Predicting Committee Hearing Trends for 2025-2026 Legislative Cycle
The committee hearing phase is one of the most crucial stages of the Massachusetts legislative process. It’s where bills gain momentum or stall out based on testimony from stakeholders, organizations, and citizens. Given Massachusetts’ exceptionally high bill volume—only a handful of states file more bills per 2-year cycle—committee hearings are a constant presence, particularly in the spring and fall of the first year. These hearings can stretch for hours, featuring testimonies from dozens of voices.
To better anticipate what to expect for the rest of the legislative session, we analyzed trends from past legislative cycles dating back to 2009, including both odd- and even-numbered years. Our findings highlight key patterns in committee hearings, such as the number of hearings per day, peak months of activity, how scheduling has evolved over time, and which committees meet most frequently. With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at the numbers.
Committee hearings don’t happen at a steady pace—they come in waves. The chart above shows just how predictable this cycle is in the first year of each two-year session. Hearings ramp up quickly in the spring and fall, hitting major peaks in June and October before slowing down again.
Years ago, hearings were commonly held in March and April of the first year. Now, virtually no hearings occur during that period. Additionally, August is the slowest month – from 2009 to 2022, there have never been more than five Committee hearings held in August.
If you’re looking to get a bill heard, it’s important to know when committees are most active and when things quiet down. Tracking these patterns can help you plan testimony, stay on top of deadlines, and avoid being caught off guard when the next big hearing day arrives.
Not all weekdays are created equal when it comes to committee hearings. As the chart shows, Tuesdays are by far the busiest day of the week, earning the nickname "Terrible Tuesdays" among legislative insiders. From 2009 to 2023, in each odd-numbered year, an average of 157 committee hearings took place on Tuesdays across the entire year. Mondays and Wednesdays follow closely behind, while Thursdays are slightly less hectic.
Between 2009 and 2023, only 96 hearings were held on a Friday, making it the least active day for committee hearings.
Trends in Specific Joint Committees from 2009 to 2023
The Joint Committee on Public Service stands out as the most active committee in terms of hearings, which isn’t surprising given its broad jurisdiction over public employee benefits, pensions, and other government workforce matters.
Close behind, the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight and the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure also see frequent action. The former handles matters related to government operations and procurement, areas that require ongoing legislative attention. Meanwhile, the latter deals with industries directly impacting consumers—such as alcohol sales, professional licensing, and business regulations.
Joint Committees consistently hold more hearings than other committee types, with core committees like Public Service, Revenue, State Administration, and Consumer Protection maintaining steady activity—averaging 11 to 16 hearings per year.
What to Expect for the Rest of 2025
Based on past trends and early indicators, here’s what we anticipate for the rest of the 2025-2026 legislative session:
June and July 2025 will be packed with hearings as committees push through a high volume of bills before the August slowdown.
October will see a resurgence in hearings as lawmakers return from the summer break and push forward before the holiday season.
Tuesdays will remain the most intense hearing days, often featuring multiple overlapping hearings.
Joint Committees on public services, Revenue, State Administration, and Consumer Protections are expected to be the ones with the most hearings
With the legislative season ramping up, it's critical to stay informed about when key committee hearings are happening and how to efficiently track their outcomes. InstaTrac’s MassTrac software provides multiple features to help subscribers manage the legislative process effectively:
1. Never Miss an Important Hearing
MassTrac’s hearing tracking tools allow users to set email alerts for upcoming hearings that are relevant to their interests. With the ability to filter hearings by committee, topic, or bill, subscribers can plan their schedules in advance and ensure they never miss a critical discussion.
2. Live Access to Hearing Transcripts
Keeping up with multiple hearings in a single day can be overwhelming. MassTrac provides live transcripts of hearings, allowing users to follow along in real time or review testimony later. This is particularly useful for "Terrible Tuesdays," where attending every hearing in person is nearly impossible.
3. On-Demand Search for Key Issues
Whether you’re looking for a specific topic, legislator, or keyword, MassTrac’s search functionality enables users to instantly find mentions of critical issues in hearings. Instead of watching hours of recorded testimony, subscribers can pinpoint the most relevant discussions within minutes.
Massachusetts’ legislative schedule follows well-established trends, and understanding these patterns can provide a strategic advantage in tracking and engaging with policy decisions. With the busiest hearing months upon us, staying informed is more critical than ever. Whether you're a policymaker, advocate, or stakeholder, tools like MassTrac make navigating this fast-paced environment simpler and more effective.
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