2019–2020 Massachusetts legislature
The 191st Massachusetts General Court was the meeting of the legislative branch of the state government of Massachusetts, composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives. 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 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Massachusetts State House in 2017 | |||||
| Overview | |||||
| Legislative body | Massachusetts General Court | ||||
| Term | January 2, 2019 – January 6, 2021 | ||||
| Election | 2018 election | ||||
| Massachusetts Senate | |||||
| Members | 40 | ||||
| Senate President | Karen Spilka (D) | ||||
| Senate Majority Leader | Cynthia Stone Creem (D) | ||||
| Senate Minority Leader | Bruce Tarr (R) | ||||
| Party control | Democratic | ||||
| Massachusetts House of Representatives | |||||
| Members | 160 | ||||
| House Speaker | Robert DeLeo (D) | ||||
| House Majority Leader | Ron Mariano (D) | ||||
| House Minority Leader | Brad Jones (R) | ||||
| Party control | Democratic | ||||
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. Although Republican Governor Charlie Baker easily won re-election to a second term, the Democrats maintained veto-proof supermajorities in the legislature.
The session was notable for the wide range of flash-point issues discussed; among these were climate change, police reform, the state's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare reform, and education funding. Other notable legislation included a pandemic-related vote-by-mail law. Notable bills include a proposal for a commission focused on "state agency automated decision-making, artificial intelligence, transparency, fairness, and individual rights."