Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court

Opinion of the Justices to the Senate

April 27, 2026

Summary

The Justices concluded that the initiative petition does not propose a law within the meaning of art. 48 because its principal purpose is to regulate the Legislature's internal procedures through compensation conditions and compliance duties imposed on legislative clerks. The petition therefore is not in proper form for submission to the people, and the Justices did not reach the Senate's second question concerning interference with legislative rulemaking authority.