HB 643-FN (2004): relative to the family division of the courts, reducing the number of superior court justices, and relative to marital masters.

Cite this page

Granite Record indexes the General Court’s record; it is not that record. Where a citation allows only one source, cite the General Court — every page here links to what it is drawn from. The date below is the day the page was read.

MLA
“HB 643-FN (2004): relative to the family division of the courts, reducing the number of superior court justices, and relative to marital masters.” Granite Record, https://graniterecord.org/bill/2004/hb643. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.
APA
Granite Record. (n.d.). HB 643-FN (2004): relative to the family division of the courts, reducing the number of superior court justices, and relative to marital masters. Retrieved 24 Oct. 2026, from https://graniterecord.org/bill/2004/hb643
Chicago
Granite Record. “HB 643-FN (2004): relative to the family division of the courts, reducing the number of superior court justices, and relative to marital masters.” Accessed 24 Oct. 2026. https://graniterecord.org/bill/2004/hb643.
BibTeX
@misc{bill-2004-hb643, title = {HB 643-FN (2004): relative to the family division of the courts, reducing the number of superior court justices, and relative to marital masters.}, howpublished = {Granite Record}, url = {https://graniterecord.org/bill/2004/hb643}, note = {Accessed 24 Oct. 2026} }

HB 643-FN (2004)

relative to the family division of the courts, reducing the number of superior court justices, and relative to marital masters.

  • Status: Signed into law
  • Term: 2003-2004
  • House committee: Judiciary
  • Senate committee: Judiciary
  • Subject: Courts and Procedure
  • Chapter law: 240

The Story

It was introduced on January 9, 2003 and referred to the House Judiciary committee. The committee held a public hearing on February 14, 2003. The majority recommended that the House pass it, and the minority recommended that the House kill it, by a vote of 10–7. On March 12, 2003 the House voted to pass it on a roll call 263–98, then referred it on to the House Finance committee. The committee held a work session on March 21, 2003. The committee retained the bill, holding it for further work rather than reporting it out this year. The committee held work sessions on May 12, 2003, May 27, 2003, October 8, 2003, October 28, 2003, November 10, 2003 and November 20, 2003. The committee met in executive session on November 20, 2003 to vote on its recommendation. The majority of the committee recommended that the House pass it with changes unanimously, 18–0, and the report was placed on the consent calendar. On January 7, 2004 the House voted to pass it with changes. It crossed to the Senate on February 12, 2004 and was referred to the Senate Judiciary committee. The committee held a public hearing on March 23, 2004. The committee recommended that the Senate pass it with changes (amendment 1172). The committee's amendment (1172) was adopted on a voice vote on April 22, 2004, changing the text of the bill. A floor amendment (1350), offered by Sen. Peterson, was adopted on a voice vote on April 22, 2004, changing the text of the bill. On April 22, 2004 the Senate voted to pass it with changes on a voice vote and ordered it to a third reading. On April 22, 2004 the Senate voted to pass it. On April 29, 2004 the House voted to reject the other chamber's changes on a voice vote. On May 6, 2004 the Senate adopted “Sen. Peterson Accede to House Request For Committee of Conference” on a voice vote. A committee of conference met on May 11, 2004 to try to settle the differences between the two chambers' versions of the bill. On May 25, 2004 the Senate adopted “Conference Committee Report” on a voice vote. On May 25, 2004 the House adopted “Conf Comm Report” on a voice vote. The bill was enrolled on May 25, 2004 — the final check of the text before it goes to the governor — and an enrolled bill amendment (1692) was adopted to correct technical errors found after passage. The governor signed it on June 15, 2004, making it Chapter 240 of the session laws. It took effect on June 15, 2004.

Sponsors

Hearings and Sessions

  • February 14, 2003, 1:00 PM: hearing, House Judiciary, RM208,LOB
  • March 21, 2003, 9:00 AM: subcommittee work session, House Judiciary, RM209,LOB <Rep Stone>
  • May 12, 2003, 10:00 AM: subcommittee work session, House Judiciary, RM209,LOB <Rep Stone> (NOTE TIME CHANGE)
  • May 27, 2003, 1:00 PM: subcommittee work session, House Judiciary, RMs209,LOB <Rep Stone>
  • October 8, 2003, 10:00 AM: subcommittee work session, House Judiciary, RMs209,LOB <Rep Stone>
  • October 28, 2003, 1:30 PM: subcommittee work session, House Judiciary, RM209,LOB <Rep Wheeler>Jt with Judiciary Subcom
  • November 10, 2003, 10:00 AM: subcommittee work session, House Judiciary, RM209,LOB <Rep Wheeler>Jt with Judiciary Subcom
  • November 20, 2003, 9:30 AM: subcommittee work session, House Judiciary, RM209,LOB <Rep Wheeler>
  • November 20, 2003, 10:30 AM: executive session, House Judiciary, RMs210-211,LOB
  • March 23, 2004, 10:15 AM: hearing, Senate Judiciary, SH 105-A
  • May 11, 2004, 10:00 AM: committee of conference, RM208,LOB

Votes

  • March 12, 2003, House: COMMITTEE MAJORITY REPORT: OTP — yeas 263, nays 98, passed
  • April 22, 2004, Senate: Ought to Pass with Amendment — voice vote, passed
  • April 29, 2004, House: Nonconcur — voice vote, passed
  • May 6, 2004, Senate: Sen. Peterson Accede to House Request For Committee of Conference — voice vote, passed
  • May 25, 2004, Senate: Conference Committee Report — voice vote, passed
  • May 25, 2004, House: Conf Comm Report — voice vote, passed

The Docket

  • January 9, 2003: Introduced and ref to Judiciary
  • February 14, 2003: Hearing Feb 14 1:00 RM208,LOB
  • March 6, 2003: Maj Report OTP for Mar 12 (Vote 10-7;Reg)
  • March 6, 2003: Min Report ITL
  • March 12, 2003: Passed and ref to Finance RC(263-98); HJ23, p566-568
  • March 21, 2003: Fin DivI Subcom Work & Exec Sess Mar 21 9:00 RM209,LOB <Rep Stone>
  • March 26, 2003: Retained in Committee (Finance)
  • May 12, 2003: Fin Div I Subcom Work & Exec Sess May 12 10:00 RM209,LOB <Rep Stone> (NOTE TIME CHANGE)
  • May 27, 2003: Fin Div I Subcom Work & Exec Sess May 27 1:00 RMs209,LOB <Rep Stone>
  • October 8, 2003: Fin Div I Subcom Work Sess Oct 8 10:00 RMs209,LOB <Rep Stone>
  • October 28, 2003: Fin Div I Subcom Work Sess Oct 28 1:30 RM209,LOB <Rep Wheeler>Jt with Judiciary Subcom
  • November 10, 2003: Fin Div I Subcom Work Sess Nov 10 10:00 RM209,LOB <Rep Wheeler>Jt with Judiciary Subcom
  • November 20, 2003: Fin Div I Subcom Work Sess Nov 20 9:30 RM209,LOB <Rep Wheeler>
  • November 20, 2003: Full Comm Exec Sess Nov 20 10:30 RMs210-211,LOB
  • November 20, 2003: Fin Comm Maj Report OTP/AM for Jan 7, 2004 Session (vote 18-0;CC)
  • November 20, 2003: Prop Fin Comm Am{2539}(New Title)
  • January 7, 2004: Passed with Am
  • February 12, 2004: Introduced and Referred to Judiciary
  • March 23, 2004: Hearing; March 23, 2004, Room 105-A, SH, 10:15 a.m.; SC12
  • April 14, 2004: Committee Report; Ought to Pass with Amendment{1172},(New Title), [04/22/04]; SC16, Pg.10-12
  • April 22, 2004: Committee Amendment{1172},(New Title), AA, VV
  • April 22, 2004: Sen. Peterson Floor Amendment{1350}, AA, VV
  • April 22, 2004: Ought to Pass as Amended{1172},(New Title),{1350}, MA, VV; OT3rdg
  • April 22, 2004: Passed by 3rd Reading Resolution
  • April 29, 2004: House Nonc with Sen Am req Conf Comm, Reps Mock & Kurk MA VV
  • April 29, 2004: (Speaker appts Reps: Mock, Dudley, R. Wheeler & Wall)
  • May 6, 2004: Sen. Peterson Accede to House Request For Committee of Conference, MA, VV
  • May 6, 2004: President Appoints; Senators Peterson, Roberge, Foster
  • May 11, 2004: Conf Comm Meeting May 11 10:00 RM208,LOB
  • May 19, 2004: Conference Committee Report; Sen. Am + New Am{1554}, Filed
  • May 25, 2004: Conference Committee Report{1554}, Adopted, VV
  • May 25, 2004: Conf Comm Report Adopted VV
  • May 25, 2004: Enrolled Bill Amendment{1692},(New Title), Adopted
  • May 25, 2004: Enrolled Am{1692}(New Title), Adopted<6/8/04>
  • May 25, 2004: Enrolled<6/9/04>
  • May 25, 2004: Enrolled
  • June 15, 2004: Signed by the Governor on 6/15/2004 Eff: 6/15/2004* Chap: 0240
  • June 15, 2004: *Multiple Effective Dates, See Chapter 240 for additional dates

Laws It Would Change

From the General Court