Norfolk County to send testimony on two state bills: support for H.B. 3211, opposition to H.B. 3971

At its Nov. 12 meeting, the Norfolk County Commission voted to send written testimony to the Massachusetts Legislature on two bills affecting registries of deeds and excise receipts.

The commission approved a motion to submit a letter of testimony in support of House Bill 3211, described in the meeting as “an act relative to deeds excise receipts.” Chair and commissioners said the chair would sign the letter that day. Later in the meeting the commission also voted to direct counsel to draft a letter of opposition to House Bill 3971, which would direct a study on the feasibility of placing registries of deeds for county governments under the oversight of the Secretary of the Commonwealth. The commission recorded the motion and voice vote and instructed counsel to prepare the opposition letter.

Both motions were made, seconded and approved on voice votes. No additional written testimony text was included in the record; a commissioner noted that a fuller written letter would be useful to expand on points made orally during testimony.