Massachusetts, while having a larger state legislature, does not reflect efficient and effective decision-making regarding deliberation, timeliness, transparency, and overall output of work.
Productivity
Looking at 2023:
- Massachusetts filed 10,508 bills → 21 enacted
- Only 0.2% of those bills became laws
- FiscalNote ranks Massachusetts 50th (out of 50) in legislative effectiveness.
This means: Filing thousands of bills does not mean effective and transparent conversations are taking place, especially when only a small percentage of those bills become laws.
Deliberation also plays a huge part in the production of the bills and voting.
- Bills receiving multiple sponsors does not mean all sponsors vote in favor or vote at all
Timeliness
For 13 consecutive fiscal years up to FY2024…
- Fails to pass annual budget by July 1st deadline
- FY2024 signed 39 days after
- Reported as the last state to enact budget
- FY2025 signed 29 days after
- FY2024 signed 39 days after
New Hampshire
- NH has 424 legislators compared to MA with 200 legislators; NH still meets the July 1st deadline, with MA extending way beyond
This means: While having more time (session lengths) than other state legislatures, it still fails to meet deadlines.
Transparency
Massachusetts legislators are not bound to state public-records law
Maine
- Has a Freedom of Access Act that makes legislative records public
Vermont
- Public records statute holds that all records must be accessible to the public
This means Massachusetts legislators and legislation are kept “secret,” thereby not providing constituents with truthful and thoughtful information.
Sources
- https://fiscalnote-marketing.s3.amazonaws.com/FN080823-Most-Effective-States-WP_v2.pdf
- https://budget.digital.mass.gov/summary/fy24/https://budget.digital.mass.gov/summary/fy24/
- https://budget.digital.mass.gov/summary/fy25/
- https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S3200
- https://actonmass.org/2026/08/04/action-guide-for-s-3200/
- https://www.maine.gov/foaa/
- https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/01/005/00315
- https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/01/005/00316