Massachusetts S 2147: An Act to establish a November holiday honoring President John F. Kennedy, to promote increased voter participation and civic engagement

Bill Text

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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2112        FILED ON: 1/17/2025 
SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2147 
 
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts 
_________________ 
PRESENTED BY: 
Paul R. Feeney 
_________________ 
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General 
 Court assembled: 
 The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill: 
An Act to establish a November holiday honoring President John F. Kennedy, to promote 
increased voter participation and civic engagement. 
_______________ 
PETITION OF: 
 
NAME: DISTRICT/ADDRESS: 
Paul R. Feeney Bristol and Norfolk 

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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2112        FILED ON: 1/17/2025 
SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2147 
By Mr. Feeney, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2147) of Paul R. Feeney for 
legislation to establish a November holiday honoring President John F. Kennedy, to promote 
increased voter participation and civic engagement.  State Administration and Regulatory 
Oversight. 
 
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION 
SEE SENATE, NO. 2000 OF 2023-2024.] 
 
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts 
 
_______________
 
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court 
(2025-2026) 
_______________
 
 
An Act to establish a November holiday honoring President John F. Kennedy, to promote 
increased voter participation and civic engagement. 
 
 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority 
of the same, as follows: 
 
1 SECTION 1. Section 7 of chapter 4 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 
2Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “October,”, in line 100, the 
3following words:- John F. Kennedy Day. 
4 SECTION 2. Section 15L of chapter 6 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby 
5amended by inserting after the word “November”, in line 2, the following words:- in all odd-
6numbered years and the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in all even-numbered 
7years. 
8 SECTION 3. Said chapter 6 is hereby further amended by adding the following section:-          

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9      Section 222. There shall be a commission on the celebration of John F. Kennedy Day.  
10The commission shall consist of: 2 persons to be appointed by the governor; 2 persons to be 
11appointed by the state secretary, 1 of whom shall be designated to serve as chair; 1 person to be 
12appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; 1 person to be appointed by the 
13minority leader of the house of representatives; 1 person to be appointed by the president of the 
14senate; 1 person to be appointed by the minority leader of the senate; 1 person to be appointed by 
15the executive director of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation; 1 person to be appointed by 
16the president of the John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum Foundation, Inc.; and 1 person to be 
17appointed by the president of the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate.  
18         The commission shall recommend activities that promote civic engagement and 
19voter participation including, but not limited to: (i) establishing a Kindergarten to grade 12, 
20inclusive, education curriculum; (ii) hosting special events; (iii) marketing, which shall include 
21the publication and distribution of materials and online content; (iv) voter engagement activities; 
22(v) voter registration drives; and (vi) voter access. The commission shall meet not less than 
23semiannually. The commission shall issue an annual report to the clerks of the senate and house 
24of representatives not later than December 31.