MA: Barrett Sees Senate Energy Bill Vote Later In Week

23 October 2024

[Coverage Developing] Lawmakers will not bring compromise clean energy legislation forward for a vote Monday and are targeting action for later in the week.

House and Senate Democrats announced a deal in principle Thursday on a wide-ranging conference committee bill that had been jammed in tricky negotiations for months, and the Senate clerk's office said just before 10 a.m. Monday that a final version still had not been filed.

Top negotiator Sen. Michael Barrett told the News Service he does not expect the lengthy, complicated bill to emerge for a vote Monday, when both branches will gavel into session at 11 a.m.

The bill is expected to emerge first in the Senate since the Senate initiated the conference committee process.

"The Senate hopes to take up the final document by Thursday at the latest," Barrett said.

It's not clear whether Republicans who opposed earlier versions of the bill will try to delay its advancement, an option available during informal sessions when the branches usually meet without a quorum present.

Senate Republicans Ryan Fattman and Peter Durant as well as 25 House Republicans voted against the underlying bills (S 2838 / H 4884).

Democrats last year showed up for an informal session to create a quorum and overcome Republican opposition to a spending bill.

Legislative leaders have also signaled an openness to suspend the rules and reconvene a formal session on a separate stalled economic development bond bill, and the roll call votes allowed in that setting could also push the clean energy bill forward if that path is chosen.

Chris Lisinski - SHNN

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