Senate passes House Bill 801 on Cheshire special election

The Massachusetts Senate passed House Bill 801, "an act relative to the town of Cheshire's special election," on a third reading during its session today; the presiding officer said, "The ayes have it," and added the measure would be transmitted "in a brief recess."

The bill was taken up for a third reading after the chair announced there was no objection to it being the "rose of the day." The clerk read the title, and the chamber proceeded to a voice vote; the presiding officer declared the bill passed. The record contains no roll-call tally or further debate on the measure.

Why it matters: House Bill 801, as described on the floor, concerns the town of Cheshire's special election; the transcript does not specify the bill's provisions, effective dates, or any implementing steps beyond the Senate's passage on third reading.

What happened next: The presiding officer told members the bill "passed" and that it would be transmitted "in a brief recess." The transcript does not state to whom the measure was transmitted or subsequent steps such as referral to the governor or enactment timeline.

Discussion vs. formal action: The transcript shows no substantive floor debate or amendment recorded on House Bill 801; the item proceeded by voice votes and was adopted on third reading.

Additional procedural items on the floor that session included committee reports and other measures, but the record contains no further floor deliberation tied to House Bill 801.