2019–2020 Massachusetts legislature

The 191st Massachusetts General Court is the current meeting of the legislative branch of the state government of Massachusetts, composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives.[1] It convened in Boston at the Massachusetts State House, on January 2, 2019, and ended on January 6, 2021, during the fifth and sixth years of the governorship of Charlie Baker. Senate and House districts were drawn based on the 2010 Census.

191st
Massachusetts General Court
←190th 192nd→
Overview
Legislative bodyMassachusetts General Court
TermJanuary 2, 2019 (2019-01-02) – January 6, 2021 (2021-01-06)
Election2018 election
Massachusetts Senate
Members40
Senate PresidentKaren Spilka (D)
Senate Majority LeaderCynthia Stone Creem (D)
Senate Minority LeaderBruce Tarr (R)
Party controlDemocratic
Massachusetts House of Representatives
Members160
House SpeakerBob DeLeo (D)
House Majority LeaderRon Mariano (D)
House Minority LeaderBrad Jones (R)
Party controlDemocratic

In the 2018 elections, the Democratic Party increased its majorities in both chambers, flipping two seats from the Republicans in the House and one in the Senate.[2] Although Republican Governor Charlie Baker easily won re-election to a second term, the Democrats maintained veto-proof supermajorities in the legislature.[3]

Notable legislation included a pandemic-related vote-by-mail law.[4] Notable bills include a proposal for a commission focused on "state agency automated decision-making, artificial intelligence, transparency, fairness, and individual rights."[5][6]

Party summary

Senate
Affiliation Party
(shading indicates majority caucus)
 Total Vacant
Democratic Independent Republican
End of previous General Court 31 0 7 38 2
Begin (January 2, 2019) 34 0 6 40 0
November 29, 2019[lower-alpha 1] 34 5 39 1
January 6, 2020[lower-alpha 2] 34 4 38 2
May 28, 2020[lower-alpha 3][lower-alpha 4] 36 40 0
Latest voting share 90.0% 0.0% 10.0%

House of Representatives
Affiliation Party
(shading indicates majority caucus)
 Total Vacant
Democratic Independent Republican
End of previous General Court 119 1 34 154 6
Begin (January 2, 2019) 127 1 32 160 0
November 15, 2019[lower-alpha 5] 126 159 1
January 6, 2020[lower-alpha 6] 126 31 158 2
January 8, 2020[lower-alpha 7] 125 157 3
March 25, 2020[lower-alpha 8] 126 158 2
May 28, 2020[lower-alpha 9] 125 157 3
June 10, 2020[lower-alpha 10] 127 159 1
Latest voting share 79.9% 0.6% 19.5%

Members

Senate
District Senator Party Time in office Born Residence
Berkshire, Hampshire,
Franklin and Hampden		 Adam Hinds Democratic January 4, 2017 – (1976-06-10) June 10, 1976 Pittsfield
Bristol and Norfolk Paul Feeney Democratic November 1, 2017 – (1978-03-23) March 23, 1978 Foxborough
1st Bristol and Plymouth Michael Rodrigues [7] Democratic January 5, 2011 – (1959-05-30) May 30, 1959 Westport
2nd Bristol and Plymouth Mark Montigny Democratic January 6, 1993 – (1961-06-20) June 20, 1961 New Bedford
Cape and Islands Julian Cyr Democratic January 4, 2017 – (1986-01-19) January 19, 1986 Truro
1st Essex Diana DiZoglio Democratic January 2, 2019 – (1983-06-05) June 5, 1983 Methuen
2nd Essex Joan Lovely Democratic January 2, 2013 – Salem
3rd Essex Brendan Crighton Democratic March 7, 2018 – (1983-04-05) April 5, 1983 Lynn
1st Essex and Middlesex Bruce Tarr Republican January 3, 1995 – (1964-01-02) January 2, 1964 Gloucester
2nd Essex and Middlesex Barry Finegold Democratic January 5, 2011 –
January 7, 2015
January 2, 2019 –		 (1971-03-03) March 3, 1971 Andover
Hampden Jim Welch Democratic January 5, 2011 – (1975-12-22) December 22, 1975 West Springfield
1st Hampden and Hampshire Eric Lesser Democratic January 7, 2015 – (1985-02-27) February 27, 1985 Longmeadow
2nd Hampden and Hampshire Don Humason[lower-alpha 2] Republican November 20, 2013 –
January 6, 2020		 (1967-07-31) July 31, 1967 Westfield
John Velis[lower-alpha 4] Democratic May 28, 2020 – (1979-01-26) January 26, 1979 Westfield
Hampshire, Franklin
and Worcester		 Jo Comerford Democratic January 2, 2019 – (1963-09-03) September 3, 1963 Northampton
1st Middlesex Ed Kennedy Democratic January 2, 2019 – (1951-03-24) March 24, 1951 Lowell
2nd Middlesex Pat Jehlen Democratic October 12, 2005 – (1943-10-14) October 14, 1943 Somerville
3rd Middlesex Michael Barrett Democratic 1987 – 1995
2013 –		 (1948-06-27) June 27, 1948 Lexington
4th Middlesex Cindy Friedman Democratic July 27, 2017 – Arlington
5th Middlesex Jason Lewis Democratic April 16, 2014 – (1968-04-19) April 19, 1968 Winchester
1st Middlesex and Norfolk Cynthia Stone Creem Democratic January 6, 1999 – (1942-09-17) September 17, 1942 Newton
2nd Middlesex and Norfolk Karen Spilka Democratic January 5, 2005 – (1953-01-11) January 11, 1953 Ashland
Middlesex and Suffolk Sal DiDomenico Democratic May 20, 2010 – (1971-06-20) June 20, 1971 Everett
Middlesex and Worcester Jamie Eldridge Democratic January 7, 2009 – (1973-08-11) August 11, 1973 Acton
Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex Becca Rausch Democratic January 2, 2019 – (1979-08-31) August 31, 1979 Needham
Norfolk, Bristol and Plymouth Walter Timilty Democratic January 4, 2017 – (1969-07-19) July 19, 1969 Milton
Norfolk and Plymouth John Keenan Democratic January 5, 2011 – Quincy
Norfolk and Suffolk Mike Rush Democratic January 5, 2011 – (1973-11-30) November 30, 1973 West Roxbury
(Boston)
Plymouth and Barnstable Vinny deMacedo[lower-alpha 1] Republican January 7, 2015 –
November 29, 2019		 (1965-10-16) October 16, 1965 Plymouth
Susan Moran[lower-alpha 3] Democratic May 28, 2020 – (1977-06-08) June 8, 1977 Falmouth
1st Plymouth and Bristol Marc Pacheco Democratic January 1993 – (1952-10-29) October 29, 1952 Taunton
2nd Plymouth and Bristol Michael Brady Democratic November 3, 2015 – (1962-05-05) May 5, 1962 Brockton
Plymouth and Norfolk Patrick O'Connor Republican May 18, 2016 – (1984-08-13) August 13, 1984 Weymouth
1st Suffolk Nick Collins Democratic May 9, 2018 – (1982-08-26) August 26, 1982 South Boston
(Boston)
2nd Suffolk Sonia Chang-Díaz Democratic January 7, 2009 – (1978-03-31) March 31, 1978 Jamaica Plain
(Boston)
1st Suffolk and Middlesex Joseph Boncore Democratic May 18, 2016 – (1982-06-27) June 27, 1982 Winthrop
2nd Suffolk and Middlesex Will Brownsberger Democratic January 24, 2012 – (1957-03-21) March 21, 1957 Belmont
1st Worcester Harriette Chandler Democratic January 3, 2001 – (1937-12-20) December 20, 1937 Worcester
2nd Worcester Mike Moore Democratic January 7, 2009 – (1963-01-17) January 17, 1963 Millbury
Worcester, Hampden,
Hampshire and Middlesex		 Anne Gobi Democratic January 7, 2015 – (1962-12-27) December 27, 1962 Spencer
Worcester and Middlesex Dean Tran Republican December 6, 2017 – 1975 Fitchburg
Worcester and Norfolk Ryan Fattman Republican January 7, 2015 – (1984-07-01) July 1, 1984 Webster

See also

Notes
  1. In Plymouth and Barnstable district: Senator Vinny deMacedo (R) resigned to take a job in higher education.
  2. In 2nd Hampden and Hampshire district: Senator Don Humason (R) resigned to serve as Mayor of Westfield.
  3. In Plymouth and Barnstable district: Susan Moran (D) assumed office to continue Vinny deMacedo's term.
  4. In 2nd Hampden and Hampshire district: John Velis (D) assumed office to continue Don Humason's term.
  5. In 32nd Middlesex district: Rep. Paul Brodeur (D) resigned to serve as Mayor of Melrose.
  6. In 3rd Bristol district: Rep. Shaunna O'Connell (R) resigned to serve as Mayor of Taunton.
  7. In 37th Middlesex district: Rep. Jen Benson (D) resigned to serve as President of the Alliance for Business Leadership.
  8. In 32nd Middlesex district: Kate Lipper-Garabedian (D) assumed office to continue Paul Brodeur's term.
  9. In 4th Hampden district: Rep. John Velis (D) resigned to serve as state senator for the 2nd Hampden and Hampshire district.
  10. Carol Doherty (D) and Dan Sena (D) assumed office to continue Shaunna O'Connell and Jen Benson's terms, respectively.

References
  1. "Malegislature.gov". Archived from the original on January 10, 2019.
  2. https://commonwealthmagazine.org/politics/dems-pick-up-a-couple-seats-on-beacon-hill/
  3. https://www.wbur.org/news/2018/11/07/massachusetts-state-house-democrats-super-majorities
  4. "A new law allows Mass. residents to vote by mail. Here's how that's already changing things", Boston Globe, July 29, 2020
  5. Electronic Privacy Information Center, "State Artificial Intelligence Policy", Epic.org, Washington, DC, retrieved September 5, 2020
  6. "Bill H.2701", malegislature.gov, 191st General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, retrieved September 5, 2020
  7. "Beacon Hill Leadership Changes, Plus Full Lists Of Legislators' Committee Assignments", WBUR.org, February 14, 2019

Further reading
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