Office of the Clerk of the House

The 194th General Court
2025-2026 Session Legislative Deadlines AND Significant Dates

First Annual Session

JANUARY 1, 2025.
— 1st Full Formal Session — 1st Wednesday of Each Year —
House and Senate convene.
Members-elect are sworn-in by Governor.

JANUARY 2, 2025.
Councilors take Oaths of Office.

JANUARY 17, 2025.
— 3rd Friday in January of 1st Annual Session —
Deadline for submitting petitions (prior to 5 o’clock P.M.) (House and Senate petition co-sponsoring may continue until the measure is reported by the initial committee).

By JANUARY 22, 2025
— Within 3 Weeks of Convening of the General Court; except 1st year of a term of a new Governor --within 8 weeks —
Governor submits General Appropriation Bill.

MARCH 27, 2025.
— 4 weeks after appointment of committees in 1st Annual Session —
Deadline for submitting joint committee rules.

APRIL 30, 2025.
— Last Wednesday in April. —
Last day to report on Proposals for Amendments to the Constitution.
In the 2nd year, Reports may be made only on measures referred to committees subsequent to last Wednesday in April of the 1st Annual Session.

MAY 14, 2025.
— 2nd Wednesday in May (of each year) —
Last day to call up a proposal for an amendment to the constitution, and
Last day for the convening of the joint session to consider Amendments to the Constitution.

NOVEMBER 19, 2025.
— 3rd Wednesday of November in 1st Annual Session —
Last day for formal sessions.

DECEMBER 3, 2025.
— 1st Wednesday in December —
JR10 DEFAULT DEADLINE for non-member legislation referred before October 1, 2025.

DECEMBER 17, 2025.
— 3rd Wednesday in December —
House Rule 27: House-filed bills heard before this date fall into 60/30/UC category.

JANUARY 6, 2026.
Tuesday preceding the
—1st Wednesday in January of 2nd year —
Last day of Session in the 1st Annual Session.

The 194th General Court
Second Annual Session

JANUARY 7, 2026.
— 1st Wednesday of Each Year —
House and Senate convene.

JANUARY 17, 2026.
— 60 days prior to the 3^rd Wednesday in March. —
End of the “whichever occurs later” clause for House Rule 27.

JANUARY 18, 2026.
— Report within 60 days pursuant to House Rule 27. —
Bills heard on/after this date report within 60 days (no extensions available).

JANUARY 28, 2026.
— Within 3 weeks of convening of the General Court. —
Governor submits General Appropriation Bill (budget).

MARCH 18, 2026.
— 3rd Wednesday of March of the 2nd Annual Session —
No extension orders on matters subject to House Rule 27.

APRIL 29, 2026.
— Last Wednesday in April of each session —.
Last day to report on proposals for amendments to the Constitution.
In the 2nd year, Reports may be made only on measures referred to committee subsequent to last Wednesday in April of the 1st Annual Session.

MAY 5, 2026.
— Tuesday preceding 1st Wednesday in May —
Last day to enact initiative petitions for changes in laws.

MAY 13, 2026.
— 2nd Wednesday in May (of each year) —
Last day to call up late filed Proposals for Amendments to the Constitution.

MAY 13, 2026.
— 2nd Wednesday in May (of each year) —
Last day for the House committee on Ways and Means to report the General Appropriation Bill.

MAY 27, 2026.
— Last Wednesday of May. —
Pursuant to House Rule 27, for matters initially referred to another joint standing committee and subsequently referred to the committee on Health Care Financing after the third Wednesday in March of the Second Annual Session, the committee shall make final report not later than this date.

JULY 31, 2026.
— Last day of July of the 2nd Annual Session —
Last day for formal sessions.

NOVEMBER 4, 2026.
— 1st Wednesday in November —
Agency Filings Due prior to 5 o’clock P.M. for consideration in the 195th General Court.

JANUARY 5, 2027.
— Tuesday preceding the convening of the 195th General Court. —
Last day of session in the 2nd Annual Session.

Governor/other non-member filings are not subject to HR27. They follow JR1D procedures and JR10 deadlines (Dec 3 for pre-Oct-1 referrals; 60 days from referral for Oct-1-and-later), plus the HCF special timing where applicable. Pursuant to Joint Rule 10, the committee on Health Care Financing shall report no later than Wednesday, January 28, 2026.