Most hearings occur during the morning, Monday through Thursday, throughout the year, but especially between February and June in the first annual session of the two-year General Court. It contains a list of bills upon which testimony will be heard on that day. Bills concerning the same general subject are usually grouped together and heard at a single hearing. Copies of bills under consideration may be secured ei ther in Room 428 or in the hearing room. Also available to you are Bulletins of Committee Work, containing the names of the members of each committee, as well as a listing and brief legislative history of all bills assigned to each committee.
Most hearings are informal.
Visitors are allowed to enter and leave the hearing room at any time during the proceedings. The Senate or House chairpersons conduct hearings on matters before joint committees. Bills are generally discussed in the order of their appearance in the Daily List. Customarily, the testimony of the proponents is presented first, followed by that of the opponents. Legislators and constitutional officers are permitted to speak out of turn.