Representatives 20230118.svg	January 18, 2023 - February 3, 2023File:193rd Massachusetts House of Representatives 20230104.svg	Begin (January 4, 2023 – January 18, 2023)	+Overview of House membership by party		Party (shading shows control)			Total	Vacant
Democratic	Independent	Republican
End of previous General Court		125		1	27	153	7
Begin (January 4, 2023)	132	1	26	159	1
January 18, 2023	133	160		0
February 3, 2023	134	25	160	0
February 28, 2023	133		159	1
March 1, 2023	132		158	2
June 7, 2023	134		160	0
November 29, 2023	24	159	1
February 4, 2024		133	158	2
March 27, 2024	25	159	1
September 22, 2024		132	158	2
October 22, 2024	24	157	3
Latest voting share

Leadership

Senate

Presiding

• President: Karen E. Spilka (D)
• President pro tempore: William N. Brownsberger (D)

Majority (Democratic)

• Majority Leader: Cynthia Stone Creem
• Assistant Majority Leader: Joan Lovely
• Assistant Majority Leader: Michael J. Barrett
• Assistant Majority Leader: Sal DiDomenico
• Majority Whip: Michael Rush
• Assistant Majority Whip: Julian Cyr
• Senate Ways and Means Chair: Michael Rodrigues
• Senate Ways and Means Vice Chair: Cindy Friedman

Minority (Republican)

• Minority Leader: Bruce E. Tarr
• Assistant Minority Leader: Patrick O'Connor
• Assistant Minority Leader: Ryan Fattman

^[1]

House of Representatives

Presiding

• Speaker: Ronald Mariano (D)
• Speaker pro tempore: Kate Hogan (D)

Majority (Democratic)

• Majority Leader: Michael Moran
• Assistant Majority Leader: Alice Peisch
• Second Assistant Majority Leader: Frank A. Moran
• Second Assistant Majority Leader: Sarah Peake
• First Division Chair: Danielle Gregoire
• Second Division Chair: Paul Donato
• Third Division Chair: Ruth Balser
• Fourth Division Chair: James O'Day
• House Ways and Means Chair: Aaron Michlewitz

Minority (Republican)

• Minority Leader: Bradley H. Jones Jr.
• First Assistant Minority Leader: Kimberly Ferguson
• Second Assistant Minority Leader: Paul Frost
• Third Assistant Minority Leader: Susan Williams Gifford
• Third Assistant Minority Leader: F. Jay Barrows

^[2]

Members

Senate

All 40 seats were filled by the election in November 2022.^[3] The districts are named and numbered based upon the county or counties they reside in.

• Berkshire, Hampshire, Franklin and Hampden
• Bristol and Norfolk
• Bristol and Plymouth
• Cape and Islands
• Essex
• Essex and Middlesex
• Hampden
• Hampden and Hampshire
• Hampden, Hampshire and Worcester
• Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester
• Middlesex
• Middlesex and Norfolk
• Middlesex and Suffolk
• Middlesex and Worcester
• Norfolk and Middlesex
• Norfolk and Plymouth
• Norfolk, Plymouth and Bristol
• Norfolk and Suffolk
• Norfolk, Worcester and Middlesex
• Plymouth and Barnstable
• Plymouth and Norfolk
• Suffolk
• Suffolk and Middlesex
• Worcester
• Worcester and Hampden
• Worcester and Hampshire

Berkshire, Hampshire, Franklin and Hampden

At-large. Paul Mark (D)

Bristol and Norfolk

At-large. Paul Feeney (D)

Bristol and Plymouth

1. Michael Rodrigues (D)

2. Mark Montigny (D)

3. Marc Pacheco (D)

Cape and Islands

At-large. Julian Cyr (D)

Essex

1. Pavel Payano (D)

2. Joan Lovely (D)

3. Brendan Crighton (D)

Essex and Middlesex

1. Bruce Tarr (R)

2. Barry Finegold (D)

Hampden

At-large. Adam Gomez (D)

Hampden and Hampshire

At-large. John Velis (D)

Hampden, Hampshire and Worcester

At-large. Jacob Oliveira (D)

Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester

At-large. Jo Comerford (D)

Middlesex

1. Edward J. Kennedy (D)

2. Patricia D. Jehlen (D)

3. Michael J. Barrett (D)

4. Cindy Friedman (D)

5. Jason Lewis (D)

Middlesex and Norfolk

At-large. Karen Spilka (D)

Middlesex and Suffolk

At-large. Sal DiDomenico (D)

Middlesex and Worcester

At-large. Jamie Eldridge (D)

Norfolk and Middlesex

At-large. Cynthia Stone Creem (D)

Norfolk and Plymouth

At-large. John Keenan (D)

Norfolk, Plymouth and Bristol

At-large. Walter Timilty (D)

Norfolk and Suffolk

At-large. Mike Rush (D)

Norfolk, Worcester and Middlesex

At-large. Becca Rausch (D)

Plymouth and Barnstable

At-large. Susan Moran (D)

Plymouth and Norfolk

1. Patrick O'Connor (R)

2. Michael Brady (D)

Suffolk

1. Nick Collins (D)

2. Liz Miranda (D)

3. Lydia Edwards (D)

Suffolk and Middlesex

At-large. Will Brownsberger (D)

Worcester

1. Robyn Kennedy (D)

2. Michael O. Moore (D)

Worcester and Hampden

At-large. Ryan Fattman (R)

Worcester and Hampshire

At-large. Anne Gobi (D)

Peter Durant (R)

Worcester and Middlesex

At-large. John J. Cronin (D)

House of Representatives

All 160 seats were filled by the election in November 2022.^[4] The districts are named and numbered based upon the county or counties they reside in.

• Barnstable
• Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket
• Berkshire
• Bristol
• Essex
• Franklin
• Hampden
• Hampshire
• Middlesex
• Norfolk
• Plymouth
• Suffolk
• Worcester

1. Chris Flanagan (D)

2. Kip Diggs (D)

3. David Vieira (R)

4. Sarah Peake (D)

Vacant

5. Steven Xiarhos (R)

At-large. Dylan Fernandes (D)

1. John Barret III (D)

2. Tricia Farley-Bouvier (D)

3. William Pignatelli (D)

1. F. Jay Barrows (R)

2. James Hawkins (D)

3. Carol Doherty (D)

4. Steve Howitt (R)

5. Patricia Haddad (D)

6. Carole Fiola (D)

7. Alan Silvia (D)

8. Paul Schmid (D)

9. Christopher Markey (D)

10. William M. Straus (D)

11. Christopher Hendricks (D)

12. Norman Orrall (R)

13. Antonio Cabral (D)

14. Adam Scanlon (D)

1. Dawne Shand (D)

2. Leonard Mirra (R)

Kristin Kassner (D) ^[5]

3. Andy Vargas (D)

4. Estela Reyes (D)

5. Ann-Margaret Ferrante (D)

6. Jerry Parisella (D)

7. Manny Cruz (D)

8. Jenny Armini (D)

9. Donald Wong (R)

10. Dan Cahill (D)

11. Peter Capano (D)

12. Thomas Walsh (D)

13. Sally Kerans (D)

14. Adrianne Ramos (D)

15. Ryan Hamilton (D)

16. Francisco E. Paulino (D)

17. Frank A. Moran (D)

18. Tram Nguyen (D)

1. Natalie Blais (D)

2. Susannah Whipps (U)

1. Todd Smola (R)

2. Brian Michael Ashe (D)

3. Nicholas Boldyga (R)

4. Kelly Pease (R)

5. Patricia Duffy (D)

6. Michael Finn (D)

7. Aaron Saunders (D)

8. Shirley Arriaga (D)

9. Orlando Ramos (D)

10. Carlos González (D)

11. Bud Williams (D)

12. Angelo Puppolo (D)

1. Lindsay Sabadosa (D)

2. Daniel Carey (D)

3. Mindy Domb (D)

1. Margaret Scarsdale (D)

2. James Arciero (D)

3. Kate Hogan (D)

4. Danielle Gregoire (D)

5. David Linsky (D)

6. Priscila Sousa (D)

7. Jack Patrick Lewis (D)

8. James Arena-DeRosa (D)

9. Thomas M. Stanley (D)

10. John J. Lawn (D)

11. Kay Khan (D)

12. Ruth Balser (D)

13. Carmine Gentile (D)

14. Simon Cataldo (D)

15. Michelle Ciccolo (D)

16. Rodney Elliott (D)

17. Vanna Howard (D)

18. Rady Mom (D)

19. David Allen Robertson (D)

20. Bradley H. Jones Jr. (R)

21. Kenneth Gordon (D)

22. Marc Lombardo (R)

23. Sean Garballey (D)

24. David Rogers (D)

25. Marjorie Decker (D)

26. Michael Connolly (D)

27. Erika Uyterhoeven (D)

28. Joe McGonagle (D)

29. Steven Owens (D)

30. Richard Haggerty (D)

31. Michael S. Day (D)

32. Kate Lipper-Garabedian (D)

33. Steven Ultrino (D)

34. Christine Barber (D)

35. Paul Donato (D)

36. Colleen Garry (D)

37. Danillo Sena (D)

1. Bruce Ayers (D)

2. Tackey Chan (D)

3. Ron Mariano (D)

4. James M. Murphy (D)

5. Mark Cusack (D)

6. William C. Galvin (D)

7. William Driscoll (D)

8. Ted Philips (D)

9. Marcus Vaughn (R)

10. Jeffrey Roy (D)

11. Paul McMurtry (D)

12. John H. Rogers (D)

13. Denise Garlick (D)

14. Alice Peisch (D)

15. Tommy Vitolo (D)

1. Matthew Muratore (R)

2. Susan Williams Gifford (R)

Vacant ^[6]

3. Joan Meschino (D)

4. Patrick Joseph Kearney (D)

5. David DeCoste (R)

6. Josh S. Cutler (D)

Vacant

7. Alyson Sullivan (R)

8. Angelo D'Emilia (R)

9. Gerard Cassidy (D)

10. Michelle DuBois (D)

11. Rita Mendes (D)

12. Kathleen LaNatra (D)

1. Adrian Madaro (D)

2. Daniel Joseph Ryan (D)

3. Aaron Michlewitz (D)

4. David Biele (D)

5. Christopher Worrell (D)

6. Russell Holmes (D)

7. Chynah Tyler (D)

8. Jay Livingstone (D)

9. Jon Santiago (D)

John F. Moran (D)

10. Edward F. Coppinger (D)

Bill MacGregor (D)

11. Judith García (D)

12. Brandy Fluker Oakley (D)

13. Daniel J. Hunt (D)

14. Robert Consalvo (D)

15. Sam Montaño (D)

16. Jessica Giannino (D)

17. Kevin Honan (D)

18. Michael Moran (D)

19. Jeffrey Turco (D)

1. Kimberly Ferguson (R)

2. Jonathan Zlotnik (D)

3. Michael Kushmerek (D)

4. Natalie Higgins (D)

5. Donald Berthiaume (R)

6. Peter Durant (R)

John Marsi (R)

7. Paul Frost (R)

8. Michael Soter (R)

9. David Muradian (R)

10. Brian Murray (D)

11. Hannah Kane (R)

12. Meghan Kilcoyne (D)

13. John J. Mahoney (D)

14. James O'Day (D)

15. Mary Keefe (D)

16. Dan Donahue (D)

17. David LeBoeuf (D)

18. Joseph McKenna (R)

19. Kate Donaghue (D)

Changes in membership

Senate changes

!District!Vacated by!Reason for change!Successor!Date of successor's formal installation

Worcester and Hampshire

Anne Gobi (D)

Resigned June 4, 2023 from the Massachusetts Senate to accept a job in the gubernatorial administration of Gov. Maura Healey.

Peter Durant (R)

November 29, 2023

House of Representatives changes

!District!Vacated by!Reason for change!Successor!Date of successor's formal installation

1st Middlesex	Vacant	The winner of this seat was contested, so a Special House Committee was called to review the vote returns. The Special House Committee ruled in favor of Margaret Scarsdale.		Margaret Scarsdale (D)	January 18, 2023
2nd Essex		Leonard Mirra (R)	The winner of this seat was contested, so a Special House Committee was called to review the vote returns. The Special House Committee ruled 2-1 in favor of Kristin Kassner.		Kristin Kassner (D)	February 3, 2023
10th Suffolk		Edward Coppinger (D)	Resigned February 28, 2023 from the Massachusetts House of Representatives to accept a job with the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council (MassBio).		Bill MacGregor (D)	June 8, 2023
9th Suffolk		Jon Santiago (D)	Resigned March 1, 2023 from the Massachusetts House of Representatives to accept a job in the gubernatorial administration of Gov. Maura Healey.		John F. Moran (D)	June 8, 2023
6th Worcester		Peter Durant (R)	Resigned November 29, 2023 from the Massachusetts House of Representatives after being elected to the Massachusetts Senate.		John Marsi (R)	March 27, 2024
6th Plymouth		Josh S. Cutler (D)	Resigned February 4, 2024 from the Massachusetts House of Representatives to accept a job in the gubernatorial administration of Gov. Maura Healey.	Vacant until next election
4th Barnstable		Sarah Peake (D)	Resigned September 22, 2024 from the Massachusetts House of Representatives to accept a job in the gubernatorial administration of Gov. Maura Healey.	Vacant until next election
2nd Plymouth		Susan Williams Gifford (R)	Died October 22, 2024.	Vacant until next election

Committees

Senate Committees

Committee	Chair	Ranking Minority
Bills in the Third Reading		Sal N. DiDomenico		Bruce E. Tarr
Census		William N. Brownsberger		Ryan C. Fattman
Ethics		Jason M. Lewis		Patrick M. O' Connor
Global Warming and Climate Change		Cynthia Stone Creem		Patrick M. O' Connor
Intergovernmental Affairs		Mark C. Montigny		Patrick M. O' Connor
Juvenile and Emerging Adult Justice		Brendan P. Crighton		Bruce E. Tarr
Personnel and Administration		Michael F. Rush		Patrick M. O' Connor
Post Audit and Oversight		Marc R. Pacheco		Ryan C. Fattman
Rules		Joan B. Lovely		Ryan C. Fattman
Steering and Policy		Mark C. Montigny		Bruce E. Tarr
Ways and Means		Michael J. Rodrigues		Patrick M. O' Connor

^[7]

House of Representatives Committees

Committee	Chair	Ranking Minority
Bills in the Third Reading		Thomas P. Walsh		Angelo L. D'Emilia
Ethics		John Barrett, III		F. Jay Barrows
Federal Stimulus and Census Oversight		Jack Patrick Lewis		Todd M. Smola
Global Warming and Climate Change		Sean Garballey		Kimberly N. Ferguson
Human Resources and Employee Engagement		Daniel J. Hunt		Joseph D. McKenna
Operations, Facilities and Security		Joseph W. McGonagle, Jr.		Marcus S. Vaughn
Post Audit and Oversight		John J. Mahoney		Peter J. Durant
Rules		William C. Galvin		David H. Wong
Steering, Policy and Scheduling		Kevin G. Honan		Susan Williams Gifford
Ways and Means		Aaron Michlewitz		Todd M. Smola

^[8]

Joint Committees

Committee	Senate Chair	Senate Ranking Minority	House Chair	House Ranking Minority
Advanced Information Technology, the Internet and Cybersecurity		Michael O. Moore		Bruce E. Tarr		Tricia Farley-Bouvier		Marc T. Lombardo
Agriculture		Anne M. Gobi		Ryan C. Fattman		Paul A. Schmid, III		Susan Williams Gifford
Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets		Edward J. Kennedy		Ryan C. Fattman		Michael J. Finn		David T. Vieira
Cannabis Policy		Adam Gomez		Ryan C. Fattman		Daniel M. Donahue		Donald R. Berthiaume, Jr.
Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities		Robyn K. Kennedy		Patrick M. O'Connor		Jay D. Livingstone		Donald R. Berthiaume, Jr.
Community Development and Small Business		Pavel M. Payano		Patrick M. O'Connor		Paul McMurtry		Marcus S. Vaughn
Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure		John J. Cronin		Bruce E. Tarr		Tackey Chan		Joseph D. McKenna
Economic Development and Emerging Technologies		Barry R. Finegold		Patrick M. O'Connor		Jerald A. Parisella		David K. Muradian, Jr.
Education		Jason M. Lewis		Patrick M. O'Connor		Denise C. Garlick		Kimberly N. Ferguson
Elder Affairs		Patricia D. Jehlen		Ryan C. Fattman		Thomas M. Stanley		Hannah Kane
Election Laws		John F. Keenan		Ryan C. Fattman		Daniel J. Ryan		Paul K. Frost
Emergency Preparedness and Management		Marc R. Pacheco		Ryan C. Fattman		William J. Driscoll, Jr.		Paul K. Frost
Environment and Natural Resources		Rebecca L. Rausch		Bruce E. Tarr		Daniel Cahill		Norman J. Orrall
Financial Services		Paul R. Feeney		Bruce E. Tarr		James M. Murphy		Michael J. Soter
Health Care Financing		Cindy F. Friedman		Patrick M. O'Connor		John J. Lawn, Jr.		Hannah Kane
Higher Education		Joanne M. Comerford		Bruce E. Tarr		David M. Rogers		Kelly W. Pease
Housing		Lydia Edwards		Patrick M. O'Connor		James Arciero		David F. DeCoste
Judiciary		James B. Eldridge		Patrick M. O'Connor		Michael S. Day		Peter J. Durant
Labor and Workforce Development		Patricia D. Jehlen		Patrick M. O'Connor		Josh S. Cutler		Donald H. Wong
Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery		John C. Velis		Patrick M. O'Connor		Adrian C. Madaro		Alyson M. Sullivan-Almeida
Municipalities and Regional Government		Jacob R. Oliveira		Bruce E. Tarr		Carole A. Fiola		Norman J. Orrall
Public Health		Julian Cyr		Patrick M. O'Connor		Marjorie C. Decker		Hannah Kane
Public Safety and Homeland Security		Walter F. Timilty		Ryan C. Fattman		Carlos González		David T. Vieira
Public Service		Michael D. Brady		Ryan C. Fattman		Kenneth I. Gordon		David F. DeCoste
Racial Equity, Civil Rights, and Inclusion		Liz Miranda		Bruce E. Tarr		Bud L. Williams		Donald H. Wong
Revenue		Susan L. Moran		Ryan C. Fattman		Mark J. Cusack		Michael J. Soter
Rules		Joan B. Lovely		Ryan C. Fattman		William C. Galvin		Donald H. Wong
State Administration and Regulatory Oversight		Nick Collins		Bruce E. Tarr		Antonio F. D. Cabral		F. Jay Barrows
Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy		Michael J. Barrett		Bruce E. Tarr		Jeffrey N. Roy		Bradley H. Jones, Jr.
Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development		Paul W. Mark		Ryan C. Fattman		Mindy Domb		Donald H. Wong
Transportation		Brendan P. Crighton		Patrick M. O'Connor		William M. Straus		Steven S. Howitt
Veterans and Federal Affairs		John C. Velis		Ryan C. Fattman		Gerard J. Cassidy		Steven George Xiarhos
Ways and Means		Michael J. Rodrigues		Patrick M. O'Connor		Aaron Michlewitz		Todd M. Smola

^[9]

Officers and officials

Senate officers

• Clerk: Michael D. Hurley

House of Representatives officers

• Clerk: Steven T. James

See also

• 2022 Massachusetts general election
• 2022 Massachusetts gubernatorial election
• List of Massachusetts General Courts

Notes and References

1. Web site: Senate Leadership . 2023 . The 193rd General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts . The General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts . January 5, 2023.
2. Web site: House Leadership . 2023 . The 193rd General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts . The General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts . January 5, 2023.
3. Web site: Senate Members . 2023 . The 193rd General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts . The General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts . January 11, 2023.
4. Web site: House Members . 2023 . The 193rd General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts . The General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts . January 11, 2023.
5. Web site: State Rep. Kristin Kassner Finally Sworn-In On One Vote Majority. WBZ News Radio 1030. February 11, 2023.
6. https://wbsm.com/wareham-state-rep-susan-williams-gifford-dies/
7. Web site: Senate Committees . 2023 . The 193rd General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts . The General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts . January 6, 2023.
8. Web site: House Committees . 2023 . The 193rd General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts . The General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts . January 6, 2023.
9. Web site: Joint Committees . 2023 . The 193rd General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts . The General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts . January 6, 2023.