House actions at a glance: readings advanced, amendment adopted, multiple local measures passed

The Massachusetts House advanced a number of legislative matters on the floor, including ordering bills to a third reading, adopting an amendment to a police-age bill, passing several engrossed local measures and adopting an adjournment order through next Monday at 11 a.m.

Committee and scheduling reports: the Committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling reported a slate of matters for consideration, including House No. 3321 (modernizing microphotographic recordings of documents) and several locally focused bills (House Nos. 4721, 4815, 40817 among others). The House suspended Rule 7A on motion and ordered second-read bills to a third reading.

Engrossed and enacted measures: the House took up several engrossed bills. House 40565 (described in the transcript as establishing a "sickly bank" for Marie Latandra, an employee of the Department of Transitional Assistance) proceeded to the required emergency preamble vote and the preamble was adopted. An engrossed Senate bill (Senate 20678) validating the proceedings of the Town of Millbury’s annual town meeting was enacted after the presiding officer stated that more than two-thirds of members voted in the affirmative. House 3952 (authorizing the Dartmouth Fire District No. 1 Prudential Committee to appoint a treasurer) was passed to be enacted.

Amendment adopted to police-age bill: During the third reading of House Bill 4632 (relating to an age limit for original appointment as a police officer), Representative Walsh of Peabody offered an amendment to set a maximum age of 43 years and 364 days for veterans of active military duty; the clerk read the amendment, the House voted by voice and the presiding officer announced, "The ayes have it." The amendment was adopted and H.4632 passed to be engrossed as amended.

Other local measures: the House passed to be engrossed House Bill 4663 (authorizing the Town of Milford select board to appoint a highway surveyor) and House Bill 4814 (authorizing the Town of Westford to reissue certain licenses and grant additional licenses). The House also approved procedurally to adjourn and readjourn Monday next at 11 a.m.

What was not recorded: the transcript does not include detailed vote tallies for many voice votes; where the presiding officer announced results the transcript reports the announced conclusion but not roll-call counts.